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Defiant Courage: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance
"I remember reading We Die Alone in 1970 and I could never forget it. Then when we went to Norway to do a docudrama, people told us again and again that certain parts were pure fiction. Since I was a Norwegian that was not good enough; I had to find the truth. I sincerely believe we did,” writes author Astrid Karlsen Scott. Defiant Courage is the true story of what Jan Baalsrud endured as he tried to escape from the Gestapo in Norway’s Troms District. In late March 1943, in the midst of WWII, four Norwegian saboteurs arrived in northern Norway on a fishing cutter and set anchor in Toftefjord to establish a base for their operations. However, they were betrayed, and a German boat attacked the cutter, creating a battlefield and spiraling Jan Baalsrud into the adventure of his life. The only survivor and wounded, Baalsrud begins a perilous journey to freedom, swimming icy fjords, climbing snow-covered peaks, enduring snowstorms, and getting caught in a monstrous avalanche. Suffering from snowblindness and frostbite, more than sixty people of the Troms District risk their lives to help Baalsrud to freedom. Meticulously researched for more than five years, Karlsen Scott and Haug bring forth the truth behind this captivating, edge-of-your-seat, real-life survival story.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2010
97 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 25, 2011
This is a true story written by a friend from church. It was very well written and readable. It was both tragic and inspiring. I love hearing stories of courage and people who will do the right thing no matter the consequences. It causes me to stop and ponder "what was it that gave the strength to risk everything for someone else". I like things that force me to think that and when I find an answer to then think "how can I be like that so I can always stand for the right".
August 18, 2015
An interesting story of individual survival and the courage of the Norwegians resistance to the Nazi occupiers. A bit tedious/repetitive at times and hard to follow the escape route as it is described. The maps in the kindle edition are not that helpful.
February 21, 2021
really enjoyed this true story about the Norwegian resistance during WW2. A must read for anyone interested in this subject.
July 10, 2025
WOW. That’s kinda all I have to say.
This was an amazing novel about how one man escaped the Nazi’s grasp when a sabotage mission goes fatally wrong during the German occupation of Norway during WWII. At every turn Jan had every reason to give up, physically and mentally, yet he didn’t. At every turn the innocent citizens he asked for help had every reason to refuse him for their own safety, yet they didn’t. This man shouldn’t have survived, yet he did, and this is the incredible story about how he did it.
What I loved about this book is that it is 99% factual with sources to back it up, yet it reads like a novel, which really appeals to me as a reader. I will be reading this again because I know I missed a ton of information.
One final niche love: it has maps, plural!! Spectacular. Truly a masterpiece.
This was an amazing novel about how one man escaped the Nazi’s grasp when a sabotage mission goes fatally wrong during the German occupation of Norway during WWII. At every turn Jan had every reason to give up, physically and mentally, yet he didn’t. At every turn the innocent citizens he asked for help had every reason to refuse him for their own safety, yet they didn’t. This man shouldn’t have survived, yet he did, and this is the incredible story about how he did it.
What I loved about this book is that it is 99% factual with sources to back it up, yet it reads like a novel, which really appeals to me as a reader. I will be reading this again because I know I missed a ton of information.
One final niche love: it has maps, plural!! Spectacular. Truly a masterpiece.
November 5, 2017
When I started this story, I realized that I was already familiar with this story from my previous experience reading and watching the movie based on it [1]. Even so, although most of the story was familiar, this is a compelling story and it is worth reading from a different perspective, in this case largely from the point of view of the patriotic Norwegians who helped the desperately injured Jan Baalsrud escape from certain death at the hands of the Gestapo. If you want to read a story about Norway's experience in World War II [2] and how a large group of people joined together to help someone in need and thumb their nose despite the extreme dangers to themselves at the Germans and their quislings, this book will certainly be worth your time. It is written in an intriguing style and at more than 300 pages it is not as fast a read as many contemporary books are. Even so, it is still a read full of pathos as well as an obvious and open admiration for the patriotism of Norwegians in the grip of Nazi oppression.
In terms of its contents, this book takes a chronological approach to the daring escape of Baalsrud from a sabotage mission gone wrong because of the mission's betrayal by a Norwegian merchant whose name was changed so that he would not be subject to continual harassment by the readers of this (and other) books. The authors begin with some context about Norway's fall to German troops and the response of many patriotic Norwegians to Norway's fall, including a company of commandos who joined with the British and had a base in the Shetlands Islands where they would engage in occasional raids. The authors then discuss the mostly fatal raid that was taken by twelve commandos, eleven of whom were killed, as well as the dangerous cat and mouse game played between the Nazis and their local supporters and patriotic Norwegians concerning the rescue of Baalsrud, which is told in great detail. Some of the names are changed to protect the guilty, but the book is full of drama and testament to the courage of many brave men and women--the authors are wide in their giving of credit where it is due, to Norwegians and Lapps, to men, women, and children, to families and bachelors, to carpenters and fishermen and raindeer herders and teachers, and the book comes with plenty of maps and photos of the people involved to give the reader and understanding of the rugged and unforgiving terrain of Northern Norway in the area around Tromsø.
What is especially admirable about this book is the way it puts virtue out front and center. This is not a book that looks at history with a cynical approach, or that views patriotism as a bad thing or that is unable to call good and evil by their proper names. This is a book about the many ways that people can be heroes, and how even children in times of war and occupation can be forced into difficult and complex situations. The authors show the resourcefulness and resilience of people in immensely difficult situations while simultaneously showing aspects of social history that has a compelling narrative while also showing the "little people" who are often ignored by history. All of this is done in a way that ought to make Norwegians feel justly proud about how they maintained freedom in spirit even in the face of German oppression. Yet in reading this book, there is a sense as well that while this reader at least (and no doubt many others) have no problem celebrating the sabotage of German military efforts in occupied Norway and the bravery and resistance of the Norwegian people, that the commandos and freedom fighters celebrated here would not be nearly as noble if their cause had not been just. Thankfully, it was.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
In terms of its contents, this book takes a chronological approach to the daring escape of Baalsrud from a sabotage mission gone wrong because of the mission's betrayal by a Norwegian merchant whose name was changed so that he would not be subject to continual harassment by the readers of this (and other) books. The authors begin with some context about Norway's fall to German troops and the response of many patriotic Norwegians to Norway's fall, including a company of commandos who joined with the British and had a base in the Shetlands Islands where they would engage in occasional raids. The authors then discuss the mostly fatal raid that was taken by twelve commandos, eleven of whom were killed, as well as the dangerous cat and mouse game played between the Nazis and their local supporters and patriotic Norwegians concerning the rescue of Baalsrud, which is told in great detail. Some of the names are changed to protect the guilty, but the book is full of drama and testament to the courage of many brave men and women--the authors are wide in their giving of credit where it is due, to Norwegians and Lapps, to men, women, and children, to families and bachelors, to carpenters and fishermen and raindeer herders and teachers, and the book comes with plenty of maps and photos of the people involved to give the reader and understanding of the rugged and unforgiving terrain of Northern Norway in the area around Tromsø.
What is especially admirable about this book is the way it puts virtue out front and center. This is not a book that looks at history with a cynical approach, or that views patriotism as a bad thing or that is unable to call good and evil by their proper names. This is a book about the many ways that people can be heroes, and how even children in times of war and occupation can be forced into difficult and complex situations. The authors show the resourcefulness and resilience of people in immensely difficult situations while simultaneously showing aspects of social history that has a compelling narrative while also showing the "little people" who are often ignored by history. All of this is done in a way that ought to make Norwegians feel justly proud about how they maintained freedom in spirit even in the face of German oppression. Yet in reading this book, there is a sense as well that while this reader at least (and no doubt many others) have no problem celebrating the sabotage of German military efforts in occupied Norway and the bravery and resistance of the Norwegian people, that the commandos and freedom fighters celebrated here would not be nearly as noble if their cause had not been just. Thankfully, it was.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
March 29, 2018
Just outstanding! The real heros.
5 stars for lack of higher number of stars! Just an excellent read!
I have read many WW II books and holocaust books. This book revealed to me the really true heros of WW II that were just "people" in Nazi fascist controlled areas. Whatever happened to those citizens of any country that fought with the underground and suffered so much than generals, colonels and majors? Who really made a difference and should have been recognized above and beyond those that were trained, educated and bound by rules?
This is a fantastic story of every kind of resilience, determination, belief systems, integrity, credibility, social resilience of integrity and of a very beautiful people we rarely hear about, because they don't bear the names of regularly tooted military leaders. Just every day people, a not so every day world, but, an every day belief system
True heros not reported to the world! A complete shame! If one has ever wondered about skill, education, compassion, neighborhood resistance, regional skills and morality, then, this is the top 1% of books to read! I
So sad that, at 64 years of age, this is the first time and book I have read about true heros and the "little insignificant people." Shame upon writers!
5 stars for lack of higher number of stars! Just an excellent read!
I have read many WW II books and holocaust books. This book revealed to me the really true heros of WW II that were just "people" in Nazi fascist controlled areas. Whatever happened to those citizens of any country that fought with the underground and suffered so much than generals, colonels and majors? Who really made a difference and should have been recognized above and beyond those that were trained, educated and bound by rules?
This is a fantastic story of every kind of resilience, determination, belief systems, integrity, credibility, social resilience of integrity and of a very beautiful people we rarely hear about, because they don't bear the names of regularly tooted military leaders. Just every day people, a not so every day world, but, an every day belief system
True heros not reported to the world! A complete shame! If one has ever wondered about skill, education, compassion, neighborhood resistance, regional skills and morality, then, this is the top 1% of books to read! I
So sad that, at 64 years of age, this is the first time and book I have read about true heros and the "little insignificant people." Shame upon writers!
January 15, 2009
After a sabatoge mission goes horribly awry in the farthest reaches of Arctic Norway, one Norwegian soldier overcomes unthinkable challeneges as he escapes from occupied Norway to free Sweeden while being pursued at every turn by the German Army and his own traitorous countrymen. Along the way he his aided by countless brave Norwegians who face certain death to themselves and their loved ones if caught by the enemy. He sustains severe cold-related injury to his extremities - as a physician it is clear he had gangrene and was likely septic - prompting multiple self-amputations (which if not performed would have lead to his demise by sepsis). This is a feel-good story and would make a great movie, and like many WWII tales makes you wonder time and time again "where did they find that (Defiant) Courage".
October 25, 2011
This is an AMAZING true story! I didn't love the "voice" of the author -- I think it was a combination of too many simple sentences, and a little moralizing, that gave the book a kind of Dick and Jane get a Moral Compass feel. However! It was obviously painstakingly researched, and its incredible to me that someone who researched so well would also be a fantastic writer, so I'm not surprised and I don't judge. Much. But the author is local, and I hope if I ever meet her, she understands that! If you're interested in: WWII, Norwegians, war, prisoners, escapees, fugitives, mountains, reindeer, Samis, people, the world, the meaning of life -- read this book! I don't care what I said about the "voice". It will sound so stupid to you that I even said that after you read this!
March 21, 2013
I borrowed this book from an uncle who served as a missionary in the same region of Norway where much of this account took place. I have read many accounts of harrowing escapes from the Nazis yet as I read this one, I kept asking myself, "How did this guy even survive this?" His tale is truly remarkable in that so many people (both resistance members & not) were involved in helping this man escape, yet no one ever turned him in or betrayed any of his helpers either during or after the event! The French could've learned a lesson from these Norwegians.
February 18, 2015
I agree with the reviewer who said it was hard to read in that sometimes I had to put the book down and take a break before going on, Jan's ordeal just couldn't seem to get any worse, but it did. He was close to death many times, yet he persevered, under almost impossible conditions and circumstances. The miscommunication toward the end was frustrating, but all contact between his heroic helpers had to be scrupulously protected from prying Nazi military intelligence. The Norwegians' mettle is revealed at every turn in this account of defiant courage.
October 26, 2015
I highly recommend this book as an engaging and compelling recounting of a true story from WWII. Though the story is related in a very factual manor, it innately is emotional due to its dramatic situation. I was riveted by the story and hated having to put it down before finishing. The photos, maps, quotes, documents, and graphics included help to enhance one's understanding and appreciation of the realities of the extreme situation documented in the book. You can't help being not only inspired but completely amazed.
January 19, 2017
A trial of endurance few could equal
This is a story of a brave man. Through determination, perseverance and the help of many good patriotic citizens of Norway and Sweden he walked, swam and crawled to escape capture by the Nazis. Then with their help he was transported over the mountain ranges to Sweden and freedom.
How did he/they manage it? For that you will need to read this story. Don't expect edge of your seat suspense or tension. It isn't that kind of book. But it is the story of a man's will to survive and the people that would give everything to help him.
This is a story of a brave man. Through determination, perseverance and the help of many good patriotic citizens of Norway and Sweden he walked, swam and crawled to escape capture by the Nazis. Then with their help he was transported over the mountain ranges to Sweden and freedom.
How did he/they manage it? For that you will need to read this story. Don't expect edge of your seat suspense or tension. It isn't that kind of book. But it is the story of a man's will to survive and the people that would give everything to help him.
November 18, 2015
The epitome of courage
What a great story of courage. I believe I would have used the last bullet to kill myself rather than endure what he went through. The selflessness of the people that helped him was remarkable when you consider the atrocities the German Nazis were capable of. These people were not only putting themselves in danger but their whole family and even their village. They were the true heroes.
What a great story of courage. I believe I would have used the last bullet to kill myself rather than endure what he went through. The selflessness of the people that helped him was remarkable when you consider the atrocities the German Nazis were capable of. These people were not only putting themselves in danger but their whole family and even their village. They were the true heroes.
January 31, 2017
Twelve young Norwegians were trained in Scotland by the Allies to return to Norway and to sabotage Germans. Eleven were caught and executed by the Gestapo. This is the story of the one who avoided capture. Between the harsh winter weather and the Gestapo it was a difficult situation for the young man. Fellow Norwegians who had never met the young man hid him and provided food and clothes. This was a thriller but it was also a true story.
February 11, 2017
Excitement throughout!
I could hardly put this book down, wondering what would happen next! Seldom have I heard stories of Norway occupied by Nazi's during WWII. the persistence and courage of the main character, Jan, and the Norwegian resistance fighters makes me aware of the characteristics that are important in humanity. Ordinary citizens, giving what they can, keeping hope alive.
I could hardly put this book down, wondering what would happen next! Seldom have I heard stories of Norway occupied by Nazi's during WWII. the persistence and courage of the main character, Jan, and the Norwegian resistance fighters makes me aware of the characteristics that are important in humanity. Ordinary citizens, giving what they can, keeping hope alive.
August 16, 2018
Very interesting and almost unfathomable story of which little is known. It showed the resilience of the human spirit to survive and points out the courage and compassion of those who helped their fellow countryman find his way to freedom. I really like the story despite trying to keep straight all those involved with names foreign to me. A riveting tale if you like WWII history. I would recommend it highly.
April 1, 2019
Amazing Story of Escape
And of wonderful Norwegian families who helped Jan Baalsrud. He escaped the Germans with the help of so many good people who risked their lives to help him in unbelievable bad conditions in the Arctic. The author includes pictures of most of these people which is great. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it so detailed and such a lot of same type of conditions to read.
And of wonderful Norwegian families who helped Jan Baalsrud. He escaped the Germans with the help of so many good people who risked their lives to help him in unbelievable bad conditions in the Arctic. The author includes pictures of most of these people which is great. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it so detailed and such a lot of same type of conditions to read.
August 29, 2015
A fascinating and well researched study of the escape of a Norwegian from the hands of the Germans in the northern reaches of Norway and the selfless help and assistance offered by locals along the way.
Well worth a read for those finding military history of interest and those believing in the heroism of many under extremely difficult circumstances.
Well worth a read for those finding military history of interest and those believing in the heroism of many under extremely difficult circumstances.
March 13, 2016
I wanted to like this book, having previously read another book about Jan Baaslrud (We Die Alone) which I think was much better written, although lacking the detail and more thorough research of this book. The author of this book spends way too much time on patriotic hyperbole which detracts from the factual story. Maps were pretty much useless in the Kindle edition, and much missed.
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October 17, 2016An amazing story of escape and endurance. One person survived the bombing of their ship in a fjord in northern Norway by the Germans in WWII. The authors interviewed the people who helped him along the way and did lots of research to find the true story. Maps showing his path of escape are included.
September 23, 2022
We actually listened to the Audible version of this. I have to say that the narrator was good, but the Norwegian names (both geographical and human) were hard to follow. Too, the story was a lot of "tell", not "show" (this happened, then this, then this)
I liked that the epilogue told what happened to the various people, especially those that collaborated with the Nazis.
I liked that the epilogue told what happened to the various people, especially those that collaborated with the Nazis.
January 20, 2017
A breathtaking story
There are some problems with the English translation (or the editing) but overall they are minor. The story will grab you and hold you in awe of the strength of everyday heroes in a time long gone.
There are some problems with the English translation (or the editing) but overall they are minor. The story will grab you and hold you in awe of the strength of everyday heroes in a time long gone.
January 28, 2017
amazing courage
Unbelievable determination and will for all involved. This is more of a story for those who helped and were not afraid for themselves to help another. An amazing generation whose courage and will for freedom should never be forgotten.
Unbelievable determination and will for all involved. This is more of a story for those who helped and were not afraid for themselves to help another. An amazing generation whose courage and will for freedom should never be forgotten.
August 17, 2021
Great read
remarkable book-a testament to the efforts put forth by the Norwegian resistance during the time of the evil Nazi invasion.A very personal account of the pain and endurance during the period of invasion by the Nazi’s
remarkable book-a testament to the efforts put forth by the Norwegian resistance during the time of the evil Nazi invasion.A very personal account of the pain and endurance during the period of invasion by the Nazi’s
October 3, 2007
Excellent
March 8, 2015
A good accountofa a heroic part of the norwegian resistance
October 4, 2017
A tremendous factual story of courage in the face of adversity; set in Norway during WWII.
October 31, 2019
Incredible heroism and journey through intense conditions told with great detail.
June 29, 2023
It takes a long time to explain the not exciting bits of the story. Could have gotten into the meat faster. Less is more people! Less is more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews