Often far from the hallowed halls where statesmen made the momentous decisions which shaped the course of history, ordinary people put their own lives at grave risk by daring to defy the totalitarian regimes. These were people from almost all walks of life, including church figures, scientists, mechanics, teachers, students, and some of them defied both those politicians who insisted on fighting on Nazi-Germany's side during the Second World War and the communist forces which seized control of the country in its wake. Their lives and their sacrifices offer eloquent testimony to the power of the individual to take a stand against totalitarianism.
This book, which includes a rich array of photographs from the time, is intended as a tribute to these heroes, their courage and defiance in the face of tyranny. Let it remind us that, while many of these brave souls paid the ultimate price for their shows of fortitude, the regimes against which they fought have since fallen, and these everyday heroes have emerged as the victors.