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Savage Will: The Daring Escape of Americans Trapped Behind Nazi Lines
Savage Will brings to life a remarkable story of perseverance, heroism, and the true tale of the American medics and nurses who endured two months in Nazi-occupied Albania—and the fearless citizens and Allied intelligence officers who risked all to save them.
On a cold morning in war-ravaged Sicily in 1943, men and women of the 807th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron boarded a routine flight to the Italian mainland to care for wounded soldiers. En route, their plane became lost in storm clouds looming over the Adriatic Sea, drifted hundreds of miles off course, and crash-landed in remote mountainous Albania.
Stranded without proper winter clothing or weapons, the Americans were trapped hundreds blizzard-plagued miles from Allied lines in a country torn apart by rival bands of pro- and anti-German guerrillas.
What followed is the most thrilling untold story of World War II—a saga that would ensnare a cast of hundreds, from President Roosevelt and top Allied intelligence officials to a host of brave Albanian Resistance fighters, the British and U.S. Mediterranean air forces, and the gritty officers sent behind enemy lines to rescue a dashing English lieutenant and a tenacious American captain.
Hunted by German soldiers, the American castaways were forced to rely on what one survivor called their “savage will” to elude their enemy and ultimately find their way to freedom. Savage Will is a testament to a generation who defied all odds.
On a cold morning in war-ravaged Sicily in 1943, men and women of the 807th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron boarded a routine flight to the Italian mainland to care for wounded soldiers. En route, their plane became lost in storm clouds looming over the Adriatic Sea, drifted hundreds of miles off course, and crash-landed in remote mountainous Albania.
Stranded without proper winter clothing or weapons, the Americans were trapped hundreds blizzard-plagued miles from Allied lines in a country torn apart by rival bands of pro- and anti-German guerrillas.
What followed is the most thrilling untold story of World War II—a saga that would ensnare a cast of hundreds, from President Roosevelt and top Allied intelligence officials to a host of brave Albanian Resistance fighters, the British and U.S. Mediterranean air forces, and the gritty officers sent behind enemy lines to rescue a dashing English lieutenant and a tenacious American captain.
Hunted by German soldiers, the American castaways were forced to rely on what one survivor called their “savage will” to elude their enemy and ultimately find their way to freedom. Savage Will is a testament to a generation who defied all odds.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2013
16 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 8, 2018
This book is simply a great read. For some reason, I did not know this WW11 adventure took place. I guess the reason is that there are more WW11 stories out there that never got printed almost like this one. Fortunately, the author thru hard, hard work was able to put this true story together and it wasn't easy.
This is a mind-boggling escape AND survival story about 26 medics and nurses that crashed landed in Nazi-occupied Albania in November 1943.
I truly enjoyed reading this true story put together and published 2013, by Timothy M Gay.
This is a mind-boggling escape AND survival story about 26 medics and nurses that crashed landed in Nazi-occupied Albania in November 1943.
I truly enjoyed reading this true story put together and published 2013, by Timothy M Gay.
September 2, 2017
Interesting if this region in WW II is of particular interest to you, but otherwise ok, not fascinating or anything. I never really felt like I really knew or bonded with the people in the story. I did finish it though.
July 3, 2018
The best account I've read of the ordeal.
August 17, 2015
In 1943 a plane carrying 27 American medical personnel and crew strayed off course and crashed in Albania. After briefly describing the political situation in the region at the time, the author gives a vivid account of the rescues attempts of these nurses and medics. This is a well told story with excellent historical documentation. Savage Will takes in the role of women in America's World War II forces in Europe. Once started the book was hard to put aside.
July 24, 2018
I found this to be an engaging, well-written account of the escape of a group of American Nurses, medics & their pilots that went down behind enemy lines in World War 2. Despite the odds, they managed to find their way out with the help of the OSS and British SOE troops. The help of the Albanian Resistance cannot be discounted either.
The Author does a good job of outlining some of the history of the region to help explain the politics of the area. The most telling part of this is the miscommunication that occurred between the US and Britain. At times, it seemed like the US was all but trying to take over in an area that they had no experience in.
The most shocking part of the book? That after their ordeal and all they went through, when they came out of the hospital, per Army regulations, they were transferred out of the region. Without fanfare, they arrived back in the states. They should have at least received a medal or some sort of recognition.
The Author does a good job of outlining some of the history of the region to help explain the politics of the area. The most telling part of this is the miscommunication that occurred between the US and Britain. At times, it seemed like the US was all but trying to take over in an area that they had no experience in.
The most shocking part of the book? That after their ordeal and all they went through, when they came out of the hospital, per Army regulations, they were transferred out of the region. Without fanfare, they arrived back in the states. They should have at least received a medal or some sort of recognition.
May 1, 2019
I promise myself that I am not going to read another WWII book, and then I find this book. This book is a great read! Twenty-six nurses and medics escape after crashing into Albania. Albania is contolled by the Nazis. The courage of these people is mind blowing. Th author has done his research for this book. The reader needs to plan on reading for long periods of time because it is impossible to put down the book.
January 19, 2020
I absolutely don’t want to take anything away from what these people went through to get back into friendly territory. However, the writing made it a little boring to be honest. I felt none of their terror, pain, or exhaustion. It’s a good story and really too bad that it was kind of swept under the rug by the US.
October 23, 2018
Though the writing style is a bit stiff, this is still about as thrilling a WW2 true story as I ever read. The savage courage of these survivors is beyond comparison and I too, in all my years of reading about the war, missed this one.
September 26, 2019
An little know escape from Albania that involved 30 nurses and medics that went through treacherous terrain, partisans and inclement weather. They managed to get FDR's attention in getting them rescued. With the OSS-SOE cooperating to get them out.
November 5, 2014
This account of an incredible true story manages to be both page-turning thriller and illuminating historical account of the goings-on in the Balkans during WWII. I first found out about the book during a visit to the USA and was lucky enough to get hold of a copy.
Austere Yorkshireman Gary Duffy, a Special Operations Executive agent posted behind enemy lines in Albania, is tasked with escorting a group of American nurses, medics, and pilots whose plane has flown off-course and crash-landed in Nazi-occupied territory. The book charts their journey behind enemy lines across harsh terrain and forbidding conditions.
Alongside the main story, I learned a lot about the political scene in Albania and further afield during the war from the compromises Churchill made in supporting the communist Hoxha movement against the Nazis to the work of the British Special Operations Executive and the broader relationship between the Americans and Brits. Attached to such a compelling story, it's a great way to learn a bit more about the political geography of the Balkans during that time.
I was a particular fan of Gary Duffy's character who is at turns ill-tempered and difficult but ultimately utterly devoted to getting the group home alive. For me, he's the real hero of this story and it's a great shame that his achievements went largely unrecognised (in typical British fashion, he never mentioned the episode to his wife).
Overall, this is a fantastic true story, rivetingly told.
Austere Yorkshireman Gary Duffy, a Special Operations Executive agent posted behind enemy lines in Albania, is tasked with escorting a group of American nurses, medics, and pilots whose plane has flown off-course and crash-landed in Nazi-occupied territory. The book charts their journey behind enemy lines across harsh terrain and forbidding conditions.
Alongside the main story, I learned a lot about the political scene in Albania and further afield during the war from the compromises Churchill made in supporting the communist Hoxha movement against the Nazis to the work of the British Special Operations Executive and the broader relationship between the Americans and Brits. Attached to such a compelling story, it's a great way to learn a bit more about the political geography of the Balkans during that time.
I was a particular fan of Gary Duffy's character who is at turns ill-tempered and difficult but ultimately utterly devoted to getting the group home alive. For me, he's the real hero of this story and it's a great shame that his achievements went largely unrecognised (in typical British fashion, he never mentioned the episode to his wife).
Overall, this is a fantastic true story, rivetingly told.
April 9, 2015
Any book on heroic tales during World War 2 definitely captures my interest and this book does not disappoint. It's truly amazing that all of the medical staff and soldiers that were caught behind enemy lines made it out safely with no injuries or really worse for wear, given there lack of food, weather conditions they had to endure during their trek to escape and the arduous climbs to mountainous summits during the dead of winter especially without specialized gear.
January 13, 2014
I'm always interested in real stories, particularly heroic ones. While this story was good, the writing held it back. It took too long to develop and never really made me identify with any of the characters. I kept reading, hoping it would at some point pick up the pace, but it never did.
February 8, 2014
I thought that this book was pretty dull considering all that happened to this group of nurses and medics. I thought it could easily have been more exciting and personalized. It was interesting reading about a part of history I didn't know, but it felt quite a bit like a text book to me.
May 5, 2014
Skimmed mostly. My Great Aunt Polly was one of the flight nurses trapped behind enemy lines after a plane crash in Albania during WWII. This book sheds more light on the Albanians who assisted these Americans at great personal risk.
October 26, 2014
Another of the many engaging stories that don't get mainstream written or TV coverage but make for compelling reading.
October 7, 2015
An engaging account of American nurses whose plane crashes in Albania during WW2.
July 22, 2015
This book took a little time to get going. It initially did not do a good job interspersing back story with events of the crash. But it found itself as it got going.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews