The book’s description on Amazon promises an interesting read for history buffs and book lovers of every stripe.
“The true story of young, untested American volunteers who entered German-occupied Belgium to attempt what had never been done before — save an entire nation from starvation that was trapped in the middle of a world war. One of America’s greatest humanitarian efforts is little-known today. WWI Crusaders brings the past to life by telling the personal stories behind the facts in an as-it’s-happening style.”
WWI Crusaders is actually Miller’s second history book about the CRB. His previous work, Behind The Lines , was published in 2014.
“Just in time for the Great War’s centennial, this valuable narrative reprises a dramatic chapter of world history that rarely takes center stage in history books…the pages fly by, thanks to Miller’s consistently smooth prose and careful scene-setting. He effectively captures the human drama… Miller writes that his goal was to write for people “who never read history books”; he accomplishes that splendidly, while also creating a work that scholars will admire. An excellent history that should catapult Miller to the top tier of popular historians,” reads the endorsement from Kirkus Reviews.
Despite incredible challenges, Hoover, Francqui, and their organizations (the CRB and CN) were able to successfully feed and clothe the Belgians and northern French throughout the war. A young girl eating a slice of bread aptly represented the entire relief program. It was a photo that became highly publicized around the world (Public domain; E. E. Hunt, War Bread, Henry Holt and Company, 1916).
Belgians wait patiently outside a Brussels soup kitchen for their daily ration of bread and soup. Those who could afford to pay did so, while those who could not were still provided for. An extensive ration card system was established to make sure the system was fair to all (Public domain; War Bread, E. E. Hunt, Henry Holt & Co., 1916).
By September 1914, Belgians throughout the country had no choice but to join the soup-kitchen lines as the country quickly consumed its dwindling supplies. As the war progressed, more and more people moved from those who could pay something for food to those who could pay nothing. This put tremendous stain on a very delicately balanced system of relief (Public domain; In Occupied Belgium, Robert Withington, The Cornhill Co., 1921).
