Biography

Melissa Ziobro earned an MA in United States History from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. She served as a command historian at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command, Fort Monmouth, NJ from 2004-2011; and currently teaches history at her alma mater. She serves on the executive council of Brookdale Community College’s Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution. Her presentation is based on her article “Skirted Soldiers: The Women’s Army Corps and Gender Integration of the U.S. Army during WWII,” as published in On Point: The Journal of Army History, Spring 2012 Vol. 17 No. 4.

In the latest video lecture produced for Brookdale Community College’s Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution, historian and Professor Emeritus of History, Jack Needle discusses “The Monuments Men,” a military project formed to help rescue art and culture of Europe being plundered and stolen by Nazi Germany.

As Hitler was attempting to conquer the western world, his armies were methodically pillaging the finest art in Europe. The Monuments Men had expertise as museum directors, curators, art scholars and educators, artists, architects and archivists. Their job description was simple: to save as much of the culture of Europe as they could during World War II.

The group of men and women from 13 nations not only had the vision to understand the grave threat to the greatest cultural and artistic achievements of civilization but joined the front lines to do something about it. The Monuments Men had a mandate from President Roosevelt and the support of General Eisenhower but no vehicles, gasoline, typewriters, or authority was authorized. It was a race against time to save the world’s greatest cultural treasures from destruction at the hands of Nazi fanatics.

In this video, Professor Needle shares the story of these unlikely heroes, many who were volunteers, whose courageous spirit and actions actually enabled the best of humanity to defeat the worst.

Please support continuation of the World War II lectures by making a donation at our IndieGoGo project page.

You can also purchase this and other video lectures in the series through our online store.

In this program from the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution’s World War II Lecture series, military historian and author David Stroebel discusses his search for the truth about his great-grandmother’s family origins as a member of the storied Krupp family.

Through revelations and documents passed down through five generations of the Krupp family, Stroebel learned that his great-grandmother was disinherited from the 400-year-old Krupp  steel and munitions dynasty of Essen, Germany – the same munitions firm that armed Germany through two world wars.

Banished to America where she lived in Jersey City, Stroebel’s great grandmother was Engelbertha Krupp, the daughter of Alfred and Bertha (Eichhoff) Krupp. The Krupp Works worked with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party prior to World War II and then gave Hitler and his military immense firepower that allowed the Third Reich’s war machine to extend far across the globe.

“The Cannon King’s Daughter” tells of the young heiress who chose the love of a poor shoemaker over a dynasty. Had Engelbertha Krupp remained an heiress –? Stroebel considers how her choice ultimately altered the history of Germany, the course of WW II and the lives of 11 million souls.

Please support continuation of the World War II lectures by making a donation at our IndieGoGo project page.

Watch the video in the player below, or purchase a DVD of the lecture in our online store.

We present “The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Putting the Pieces Together,” the latest in our series of World War II lectures presented by the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ. In this program,  political science professor and author Michael Kobran discusses the political history of the atomic bombings. You can watch the video in this player, or purchase a DVD of this program in our online store.

Lubetkin Global Communications is pleased to be producing video podcasts from many of the Center’s lectures this year. The productions continue a collaboration that dates back nearly 40 years between Steve Lubetkin and the Center’s director, Prof. Paul Zigo. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, Steve provided production support to Paul’s weekly radio program, “Speaking of Monmouth.”

This program series is seeking corporate sponsorship support, either for individual programs in the series or as a presenting sponsor for the entire lecture schedule. More information is available in this PDF document, Lubetkin Global Communications – Brookdale Center for World War II Studies Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities – 2012 Spring Series

Editor’s Note: This IndieGoGo.com fundraising effort has concluded, but we are leaving the video available here to demonstrate our ability to produce compelling videos for Kickstarter or IndieGoGo projects.

We have moved our campaign to solicit crowd-funding for the popular series of historical lecture videos produced for the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College. The project is now at IndieGoGo.com where you can pledge your support for this worthwhile project.

Please note: 10% of the funds collected in this pledge drive will be donated directly to the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution.

We’ve produced this video explaining the project and how interested parties can help.

“We’ve been producing these videos for nearly three years now, and we’re committed to the quality of the content and the production,” said Steve Lubetkin, managing partner. “For us to sustain that effort, we are hoping to tap into popular interest in preserving the World War II era’s stories and exploits in video form.”

The IndieGoGo.com project allows members of the public and corporations or organizations to pledge financial support for the production of videos in the 2012-2013 series. All pledges to IndieGoGo projects are committed funds, so a project may receive partial funding even if it does not meet its funding goal.

Pledges at the $25 level and above receive a range of rewards for their support, and donors at the highest levels of $1,000, $5,000 and the $25,000 Presenting Sponsor Levels will be recognized with on-screen credit in the videos.

Videos in the lecture series are archived on the Lubetkin Communications website.

The firm has produced this video explaining the project and how interested parties can help.

“We’ve been producing these videos for nearly three years now, and we’re committed to the quality of the content and the production,” said Steve Lubetkin, managing partner. “For us to sustain that effort, we are hoping to tap into popular interest in preserving the World War II era’s stories and exploits in video form.”

The Kickstarter project allows members of the public and corporations or organizations to pledge financial support for the production of videos in the 2012-2013 series. Supporters are only charged for their pledge if the project reaches its $25,000 funding goal by Friday, September 28. Pledges at the $25 level and above receive a range of rewards for their support, and donors at the highest levels of $1,000 and $5,000 will be recognized with on-screen credit in the videos.

Videos in the lecture series are archived on the Lubetkin Communications website.

The Center for World War II studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, presents a video podcast from its spring 2012 lecture series. In this program, author and naval historian J. Wandres discusses his book, Ablest Navigator: Lieutenant Paul N. Shulman USN, Israel’s Volunteer Admiral. This program was recorded May 8, 2012 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ. (Buy this book at Amazon.com by clicking on the book title, or on the button below.)

NEW: Purchase a DVD of this program in our e-commerce store.

Shulman was a 1944 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy — one of just fifty Jewish midshipmen commissioned in his class during World War II.

In the Pacific, Lt. Shulman’s destroyer survived both a typhoon and a Japanese kamikaze aircraft attack.

After leaving the U.S. Navy and returning to civilian life, he volunteered to help the Haganah, the paramilitary force of the Jewish Agency for Palestine headed by David Ben-Gurion. Shulman had been introduced to Ben-Gurion by his mother, who was an executive with Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. Working in New York City, he helped to buy surplus warships for the Haganah s clandestine sealift that brought Holocaust survivors from Europe to Palestine.

In early 1948 Ben-Gurion called the 25-year-old Shulman to Israel to set up an academy to train officers and NCOs to man ships of Israel s fledgling navy, which at that point only had the refugee vessels.

Beginning with almost no assets, within three months, now-Kvarnit (Commander) Shulman took the Israeli squadron into action against enemy ships, and even against one vessel fighting with Israeli forces. After Israel won its independence most of the 1,200 American and Canadian volunteers went home. Shulman, with his wife and infant son, remained in Israel, settling in Haifa, which would be their home for the next forty years.

After Shulman died in 1994, a stained glass window was dedicated in his memory at the U.S. Naval Academy’s new Uriah P. Levy Chapel.

Lubetkin Global Communications is pleased to be producing video podcasts from many of the Center’s lectures this year. The productions continue a collaboration that dates back nearly 40 years between Steve Lubetkin and the Center’s director, Prof. Paul Zigo. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, Steve provided production support to Paul’s weekly radio program, “Speaking of Monmouth.”

This program series is seeking corporate sponsorship support, either for individual programs in the series or as a presenting sponsor for the entire lecture schedule. More information is available in this PDF document, Lubetkin Global Communications – Brookdale Center for World War II Studies Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities – 2012 Spring Series

For more information and to purchase the DVDs, visit the Center for World War II Studies section of our store.

The Center for World War II studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, presents a video podcast from its spring 2012 lecture series. In this program, author and historian Richard Lucas discusses his book Axis Sally: The American Voice of Nazi Germany. (Buy at Amazon.com by clicking on the book title, or on the button below.)

NEW: Purchase a DVD of this program in our e-commerce store.

Throughout World War II in Europe, all serving overseas were treated to the radio broadcasts of “Axis Sally,” an American who broadcast continuous appealing propaganda over German radio.  She was the American voice of Nazi Germany and her name was Mildred Gillars.  Author Lucas, who has researched and documented  Gillar’s career, relates the life and times of this infamous broadcaster, detailing in particular her relationship with Hitler’s Nazi regime and her subsequent trial for treason after the war.

Lubetkin Global Communications is pleased to be producing video podcasts from many of the Center’s lectures this year. The productions continue a collaboration that dates back nearly 40 years between Steve Lubetkin and the Center’s director, Prof. Paul Zigo. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, Steve provided production support to Paul’s weekly radio program, “Speaking of Monmouth.”

This program series is seeking corporate sponsorship support, either for individual programs in the series or as a presenting sponsor for the entire lecture schedule. More information is available in this PDF document, Lubetkin Global Communications – Brookdale Center for World War II Studies Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities – 2012 Spring Series

NEW: Purchase a DVD of this program in our e-commerce store.

Lubetkin Global Communications is pleased to be producing video podcasts from many of the Center’s lectures this year. The productions continue a collaboration that dates back nearly 40 years between Steve Lubetkin and the Center’s director, Prof. Paul Zigo. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, Steve provided production support to Paul’s weekly radio program, “Speaking of Monmouth.”

This program series is seeking corporate sponsorship support, either for individual programs in the series or as a presenting sponsor for the entire lecture schedule. More information is available in this PDF document, Lubetkin Global Communications – Brookdale Center for World War II Studies Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities – 2012 Spring Series

Center for World War II Studies Director Paul Zigo introduces the program.

The Center for World War II studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, presents a video podcast from its fall lecture series. In this program, Richard Leitman discusses his book Dear Roz: Wartime Letters from Overseas, based on letters his father wrote to his mother from the European Theater.

NEW: Purchase a DVD of this program in our e-Commerce store.

Lubetkin Global Communications is pleased to be producing video podcasts from many of the Center’s lectures this year. The productions continue a collaboration that dates back nearly 40 years between Steve Lubetkin and the Center’s director, Prof. Paul Zigo. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, Steve provided production support to Paul’s weekly radio program, “Speaking of Monmouth.”

This program series is seeking corporate sponsorship support, either for individual programs in the series or as a presenting sponsor for the entire lecture schedule. More information is available in this PDF document, Lubetkin Global Communications – Brookdale Center for World War II Studies Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities – 2012 Spring Series

Thomas Holcomb, the commandant of the Marine Corps who oversaw the dramatic increase in the size of the Corps during the years leading up to World War II, is the subject of the inaugural lecture in the Fall 2011 series sponsored by the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, Monmouth County, NJ.

NEW: Purchase a DVD of this program in our e-Commerce store.

Presenting the talk on Holcomb was David J. Ulbrich, Ph.D., historian for the US Army Engineer School at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Ulrich’s book about Holcomb, Preparing for Victory: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps, 1936-1943, was just published by the Naval Institute Press.

Lubetkin Global Communications is pleased to be producing video podcasts from many of the Center’s lectures this year. The productions continue a collaboration that dates back nearly 40 years between Steve Lubetkin and the Center’s director, Prof. Paul Zigo. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, Steve provided production support to Paul’s weekly radio program, “Speaking of Monmouth.”

This program series is seeking corporate sponsorship support, either for individual programs in the series or as a presenting sponsor for the entire lecture schedule. More information is available in this PDF document, Professional Podcasts Brookdale College WWII Studies – Sponsorship Opportunities.

We are pleased to present an important opportunity for community-minded organizations to help underwrite a series of podcasts to capture these presentations by military and politican historians – and the recollections of first-hand witnesses to the awesome history of World War II.

The Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, in Monmouth County, NJ, has announced its Fall 2010 World War II Studies Series programs.

It’s a special treat for me to get to work with Prof. Zigo again. As a student broadcaster at Monmouth College in the 1970s, I was production engineer for Paul’s popular “Speaking of Monmouth” radio program when he was director of community relations at the school. We’ve stayed in touch over the years and enjoy working together on these podcast programs.

Underwriting podcast production as a presenting sponsor can be a cost-effective way to link your company or organization in your customers’ minds as a community-minded citizen willing to support the distribution of important, newsworthy content in podcast format, even if it does not directly promote the products and services you sell. If you are interested in sponsoring any of these historical podcast programs, please contact us.

See below for examples of our Brookdale podcasts, and the complete list of Fall lectures in the World War II series.

We produced podcasts previously at Brookdale for the Center, which you can hear below:

Listen to the podcast here:

We also produced a groundbreaking podcast on the traumatic changes confronting the news media, in a Brookdale program on the “Changing world of American journalism.”

Listen to the podcast here:

Here’s what the Center for World War II Studies has on tap this fall:

“THE MUSHROOM CLOUD FOLLOWED ME TO NAGASAKI – MEMORIES OF A DOUBLE ATOMIC BOMBING SURVIVOR”

Tsutomu Yamaguchi survived two atomic bombings.  On August 6, 1945 he witnessed the destruction of Hiroshima and just 3 days later, he watched a second atomic bomb consume his home town, Nagasaki.  In March 2009, Yamaguchi was officially recognized by the Japanese government as a double survivor.  Chad Diehl’s intriguing talk will illuminate the existence of many double survivors and focus on the attempts by them to deal with their double traumas – in Yamaguchi’s case by composing poetry about his experiences.  Diehl has translated this poetry.  Come and hear about the history of the bombings, Tsutomu Yamaguchi, his poetry, and the little known story of the double atomic bombing survivors.  It is all about history that unfolded 65 years ago almost to the date.

“GENERAL ALBERT WEDEMEYER – ARCHITECT OF VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II” DR. JOHN Mc LAUGHLIN, PRESIDENT, NJ WORLD WAR II BOOK CLUB

General Albert Wedemeyer in the spring of 1941 worked in the U.S. Army War Plans Division and became the principal author of its Victory Program, a comprehensive study of what manpower and material resources would be needed to defeat the Axis powers in the event of war with them.  His numbers proved close to the numbers actually mobilized.  During World War II, as a war plans expert, he accompanied Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall to many of the Allied war conferences and became most responsible for the planning and organization of D-Day, 6 June 1944.  However, although most responsible for the planning, General Wedemeyer was never given the chance to participate in the operation.  Dr. McLaughlin will address this very interesting situation as well other facets of Wedemeyer’s career.  The presentation is a fascinating story of wartime politics.

“IRWIN ROMMEL: THE TRUE NATURE OF THE FAMOUS GENERAL” – DR. WERNER KOFLER , MILITARY HISTORIAN, AUTHOR

One of Hitler’s most charismatic generals who was best known for his victories during the Western Desert Campaign, 1941-1943, Field Marshal Irwin Rommel became a legend to those who fought against him.  Today, however, German military historians do not highly regard the Field Marshal and his exploits.  Come and hear American historian Dr. Werner Kofler reveal the true nature of the general and the leadership he brought to bear.  Judge for yourself what Rommel’s impact on WW II history should be

“LIVING THROUGH HELL” LESLIE SCHWARTZ, AUTHOR AND ONE OF LAST SURVIVORS AUSCHWITZ

Born in a small Jewish community in Hungary, Leslie Schwarz led a largely smooth life until the late 1930’s when anti-Semitic laws were implemented throughout his homeland.  Normal life changed dramatically and came to an abrupt end with his deportation along with his family to the Auschwitz death camp in the spring of 1944.  “Living through Hell” is Schwartz’s story of surviving the Holocaust and relating what the Holocaust was truly all about.  Come and listen to “living history” describe from personal experiences one of the most tragic episodes in world history – an evening you will not forget.

“THE AIR WAR OVER JAPAN – A FIGHTER PILOT’S MEMORIES” – JERRY YELLIN, FORMER WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PILOT, AUTHOR

Graduating from U.S. Army Air Force fighter pilot training in 1943, former Captain Jerry Yellin flew P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs on combat missions throughout the Pacific theater of war.  He participated in the first land-based fighter missions over the Japanese home islands and will relate in his presentation his many harrowing hours “behind the stick” in attempting to gain air supremacy over Japan – a battle that just had to be won!  Jerry Yellin is the author of the award winning military history book, The Blackened Canteen.

This program was recorded November 30, 2006 at the Warner Student Life Center at the Brookdale Community College campus in Lincroft, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Panelists for the program were:

Arthur Z. Kamin, former editor of the Red Bank Register and adjunct professor of journalism.

(Photos Copyright ©2006 Steven L. Lubetkin)

Ms. Shabbas has over 22 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development and teacher training about the Middle East and Islam. Her curriculum works include: The Arab World Studies Notebook, The Arab World Notebook: For the Secondary School Level, The Arabs: Activities for the Elementary and Middle School and A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace.Ms. Shabbas is listed in Who’s Who in American Education, The World’s Who’s Who of Women and the Dictionary of International Biography.

Participating were (from left): Dr. Robert Abel, director, international programs at the Davidson Laboratory, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, a member of the Forum’s planning committee; Audrey Shabbas, national representative of the Middle East Policy Council and the featured lecturer at the Forum; Sherri West, professor of World History at Brookdale; and Paul Zigo, director of the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution. Photo Copyright ©2006 Steven L. Lubetkin

Download the podcast here (69.0 mb stereo MP3 file, 00:49:05 duration).

Show Notes
00:00:00 Steve introduces the program
00:01:31 Steve interviews Paul Zigo, director of the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College
00:04:10 Steve introduces the guest lecturer, Audrey Shabbas.
00:05:19 Audrey Shabbas speaks
00:47:17 Steve concludes the podcast with information on Brookdale and contact info.