REACH Speakers Bureau

Experience the harrowing and heroic story of the Blitz, the relentless bombing campaign that tested Britain during World War II. Marvel at the resilience of the civilian population who were attacked night after night, and emerged each morning to navigate the devastated streets as they took up their daily work.

The Germans relied on their mechanical coding device, Enigma, to keep their communications secret. Journey from Poland to Britain to America to discover how the Allies broke the code.

The Germans established an elaborate network of spies in Britain during WWII. What they did not know is that these spies were under the control of the British! Uncover the evolution of the Double Cross system in which the British used German agents to feed misinformation to the enemy.

Trace the web of deception that misled the Germans about the time and scale of the invasion of France in World War II. Evaluate the impact of the ruse in the aftermath of the Normandy landings.

After the invasion of Europe, the Allied armies were supplemented by American troops who were...imaginary. Travel from Normandy to Germany with the Ghost Army and witness their successful missions.

Well-known names, from Betty Crocker to Eleanor Roosevelt, joined the millions of ordinary women who toiled for success in World War II. Meet some of the leading women of the 1940's as they used their talents to contribute to victory for the Allies.

From riveting aircraft to assembling munitions, women filled critical labor shortages while shattering stereotypes about their capabilities. Explore the successes and challenges of the women who built the arsenal of democracy.

World War II provided unique and historic opportunities for female college graduates. Explore the astonishing range of roles women filled, and witness their impact in government and industry.

They waded ashore at Normandy, flew critically-wounded patients across Europe, and endured prisoner of war camps in the Philippines. Go to battle with the nurses of World War II as they saved lives, and in some cases, gave their own.

A reluctant Congress established women's auxiliaries for all branches of the US military during WWII. Experience the trials and the satisfactions of serving in uniform as women filled technical, communications, logistical, and administrative functions.

From dodging enemy fire to uncovering human stories amid the chaos, female war correspondents navigated both the dangers of war zones and the sexism of the military. Travel with several of these women and see the war through their eyes.

Meet one of the most important, and least recognized, groups of wartime workers: the young women who broke enemy codes. Join them in secret locations as they analyzed patterns and devised methods to turn seemingly random strings of letters into actionable intelligence during World War II.

Discover the Red Cross's wide-ranging contributions in WWII, from blood collection and battlefield medical support to prisoner-of-war aid and morale services for troops. Learn how humanitarian service, volunteerism, and compassion became powerful tools in a total war.

Take an inspiring look at Northeast Ohio during World War II. Watch the transformation of industry and the medical community as they adapted to fulfill the needs of the conflict. Learn how citizens coped with the demands of work and wartime restrictions,

Explore the daily struggles of Allied prisoners of war held in occupied Europe and the Pacific. Gain an appreciation of the Geneva Conventions and the impact government and charitable aid had on the lives of the POWs.

Understand life as an Allied Prisoner of War through first-hand accounts of captives. Hear descriptions of being shot down and captured, the daily struggle for survival in the camps, and the experience of being liberated.

The reality of war came to the United States in the form of more than 400,000 Axis prisoners. Probe the complexity of lives in captivity, and learn of the interactions between POWs and American communities.

Long before European explorers set foot in the Great Lakes region, northern Ohio was home to vibrant, complex Native societies. Trace the 13,000-year evolution of Native cultures from Paleo-Indian hunters to the sophisticated agricultural villages of the Woodland Indians.

In a scant 200 years, the life of the original inhabitants of Ohio was extinguished. Discover how the insatiable demand of Europeans for furs and land were incompatible with the Indigenous way of harmony with nature. Witness how the superior war technology of the invaders forced treaties that stripped Native peoples of their homelands. Observe the sad reality of the final expulsion of Native Americans from Ohio.

From fending off wolves to concocting a supper of rattlesnakes and corn pone, pioneer women did whatever was necessary for the survival of their families. Meet our foremothers who created a refined society from the rough wilderness of the Western Reserve.