World at War, 1944

by Mary Pope Osborne

  Germany used one of the most complicated code systems of all time. The Germans created their code with a device called an Enigma machine. (Enigma means “puzzle.”) The Enigma machine was a complicated typewriter designed to create a code that was nearly impossible to decipher. To make things even more difficult, the codes were changed every day.

  Tanks

  Tanks were invented by the British during World War I. Soon other countries also began using them. Thousands of tanks were built each month during the war. The early tanks could hardly move faster than a person walking. But by World War II, tanks had greatly improved—they were far more durable than the early tanks and could travel over very rough terrain.

  Most countries used their tanks to carry powerful weaponry. But German tanks didn’t have strong armor or firepower. This made them lighter and faster. The German tanks helped the Nazis develop a tactic known as blitzkrieg (which means “lightning war”). A blitzkrieg is an attack that uses speed and surprise to encircle and destroy an enemy. Germany was able to win many land battles using this technique.

  Submarines and Aircraft Carriers

  Much of World War II was fought on the ocean. The battleship had been the most powerful naval weapon in previous wars, but World War II marked the beginning of a new era—the invention of the submarine changed the way naval battles were fought. Both the Allies and the Axis powers used submarines. (German submarines were called U-boats.) The submarine was a valuable war machine, as it could travel underwater for short periods of time. Submarines used an underwater missile called a torpedo to sink large ships.

  In addition to submarines, aircraft carriers were also new to naval warfare. These enormous ships carried airplanes that could take off from the ship, as well as land back on the ship. Most aircraft carriers could hold over thirty planes!

  Airplanes

  Airplanes played a larger role in World War II than in any previous war. Advanced technology made planes faster and more powerful. Unlike a tank or battleship, an airplane could travel anywhere. Taking off from airfields or from aircraft carriers, the plane could engage in combat over any sort of terrain or body of water.

  Airplanes could also provide a bird’s-eye view of enemy territory to help an army plan its attacks. And they could drop troops, spies, and supplies behind enemy lines via parachute.

  Fighter planes were especially important in World War II. Instead of dropping bombs like bomber planes, fighter planes faced each other in the air. There were almost 150 different kinds of fighter planes used during the war. One of the most famous of these planes was called the North American P-51 Mustang. It could fly higher and make sharper turns than any other plane.

  The Holocaust

  The Nazis were extremely prejudiced against the Jewish people. Under Hitler’s leadership, the Nazis killed millions of Jewish people, as well as members of many other ethnic and political minority groups. To escape prison and death, some Jewish families went into hiding. They hid in caves or barns or under the floorboards of a friend’s house. They had to be very secretive and quiet, often for days at a time.

  The Diary of Anne Frank

  In the Netherlands, a Jewish girl named Anne Frank and her family secretly moved into the building where her father worked. The price for helping someone wanted by the Nazis was death. In spite of this, coworkers of Anne’s father helped the Frank family hide in the back of the building.

  When they left their home, Anne and her family wore several layers of clothing because they did not want to be seen carrying suitcases into her father’s work building. While they were hiding, they spent long hours every day being very quiet and hardly moving. Anne wrote in her diary to pass the time. She and her family lived there for two years, until they were captured.

  After World War II ended, the whole world was horrified to learn of the full extent of the Nazi persecution of innocent people. People everywhere were deeply moved by the publication of Anne Frank’s diary. Perhaps the most famous words from her diary are: “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

  World War II greatly affected almost every country in the world, and so many terrible things happened that it is hard to fully comprehend its horrors. But over time, one young girl’s diary has helped people to grieve for all those who senselessly died.

  The day was cloudy and windy. Jack was sitting on the front porch, using a yellow marker to highlight a book called Caring for Your New Puppy.

  “Fetch, Oki!” Annie shouted, throwing a ball across their yard.

  Yip, yip! A scruffy black-and-white puppy raced after the ball and caught it in his mouth. “Bring it back!” Annie called. But Oki dashed away from her instead.

  “He never does what you say,” Jack said with a laugh.

  “Yes, he does,” said Annie. “He fetched! He just decided not to bring it back.” She ran after Oki and wrestled the ball away from him. “Ready to go to the dog park now?” she called to Jack.

  “Yep.” Jack highlighted a paragraph about puppy dental care. Then he closed the book and dropped it into his pack along with his yellow marker. “All set.”

  “Did you pack supplies?” said Annie.

  “Just his leash and water bowl,” said Jack. “And some puppy treats.” He pulled the leash out of his pack.

  “Wait. Let’s see if he’ll walk with us on his own,” said Annie.

  “If I know him, he’ll take off,” said Jack.

  “Come on, give him a chance. I’ve been working with him,” said Annie. “Watch. Oki! Come!” The little dog ran to Jack and Annie.

  “See?” said Annie as they started down the sidewalk.

  “Do you really think he’ll stay with us?” said Jack, putting the leash back in his pack.

  “Sure,” said Annie.

  “Hey, do you have any money?” Jack asked.

  “What for?” said Annie.

  “I thought we could stop at the pet store,” said Jack. “We need to get him a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. I was just reading that canine tooth care is very important. You have to—” Before Jack could finish, Oki yipped and dashed away down the sidewalk.

  “Oki, wait! Oki!” shouted Annie. “Stay!”

  But the puppy kept running. He crossed the street, bounded over the curb, and disappeared into the Frog Creek woods.

  “I knew it!” Jack said.

  “Oki!” Annie shouted. She and Jack raced into the woods after the puppy. Tree branches were waving in the wind. Dry autumn leaves shook and rustled.

  “Oki!” yelled Jack.

  “You were right!” wailed Annie. “We should have put him on the leash!”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find him,” said Jack.

  “Oki!” they called. “Oki!”

  Yip, yip!

  “Did you hear that?” said Jack.

  “Yes!” Annie and Jack took off running between the trees. They followed the yipping sounds—until they found the puppy at the base of a giant oak tree.

  The magic tree house was nestled high in the treetop. The rope ladder was swaying from side to side.

  “Good boy, Oki!” Annie said. She picked up the puppy and giggled as he licked her face. “How did you know it was back?”

  “Teddy?” Jack called, looking up at the tree house. “Teddy?”

  There was no answer, and no one looked down from the window.

  “Let’s climb up,” said Annie. “There must be a message inside.”

  Yip? Yip?

  “Yes, you’re coming with us!” Annie said to Oki. “Here, get in Jack’s bag.” Jack took off his backpack, and Annie lowered the puppy inside. “Is that going to be too heavy?”

  “No, he doesn’t weigh much,” said Jack, pulling on the pack. “Let’s go, buddy.” Jack carried Oki up the rope ladder, and Annie followed.

  When they had all climbed into the tree house, Jack took off his pack and set it on the floor. Oki scampered out and began sniffing every corner.

  “I don’t see an
ything here,” said Annie, looking around.

  “Me neither,” said Jack. There was no message from Merlin, no book from Morgan. “There’s nothing here to tell us what to do.”

  Yip, yip, yip! Oki was looking out the window, barking at the woods.

  Jack looked up and saw a scrap of paper floating on the wind. “Hey, is that our note?” he said.

  “It must have blown out of the window!” said Annie. “I’ll get it.” She hurried back down the rope ladder. Oki kept barking as Annie chased after the paper and finally snatched it from the ground.

  Annie read the note to herself and smiled.

  Annie read the note to herself.

  “What does it say?” Jack called.

  “Good news!” said Annie.

  “What? What is it?” said Jack.

  “See for yourself!” said Annie. She scrambled back up the ladder and handed Jack the scrap of paper. “Our favorite place to visit.”

  Jack looked at the old-fashioned handwriting:

  Dear Jack and Annie,

  Please come to Camelot.

  “That’s it?” said Jack.

  “It’s good news, right?” said Annie.

  “Yeah, but it doesn’t look like Merlin or Morgan’s handwriting, or Teddy’s….I don’t understand. Who wrote this? And why?” said Jack.

  “It doesn’t matter,” said Annie. “It’s an invitation to Camelot! I love visiting Camelot, don’t you?”

  “Of course,” said Jack. They had visited the kingdom many times. He loved its orchards and the Great Hall and Morgan’s magnificent library. Most of all, he loved their friends in Camelot. “But something’s weird.”

  “Don’t worry, Jack. Let’s just go,” said Annie. “Get ready, Oki!” She pointed at the word Camelot on the note. “I wish we could go there!”

  Yip! Yip!

  Jack grabbed Oki and held him tightly.

  The wind blew harder.

  The tree house started to spin.

  It spun faster and faster.

  Then everything was still.

  Absolutely still.

  WILL OSBORNE

  is the author of many novels, picture books, story collections, and nonfiction books. Her New York Times number one bestselling Magic Tree House series has been translated into numerous languages around the world. Highly recommended by parents and educators everywhere, the series introduces young readers to different cultures and times in history, as well as to the world’s legacy of ancient myth and storytelling. She and her husband, writer Will Osborne (author of Magic Tree House: The Musical), live in northwestern Connecticut with their three dogs. Ms. Osborne is coauthor of the companion Magic Tree House Fact Trackers® with Will and with her sister, Natalie Pope Boyce.

  What’s next on

  your reading list?

  Discover your next

  great read!

  * * *

  Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.

  Sign up now.