Flee the Captor

by Herbert Ford

John Henry Weidner, a hero of history's greatest holocaust, saved the lives of 800 Jews, more than 100 Allied aviators, and many others who fled the nightmare of Nazism. Others with less moral fortitude may have closed their eyes to the brutality about them, but Weidner refused to be cowed, and so braved imprisonment and torture for his humanitarian efforts. "I asked John Weidner why he had risked his life repeatedly to save so many. His answer was brief and to the "They were God's children; they were human beings.'" - Haskell L. Lazere "Why was it that John accepted all these risks so readily? . . . he had that directness, that simplicity of faith, which made him realize that he was at all times in the hands of a loving God. . . . And it was because of this dimension of John's life that he, a Seventh-day Adventist, and I, the Reformed pastor, regarded ourselves . . . as comrades in a common human cause." - W. A. Visser `t Hooft

Genres: History, Biography, World War II, Nonfiction

373 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1966

Reviews

[Dacky2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why a movie was made about Oscar Schindler and not about John Henry Weidner is beyond me. He was directly involved in saving almost as many lives as Schindler, and the story has plenty of close calls and drama.
Perhaps the only weakness to the story is that it can be a little repetitive. Basically, a mule running people across the border into Switzerland, almost as a routine, until things go wrong. Of course, that's what makes the book a worthy read. Things go really wrong, yet he survives.

[Her van Dav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo inicié el año pasado. Por diversas circunstancias no había podido terminarlo hasta esta tarde. Es avasallador en las emociones, especialmente porque toca uno de los temas más sensibles de la historia humana: “El Holocausto”. Había leído algunos relatos de la 2da Guerra Mundial, como “La guerra tiene rostro de mujer” de Alixievich -también lo recomiendo-, pero este, reconstruido por Herbert Ford y traducido al español por Betina Pizzuto, es inmensamente profundo. Hay pasajes que cuestan leerlos, realmente. Hay nudos en la garganta que se atoran cada tanto pasa uno sus páginas, especialmente los últimos capítulos. Pero me gusta porque termina con un final esperanzador, no inventado, sobre un periodo de la historia que como dijo Ratzinger «sólo puedo guardar silencio, un silencio que es un grito hacia Dios: “¿Por qué, Señor, permaneciste callado?, ¿cómo pudiste tolerar todo esto?”». Realmente suscita muchos temas por pensar y discutir.

Creo que la vida de John Henry Weidner puede ser una respuesta a esa interrogante. Él, que no se quedó callado; que estuvo pro activo aún a costa de su propia vida; él, que mostró el altruismo y la esencia del cristianismo en uno de los pasajes más oscuros de la humanidad.

Me gustan las palabras que Milton Geiger puso en boca de Weidner:
«Creo en los hombres porque debo, sí voy a creer en Dios; quien creyó lo suficiente en el hombre como para crearlo y continuar siendo paciente con él. Esto es lo que ninguna crueldad o locura puede destruir: que el hombre crea en sí mismo, lo que en definitiva es su confianza en su Creador».

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books growing up. The story of John Henry Wiedner, who was a textile executive in Annecy, France during the Second World War. John devoted himself to helping persecuted people escape to Switzerland from the Nazis and Vichy France. The book is paced very well explaining the situations and events and builds suspense throughout. Pictures in the center of the hardback helped me imagine myself in John's time and situation. Awesome book and highly recommended. Check it out you cannot go wrong. I recently passed through Geneva, Switzerland and saw the mountains mention by the author.

[Mama2hapas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to say this is one of those books you'll never forget. It made a huge impact on me when I first read it as a young teen. So much so I eventually attended the school in France he had attended as a young man.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

How this is not a better-known story in the annals of WWII heroism, I do not know. I can't tell you how many books and articles I've read on WWII-related subjects. I can tell you that I'm at a loss for how this was one that never came to my attention.

This book tells the story of John (Jean) Weidner and the work of the Dutch-Paris underground in Nazi-occupied France. Weidner and his group were responsible for saving thousands of lives through a network of routes that led to places like Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland. The people saved included Dutch citizens, Jews, and Allied servicemen shot down over France. They also acted as de facto intelligence operatives on behalf of exiled free governments.

As I read this book, it occurred to me that we're only a couple of years away from the 100th anniversary of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch and the Nazis' rise to power. That means people born today are as removed from the events of WWII as I was when I was born from the events of the Reconstruction Era. This makes stories like this one all the more important to read, know, and pass on. Not only for the sake of history but for the sake of the future and the dangers--all around us--of totalitarianism and collectivism.

If you can get a hold of this book, do it. I came across mine by happenstance. My church has a table where old books from the church's library or that were donated are given away. I just happened to glance at this one. I started reading it at about 10:00 on a Saturday morning and now, less than 24 hours later, I've finished it. It's that good.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I read many years ago as I attended school in Collonges-sous-Salève, France in the 1980s. The book was fascinating first because I was attending the very same school where Jean Henry Weidner, a Seventh-Day Adventist underground protestor against the Nazi regime was studying during the World War II years. He saved many lives along the French-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland. This story became "alive" and very real to me because it describes the harrowing stories of resistance to the Nazi soldiers trying to capture Weidner. I could not put this book down once I started it! Many years later, I would find myself in the Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem in Israel where they have planted a tree of honor in Jean Henry Weidner's name. He saved the lives of many innocent Jews by taking them into Switzerland (a neutral country during WW II) and protection. More than 800 lives were directly saved because of his outstanding efforts. If you like true stories of amazing acts of courage in the face of real danger, you will enjoy this book like I did!

[Dan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

As another reviewer noted, the book gets repetitive. But I guess life is repetitive, even when you're smuggling escapees from the Nazis.

I'm not too familiar with Vichy France, but the complicated political situation made for opportunity... and danger. Particularly as the Nazis clamped down as the Allied invasion drew closer, they seemed to become more vicious and brutal. If the war had been prolonged any further, I have no doubt that they would have finally executed Mr. Weidner.

Also if the Nazis had been in charge from the start, the Dutch-Paris connection would probably have never developed. At the beginning Mr. Weidner and company were essentially just trying to avoid their own government so that the bureaucrats had plausible denial. But by the end the Gestapo itself was hunting Mr. Weidner.

Still, I'm proud that a person of my faith stood up and did something about the awful Nazi terror. Obeying God meant going directly against the authority of that time and place.

Yes, this story deserves film treatment. Would someone please take it up?

[Adric Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the action-packed story of John Weidner who was the leader of the Dutch Paris Underground during World War 2. A part of this book I found especially interesting was when he would question whether he was doing the right thing when he had to use illegal methods to get refugees to a safer place. Throughout this book you are reminded of the constant terror that Weidner must have felt, not knowing whether it was safe for him to tell someone of his underground work. The constant changing of his surroundings, and his need to always adapt new methods in his works keeps you on edge. I really enjoyed the way this book is written.

[Ron Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1966 and there is an updated version on Google books which I have not read. It was especially enjoyable for me to read since I live in the south of France and have been most of the areas mentioned in the book. The story being real, also added to the historical fiction book "The Nightengale", which I also enjoyed. Some have said that it can get a little repetitive, but I didn't think so. Since they were actual events, they necessarily had to be told in sequence and each event was separate.

[Josh]

Good story

[Eric Anderson]

I think they do get away.

[Joelle McNulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Quite the story of heroism, bravery, and forgiveness.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so moving and inspiring. Definitely recommend. I have read it twice now.

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biography of an amazingly brave and caring man. What he went through to help others, never thinking of personal gain or reward, is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.
The writing style is a different. It's choppy. The author tries to make an smooth flowing narrative out of a group of separate events. It just didn't work. It starts out with a dramatic event then flashes back to what the author did previously. However it never clearly indicates when that event happened in the flow of the story. He also invented a lot of dialog, and delves every once in a while into the characters thoughts.
The other issue I take with the story is the portrayal of Seventh Day Adventism and Catholicism as Christian. Considering the author's religious affiliation, it's not surprising. It does mean that there is no real hope. Christ's redeeming death and resurrection is not mentioned. Faith in Christ alone as Savior is not mentioned. So the hope of the final resurrection that is mentioned at the end is confusing and rather out of place.

[Chazzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took my time with this as it is not a light read.

This is the story of John Henry Weidner. A Dutch man who was a majoy player in the Dutch-Paris underground during WWII. An organization that was involved in getting people out of Nazi areas. Not just Jews but anyone caught in the cross hairs of the Nazi war machine.

He worked to get the papers needed to allow people to travel and get out of the country. Developed routes over mountains, via rail or any way possible to move people to safer places where they would not be murdered or tortured.

He was one of the top 'most wanted' on the Nazi's list. He was captured a couple of times, tortured and excaped, never giving away any info regarding the underground people he worked with.

THe book gives you a good idea of how deadly it was to live during this period and how irrational the people could become to save their own skins.

[Rachel L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of John Henry Wiedner, a Dutchman living in France during WWII, and Dutch-Paris, the underground ring that he started. Their mission was to assist Jews and others in escaping from the Nazis. Very interesting and exciting, but it does show how hard life was in those days. I'd give it a higher rating if it weren't for the rather awkward writing style. Still worth reading, though, especially since from what I've seen it's the only book around dealing with Wiedner and Dutch-Paris.

[Lori Spier]

Flee the captor by Herbert Ford (1966)