Albanian Escape: The True Story of U.S. Army Nurses Behind Enemy Lines

by Agnes Jensen Mangerich

On November 8, 1943, U.S. Army nurse Agnes Jensen stepped out of a cold rain in Catania, Sicily, into a C-53 transport plane. But she and twelve other nurses never arrived in Bari, Italy, where they were to transport wounded soldiers to hospitals farther from the front lines. A violent storm and pursuit by German Messerschmitts led to a crash landing in a remote part of Albania, leaving the nurses, their team of medics, and the flight crew stranded in Nazi-occupied territory. What followed was a dangerous nine-week game of hide-and-seek with the enemy, a situation President Roosevelt monitored daily. Albanian partisans aided the stranded Americans in the search for a British Intelligence Mission, and the group began a long and hazardous journey to the Adriatic coast. During the following weeks, they crossed Albania's second highest mountain in a blizzard, were strafed by German planes, managed to flee a town moments before it was bombed, and watched helplessly as an attempt to airlift them out was foiled by Nazi forces. Albanian Escape is the suspense-filled story of the only group of Army flight nurses to have spent any length of time in occupied territory during World War II. The nurses and flight crew endured frigid weather, survived on little food, and literally wore out their shoes trekking across the rugged countryside. Thrust into a perilous situation and determined to survive, these women found courage and strength in each other and in the kindness of Albanians and guerrillas who hid them from the Germans.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2010

Reviews

[Mary McCormick-Gendzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of heretofore unknown nurses from America, whose plane crashed in Albania, in Nazi territory. The valiant,effort of British, and Allied forces combined with many Albanians

Illustrated the compassion and commitment to save lives, simply reminds me of Jesus's shepherd, who leaves all behind and rejoices when the one is found
The courage of the nurses is outstanding. I feel honored to h ave shared this book with other nurses.
We do not
often hear theses stories.

[Jenny Spink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Wish it was a little bit longer. I would have liked to hear more about when they returned.

[Pat Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could you handle 2 months behind enemy lines after surviving a plane crash? These nurses did, thanks to their own strength and the help of Albanian civilians. I read a hardcover version published in 1999. Glad it's more available to all on Kindle.

[MaryJo Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a great title and then to read it even better! You become involved in a true story of WW11 nurses and medics who crash landed their plane (enroute to Italy) into Albania in 1943. There were 26 people who were led thru this country in snow and rain for 3 months until they were rescued. The poor place at that time was partly occupied by the Nazis and also had a strong group of partisans working on the Allies side. Another group of partisans were working with the Germans. These brave, scared nurses and medics climbed mountains, stayed on dirt floors of people who had no food to spare, constantly fearing he Germans, and walked miles each day to find their way to the coast where they could get across the Adriatic sea back to Italy.. This account is told thru the eyes of Jens, the head nurse and also official reports of the British and American soldiers who helped them.

[Sandra Bass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I completed a hiking trip in Albania this Spring and at the suggestion of our guide I read this true account of an airplane crash and subsequent rescue of army nurses. It was especially appealing to me as a nurse and being familiar with the country and terrain they were traversing!