Cruel Crossing: Escaping Hitler Across the Pyrenees

by Edward Stourton

The secret history of the WW2 escape routes through the Pyrenees from France to personal stories of endurance, betrayal and remarkable bravery.
     
The mountain paths are as treacherous as they are steep -- the more so in the dark and in winter. Even for the fit the journey is a formidable challenge. Hundreds of those who climbed through the Pyrenees during the Second World War were malnourished and exhausted after weeks on the run hiding in barns and attics. Many never even reached the Spanish border. 

Today their bravery and endurance is commemorated each July by a trek along the Chemin de la Liberté –-- the toughest and most dangerous of wartime routes. From his fellow pilgrims Edward Stourton uncovers stories of midnight scrambles across rooftops and drops from speeding trains; burning Lancasters, doomed love affairs, horrific murder and astonishing heroism.

The lives of the men, women and children who were drawn by the war to the Pyrenees often read as breathtakingly exciting adventure, but they were led against a background of intense fear, mounting persecution and appalling risk. Drawing on interviews with the few remaining survivors and the families of those who were there, Edward Stourton’'s vivid history of this little-known aspect of the Second World War is shocking, dramatic and intensely moving.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Spain, France, War

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2013

About the author

Edward Stourton is a newspaper columnist, writer and presenter of several high-profile current affairs programmes and regularly presents BBC Radio Four programmes such as The World at One, The World this Weekend, Sunday and Analysis. He is a frequent contributor to the Today programme, where for ten years he was one of the main presenters.

Reviews

[Marc Mordey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review written by Helen Carey (author of the WW2 Lavender Road series) and myself :

Cruel Crossing purports to be about one of the routes across the Pyrenees from France used by refugees escaping from Hitler during the Second World War, but it is, in fact, about much more than that. Edward Stourton uses the individual stories of heroism, endurance and courage of certain individuals who crossed or attempted to cross from France into the relative safety of Spain via the ‘Chemin de la Liberté’, as it became known, to illustrate a much bigger picture - that of the extraordinary turmoil and cruelty rife in France as the Nazis tightened their grip Western Europe. The book explores not so much the details of cruel, gruelling, escapes across the treacherous Pyrenees but more the vicious cruelty, treachery and prejudice of people and regimes that made those escapes necessary.
The by-line of the book is ‘Escaping Hitler across the Pyrenees,’ but in fact some of the most revelatory parts of the book are the descriptions of the divisions among the French themselves, on the one hand the almost unbelievable cruelty both at an institutional and individual level and on the other the extraordinary courage and heroism of those helping and supporting the escape attempts.
Cruel Crossing is by no means definitive, nor does it claim to be, there were other escape routes both by land and by sea, in this area and elsewhere. But by focussing on just a few of the stories in that small corner of south-west France Edward Stourton gives us an insight into the horrors that were in store for Jews, shot-down Allied airmen, prisoners of war, secret agents, anti-fascists, liberals, communists, and countless others who just happened to find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time in this and in other parts of Europe, and indeed the world.
It is a compelling read, Edward Stourton has chosen his stories well, individually they are exciting, shocking, tragic and heart warming. He handles his material with sympathy and compassion. His descriptions of the pilgrims on the annual treks of remembrance are poignant, reminding us that this period of history is gradually edging out of living memory. The reader is left with a sense of bewilderment that human beings are capable of such extremes of behaviour, and a profound sense of gratitude for our current freedoms.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating stories of the lines that were set up in WW2 to assist escapees from occupied France including soldiers, airmen, Jews, political refugees, etc. The courage of the people who organised the routes and the passeurs who led them across the rough terrain of the Pyrenees in all weathers is inspiring. Stourton weaves into this narrative other episodes of unbelievable war crimes committed even as the Allied Forces were freeing France, and the difficulty France has had coming to terms with the actions of the Vichy government and those who chose to collaborate. A terrific and thought-provoking read.

[Pat Stearman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. The stories of just some of the people who crossed the Pyrenees during the period between the Spanish Civil War and the end of WW2. Stories of the escape lines and of some of the escapees, and of a trip the author did along one of the more popular routes with a group as a memorial.
I've read a few fiction books recently which include references to the subject so it seemed a good idea to know more. (More than I got from reading the escapers and evaders stories I was slightly obsessed with as a child!)

This is well written & draws on data from various sources. Well worth a read if you have any interest at all.

[Martinxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine historical work focusing on the brave women and men who risked their lives leading escaped allied fighters, and Jewish people fleeing the Nazis, across the Pyrenees to the (relativity) safety of Spain.

I always get a little choked-up when reading this kind of book. Such brave people, doing the right thing and often dying as a result.

Would I have done the same in their position? I can only hope so.

[Geoff Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was on the shelf for some years. I had purchased it, and it had been signed by Edward, when he came to the Richmond walking and Book Festival in North Yorkshire round about the time it came out but was put aside at the time. I am pleased I was rearranging shelves and found this. I had not expected at this point to be so moved by the many stories of heroism but also man’s inhumanity to man. It made me think and wonder whether all this could ever happen again, and then realise that it does and it will in different parts of the world. I learnt much about the issues of French on French actions around the Vichy government, and that the resistance movement was perhaps not what popular fiction would have it. Well worth reading.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A period of history and a part of the world that is of particular interest to me. Preparation for attending a lecture at the Chalke Valley History Festival, Stourton successfully makes the transition from radio journalist to historical author. A wealth of poignant, plangent stories. The indomitable determination of the subsistence farmers of Catalonia and the Basque country shines through. Reading the survival statistics for bomber command it is a surprise that my Father came through it all but no surprise that he never wanted to talk about it.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-researched book that does a good job of describing life in the Pyrenees under the Vichy regime, and the variety of people who found their way to freedom, or died trying (or helping other people to try). Interesting if you know the area, but it actually covers events more globally in France, putting these dramatic escapes into context..

[Alex Bowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very readable yet relatively uninformative book.

While enjoyable enough for what it turned out to be, I felt that it was less a comprehensive exploration of the Pyrenees during the Second World War and more a collection of random musings.

And that's not where its issues ended.

More often than not, the supposed subject matter was side-lined by other mildly related topics. Sometimes, in fact, the entire story of a chapter would be tagged onto the last page, or even the last paragraph, with the rest of the chapter little more than preamble.

Indeed, it felt like there wasn't enough story to go around - despite the fact there clearly is, but it hasn't been written about here.

One might be surprised to hear that I still liked the book once I accepted that I wasn't going to learn much from it.

The bottom line is that those wishing to immerse themselves in what was supposed to be the overarching narrative of Cruel Crossing would do well to look elsewhere.

[Kate Millin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A description of people who were involved in the routes that helped to take people to safety across the Pyrenees during WW2, and some of the people they helped to rescue. It includes some of the awful things done by French on French as well as by the Germans. The bravery of the people who ran the escape lines is amazing, as it the fortitude of those escaping - army and airmen, Jews, children, French and Belgians who needed to escape to save their lives or to join those who were fighting against the Germans as parts of armies. It is thoughtful about how difficult it has been to remember this time while also saying how important the remembering is. There is an annual memorial walk in July over one of the harder routes, difficult enough in daytime but the escapees and their guides had to sleep in the day and travel at night to try and avoid capture. Thought provoking.

[Ray Savarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sounds like it is a bunch of stories about escapes across the Pyrenees; has some of that, but more about life in WW2 trying to escape occupied France; the plight of the Jews in occupied France; some of the after-war repercussions for those in the Vichy government; and tales / mentions of many who lost their lives trying to help escapees.
I didn't find it much of linear storytelling, but a covers a lot of ground.

[BRYN Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative read about the cruel occupation and brave resistance in France during WW2. The portion of the book actually dedicated to Chemin de la Liberte is actually quite small. I have completed this amazing trail and am familiar with it's history, I was expecting the book to focus on the Chemin. Disappointed.

[Mike Massaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent boook

I love this type of non fiction. Excellently researched and written. Towards the end it confronts the French attitudes and behaviors during and post the war. Very enjoyable, and sad in places. Liked all the photos, which you don't always see on kindle.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed the last 75 pages or so as quite repetitive, but I did love this book. Really fascinating!

[Liz]

Could not get into it

[Andy Shakeshaft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very detailed but got a bit samey part way through.

[Issi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of the crossings through the Pyrenees during WWII. There were many brave souls in those dark days.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the time we lived, until recently, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, tales of the Maquis, and the passeurs who risked their lives helping people flee from occupied France to neutral Spain formed part of the fabric of our lives. I'd already heard Edward Stourton's radio programmes on this subject: his subject then was his own journey on the so-called Chemin de la Liberté (http://chemindelaliberte.fr/), and I heard him speak recently at Richmond's Book and Walking Festival (http://www.booksandboots.org/).

His book doesn't disappoint. He manages the wealth of material he's discovered about French, Belgians, British, Americans all involved in the complicated and dangerous process of getting Jews, crashed airmen, escaped prisoners, and above all young Frenchmen escaping the dreaded enforced STO enforced labour programme of the Vichy Government in WWII. He describes the extreme difficulties of crossing the stark and inhospitable higher reaches of the Pyrenees, and brings to life many of the stories of passeurs and escapees. There are so many threads to bring together, so many aspects to this story, but Stourton makes an appealing narrative of the whole. This book is immensely readable, endlessly fascinating, and brings a difficult period of French history to light in a most approachable manner.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating albeit episodic overview of the underground escape routes in Western Europe during the Second World War. The focus of Cruel Crossings is on the Pyrenees routes, but Stoddard dives into many personal accounts and, where possible, connects them to survivors and often fascinating post-war outcomes.

A dedication to the courageous Belgian, French and British locals, resistance and airmen - many of whom were executed or sent to German Death Camps - this book reminds us of the gratitude and respect that those in occupied Europe felt for the airmen that night after night took the war to Germany's fatherland. A timely reminder too that war is often fought on the margins - in the streets, houses and hills of every community - and not just in the front-lines.

[Jo Inglis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal escape stories during WW2 of escapees and their helpers across the Pyrenees from France to Spain.
The personal stories were very moving and the detail is obviously thoroughly researched. But at times I found it hard to follow the thread; sometimes when a new person entered the narrative I found myself wondering if they were new or had been mentioned previously.
Would recommend this book if you are interested in this particular part of WW2 history.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

War time escapes across the Pyrenees are documented in this book.

I couldn’t engage with book.

[Jane Metter]

An interesting exposé of the time if a frustrating read.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book but somewhat lacking as a story . Based on true memories but quite journalistic in style

[Laura Plail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the topic interesting but hard to follow