Over Here!: New York City During World War II

“I loved this book and all the great memories it captured.” —Tom Brokaw

 Over Here!, the latest chronicle of the history of New York City by Lorraine B. Diehl—lifetime resident of the Big Apple and author of The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station and Subways—relates the true story of New York City during World War II. From the Brooklyn Naval Yard to Times Square nightclubs, from children’s Mickey Mouse gas-masks to victory gardens in Rockefeller Center, Over Here! is a nostalgic portrait of the Greatest Generation and the Empire City. Including anecdotes from famous New Yorkers and visitors such as Angela Lansbury, Walter Cronkite, and Barbara Walters, and richly illustrated with more than 80 period photographs, Over Here! is an inspiring tribute to New York City during the Great War.

A wonderfully nostalgic and inspiring look at the center of the home front during World War II—New York City

More than any other place, New York was the center of action on the home front during World War II. As Hitler came to power in Germany, American Nazis goose-stepped in Yorkville on the Upper East Side, while recently arrived Jewish émigrés found refuge on the Upper West Side. When America joined the fight, enlisted men heading for battle in Europe or the Pacific streamed through Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station. The Brooklyn Navy Yard refitted ships, and Times Square overflowed with soldiers and sailors enjoying some much-needed R & R. German U-boats attacked convoys leaving New York Harbor. Silhouetted against the gleaming skyline, ships were easy prey—debris and even bodies washed up on Long Island beaches—until the city rallied under a stringently imposed dim-out.

From Rockefeller Center's Victory Gardens and Manhattan's swanky nightclubs to metal-scrap drives and carless streets, Over Here! captures the excitement, trepidation, and bustle of this legendary city during wartime. Filled with the reminiscences of ordinary and famous New Yorkers, including Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, and Angela Lansbury, and rich in surprising detail—from Macy's blackout boutique to Mickey Mouse gas masks for kids—this engaging look back is an illuminating tour of New York on the front lines of the home front.

Praise for THE LATE, GREAT PENNSYLVANIA STATION: “Diehl has now brought the station vividly back to life with a highly readable and beautifully illustrated tribute.” - Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post

“Meticulously details the ignominy and economic folly that attended the destruction of one of New York’s most impressive public places.” - New York Times

“I lived in New York City then. It was a scary time, unforgettable really, and Over Here! brought it all back to me. Nobody complained. Everybody joined together and New York and its people got through it. In case you missed it, Lorraine B. Diehl tells you all about it. What a great book!” - Regis Philbin

“To her credit, Diehl has written more than an architectural profile. Diehl tries to capture the spirit of a place lost forever. She attempts through text and illustrations to recover a vandalized past.” - Los Angeles Times

“An effective protest against hasty and indiscriminate demolition.” - Atlantic Monthly

Diehl tells the story rich in detail, with intelligence and infectious—though never blind—enthusiasm.” - Christian Science Monitor

Praise for SUBWAYS: “A breezy historical overview, taking us back to the pre-subway days when the streets of New York were almost impassable . . . through the heroic days of underground tunnel construction and the nickel fare, we come to see why. . . the subway was the great emancipator. - New York Times Book Review

“I loved this book and all the great memories it captured.” - Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation

“Lorraine Diehl has done it again. This is an evocative look at New York City during the Second World War; it is an enthusiastic, personal, immensely entertaining book, and a story about a city joining together to overcome the greatest challenge of the 20th Century. Brava!” - Ken Burns