Life was difficult in Germany in the time of the Weimar republic, between the first and second world wars. An adventurous spirit, 25 year old Oskar Speck decided that the best course of action was to escape Germany’s economic woes by Kayak, sending him on an epic journey whose history was nearly lost in the face of the dramatic events of the period.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.