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The Documentary Podcast

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The v Campaign - A Memoir

The wireless sparked hope and a meme of resistance. The Belgians began the V campaign. Victor de Lavelay, an exiled politician now running the BBC Belgian service, thought of using the letter V as a defiant symbol for both languages - French and Flemish. Why not chalk the letter V on the walls of the Low Countries to annoy the Germans? He broadcast in January 1941. Douglas Ritchie, the assistant news editor, became Colonel Britton behind the microphone,. urging on a secret army. Then the visual idea went sonic. James Blades made the European service V signal on an African drum in Bush House. In Morse is dot dot dot dash. But I think he was speaking to

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