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The Shetland Bus
A WWII Epic of Escape, Survival and Adventure
The occupation of Western Europe and Scandinavia in the spring of 1940 crippled Britain's ability to gather intelligence information. After the Germans invaded Norway, many Norwegians knew that small boats were constantly sailing from the Shetland Islands to land weapons, supplies, and agents and to rescue refugees.
In The Shetland Bus, David Howarth, who was second in command of the Shetland base, recounts the hundreds of trips made by fishing boats in the dark of Arctic winter to resist the Nazi onslaught.
For the Norwegians who remained in Norway, The Shetland Bus fortified them both physically and spiritually. Nothing but war would have made seamen attempt such dangerous journeys. Some stretched two thousand miles in length and lasted as long as three weeks in boats only fifty to seventy-five feet long. Fishing boats crossing the North Sea were sometimes attacked and sunk in minutes, hundreds of miles from a friendly ship or shore. Their crews had no hope of being saved. But to "take the Shetland Bus" meant escape when capture became the only other option. The Shetland Bus is the amazing true-life account of storms, attacks, danger, and the heroic efforts of brave men.
The occupation of Western Europe and Scandinavia in the spring of 1940 crippled Britain's ability to gather intelligence information. After the Germans invaded Norway, many Norwegians knew that small boats were constantly sailing from the Shetland Islands to land weapons, supplies, and agents and to rescue refugees.
In The Shetland Bus, David Howarth, who was second in command of the Shetland base, recounts the hundreds of trips made by fishing boats in the dark of Arctic winter to resist the Nazi onslaught.
For the Norwegians who remained in Norway, The Shetland Bus fortified them both physically and spiritually. Nothing but war would have made seamen attempt such dangerous journeys. Some stretched two thousand miles in length and lasted as long as three weeks in boats only fifty to seventy-five feet long. Fishing boats crossing the North Sea were sometimes attacked and sunk in minutes, hundreds of miles from a friendly ship or shore. Their crews had no hope of being saved. But to "take the Shetland Bus" meant escape when capture became the only other option. The Shetland Bus is the amazing true-life account of storms, attacks, danger, and the heroic efforts of brave men.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
135 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
About the author
David Howarth
103 books90 followersDavid Armine Howarth (1912 - 1991) was a British historian and author. After graduating from Cambridge University, he was a radio war correspondent for BBC at the start of the Second World War, joining the Navy after the fall of France. He rose to the rank of lieutenant commander and spent four yeas in the Shetland Islands, becoming second in command of the Shetland Naval base. He was involved in the Special Operations Executive (SOE), including the Shetland Bus, an SOE operation manned by Norwegians running a clandestine route between Shetland and Norway, which utilized fishing boats with crews of Norwegian volunteers to land agents and arms in occupied Norway. For his contributions to espionage operations against the German occupation of Norway, he received King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty. The King also made Howarth a Chevalier First Class of the Order of St Olav.
After the War he designed and built boats before turning to writing full time. He wrote an account of the Shetland Bus operation, as well as many other books of history, bringing to his many of his books an immense practical knowledge of ships and the sea.
David Howarth died in 1991. At his request, his ashes were scattered over the waters of Lunna Voe, Shetland, near Lunna House, the first base of the Shetland Bus operation.
After the War he designed and built boats before turning to writing full time. He wrote an account of the Shetland Bus operation, as well as many other books of history, bringing to his many of his books an immense practical knowledge of ships and the sea.
David Howarth died in 1991. At his request, his ashes were scattered over the waters of Lunna Voe, Shetland, near Lunna House, the first base of the Shetland Bus operation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
September 18, 2024
I enjoyed this well presented story of a not widely covered aspect of WWII. It is famous in Shetland and Norway. Today there is a memorial to the 44 men lost over a 3 year period in the war as well as a museum in Scalloway, Shetland dedicated to the “Shetland Bus.” There are memorials in Norway as well. So what was the Shetland Bus? Howarth’s story will answer that question as it tells the details of this semi-secret and heroic mission from 1941 to war’s end.
Howarth was attached to the British navy and 2nd in command with this project based in 3 places on Shetland. The vast majority of those involved were volunteer Norwegian fishermen with their own small traditional boats, usually 50 to 70 feet in length. The mission was to send materials and help to Norway from Shetland and then return with information and endangered agents, families and men who wanted to join the bus.
Though written in a very low key style it is obvious these people were heroic. The voyages had to be done in the winter when it’s dark in Norway. Of course, the North Sea is particularly rough and dangerous in the winter. The original Vikings sailed in similar sized boats but in the summer. At nearest, Shetland and Norway are 134 miles apart. These boats were often alone for days in very rough weather. Once in occupied Norway they depended on looking like innocent fishermen, cover of darkness and help from friendly locals. Boats and men were lost.
If you’ve read The 12th Man (2017) by Astrid Karlsen Scott you’ll have heard the dramatic story of Jan Baarlsrud who was delivered to northern Norway by one of these boats. Howarth lets Baarlsrud tell a bit of his own story here. Very amazing. There is also a movie called The 12th Man that came out in 2017.
Howarth admits that the Shetland Bus was not any kind of decisive factor in WWII but by reading his book you can see its value. I enjoyed the human element including humor and admire Howarth’s ability to make sailing and boats understandable to the lay person. I have since rented (Amazon) a film called Suicide Mission (1954) that was based on this book. It is Norwegian/British and uses many of the real sailors as actors, in particular Leif Larsen who plays the captain. He served the bus by captaining 52 actual missions. I enjoyed the movie and thought it was well worth renting.
Howarth was attached to the British navy and 2nd in command with this project based in 3 places on Shetland. The vast majority of those involved were volunteer Norwegian fishermen with their own small traditional boats, usually 50 to 70 feet in length. The mission was to send materials and help to Norway from Shetland and then return with information and endangered agents, families and men who wanted to join the bus.
Though written in a very low key style it is obvious these people were heroic. The voyages had to be done in the winter when it’s dark in Norway. Of course, the North Sea is particularly rough and dangerous in the winter. The original Vikings sailed in similar sized boats but in the summer. At nearest, Shetland and Norway are 134 miles apart. These boats were often alone for days in very rough weather. Once in occupied Norway they depended on looking like innocent fishermen, cover of darkness and help from friendly locals. Boats and men were lost.
If you’ve read The 12th Man (2017) by Astrid Karlsen Scott you’ll have heard the dramatic story of Jan Baarlsrud who was delivered to northern Norway by one of these boats. Howarth lets Baarlsrud tell a bit of his own story here. Very amazing. There is also a movie called The 12th Man that came out in 2017.
Howarth admits that the Shetland Bus was not any kind of decisive factor in WWII but by reading his book you can see its value. I enjoyed the human element including humor and admire Howarth’s ability to make sailing and boats understandable to the lay person. I have since rented (Amazon) a film called Suicide Mission (1954) that was based on this book. It is Norwegian/British and uses many of the real sailors as actors, in particular Leif Larsen who plays the captain. He served the bus by captaining 52 actual missions. I enjoyed the movie and thought it was well worth renting.
February 9, 2015
This book chronicles the work of a British and Norwegian unit based on Shetland Island during WWII that ferried men and equipment to German-occupied Norway and brought back refugees. The author was one of the British officers involved in the relatively small unit. He was never allowed to sail to Norway (he would stick out if he had to land, plus he knew too much to risk going behind enemy lines), but he worked with and debriefed the men, so he was in a unique position to record events and write this book.
Initially the men used Norwegian fishing boats because they blended in so well. This happened for two years of the war (with breaks during the summer months when too much daylight made it impossible to slip up to the Norwegian coast). The crews were usually Norwegian fishermen without a military background. They were all volunteers and the group had to work out its own way of working together without strict military discipline.
The unit was fighting in an area of the war that wasn’t high priority, so they had to make due with less and learn as they went. They placed machine guns (and other equipment) in oil drums to hide them from German air and sea patrols. When they had difficulty getting parts for Norwegian fishing boats, one of the fishermen simply walked into a Norwegian town during one of his missions, ordered the needed parts, and said someone would pick them up in a few weeks.
One of the highlights of the book was a scheme to destroy the German battleship Tirpitz while it sat in a Norwegian fjord. The unit made extensive preparations and nearly succeeded. The plan was to use a vessel called a chariot, kind of like a two-man torpedo. The chariot would be launched at night from a fishing boat, guided by two men, and taken right to their target. Then they would unscrew the warhead, attach it to the Tirpitz with magnets, set a timer, and be on their way across the Norwegian frontier into neutral Sweden. They practiced, prepared, got through a German control point where their boat was searched, and nearly made it to the Tirpitz before the two chariots (being towed behind the ship so they wouldn’t be noticed during inspection) disappeared—somehow the lines broke.
Another highlight was Jan Baalsrud’s escape and survival after he and his group (coming to Norway to train saboteurs) were betrayed and attacked by the Germans. Howarth actually wrote a complete book about Baalsrud’s ordeal, We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, and it’s one of my favorites. I really enjoyed The Shetland Bus, but of the two, I would recommend We Die Alone because it goes into more detail on a focused event, whereas The Shetland Bus is more of a big-picture look at the larger unit. (But both books are worth reading.)
Eventually the risks became so great and the Germans so suspicious of fishing boats that the group began looking for other alternatives. They were given a few American-made submarine chasers and finished out the war using those with great success.
The men involved were willing to risk long trips, initially in small boats through poor weather—something that required bravery even if Norway hadn’t been occupied by enemy troops. Their work helped keep ten German divisions in Norway throughout most of the war, rescued 350 refugees (most of them wanted by the Gestapo), delivered and picked up agents that kept Allied intelligence apprised of local conditions, and kept up Norwegian morale during an otherwise dark time. 5 stars.
Initially the men used Norwegian fishing boats because they blended in so well. This happened for two years of the war (with breaks during the summer months when too much daylight made it impossible to slip up to the Norwegian coast). The crews were usually Norwegian fishermen without a military background. They were all volunteers and the group had to work out its own way of working together without strict military discipline.
The unit was fighting in an area of the war that wasn’t high priority, so they had to make due with less and learn as they went. They placed machine guns (and other equipment) in oil drums to hide them from German air and sea patrols. When they had difficulty getting parts for Norwegian fishing boats, one of the fishermen simply walked into a Norwegian town during one of his missions, ordered the needed parts, and said someone would pick them up in a few weeks.
One of the highlights of the book was a scheme to destroy the German battleship Tirpitz while it sat in a Norwegian fjord. The unit made extensive preparations and nearly succeeded. The plan was to use a vessel called a chariot, kind of like a two-man torpedo. The chariot would be launched at night from a fishing boat, guided by two men, and taken right to their target. Then they would unscrew the warhead, attach it to the Tirpitz with magnets, set a timer, and be on their way across the Norwegian frontier into neutral Sweden. They practiced, prepared, got through a German control point where their boat was searched, and nearly made it to the Tirpitz before the two chariots (being towed behind the ship so they wouldn’t be noticed during inspection) disappeared—somehow the lines broke.
Another highlight was Jan Baalsrud’s escape and survival after he and his group (coming to Norway to train saboteurs) were betrayed and attacked by the Germans. Howarth actually wrote a complete book about Baalsrud’s ordeal, We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, and it’s one of my favorites. I really enjoyed The Shetland Bus, but of the two, I would recommend We Die Alone because it goes into more detail on a focused event, whereas The Shetland Bus is more of a big-picture look at the larger unit. (But both books are worth reading.)
Eventually the risks became so great and the Germans so suspicious of fishing boats that the group began looking for other alternatives. They were given a few American-made submarine chasers and finished out the war using those with great success.
The men involved were willing to risk long trips, initially in small boats through poor weather—something that required bravery even if Norway hadn’t been occupied by enemy troops. Their work helped keep ten German divisions in Norway throughout most of the war, rescued 350 refugees (most of them wanted by the Gestapo), delivered and picked up agents that kept Allied intelligence apprised of local conditions, and kept up Norwegian morale during an otherwise dark time. 5 stars.
January 6, 2012
WWII seems to have been so overwhelmingly huge that I don't think I'll ever stop finding books that tell stories that surprise me. This one is the story of an undercover supply line between the Shetland islands and occupied Norway. Participants were Norwegian civilian fishermen and UK soldiers and sailors, including the author who was one of the commanders.
I continually had to remind myself that the Norwegians involved were not only volunteers, but were also civilians. These were patriots who wanted to see their country free of the German occupiers and would do anything to help, even something as seemingly small as transporting undercover agents in their fishing boats. Several crews were killed during these operations, yet the remaining crews never faltered in their commitment to the cause.
Stories told include a mission to sink the German battleship Tirpitz, the journey of a single survivor of a mission as he treks over the frozen Scandinavian ice and snow towards neutral Sweden, and descriptions of missions to drop off agents, weapons, and rescue partisans and those in danger of capture by the German secret police.
A briskly told story, the author gives the impression that it was all just a great adventure, but does end with a note explaining how deadly it truly was and how lucky he and the remaining crews were to survive the war.
I continually had to remind myself that the Norwegians involved were not only volunteers, but were also civilians. These were patriots who wanted to see their country free of the German occupiers and would do anything to help, even something as seemingly small as transporting undercover agents in their fishing boats. Several crews were killed during these operations, yet the remaining crews never faltered in their commitment to the cause.
Stories told include a mission to sink the German battleship Tirpitz, the journey of a single survivor of a mission as he treks over the frozen Scandinavian ice and snow towards neutral Sweden, and descriptions of missions to drop off agents, weapons, and rescue partisans and those in danger of capture by the German secret police.
A briskly told story, the author gives the impression that it was all just a great adventure, but does end with a note explaining how deadly it truly was and how lucky he and the remaining crews were to survive the war.
July 5, 2016
I am not usually a fan of war stories but was interested in this book because of its connection to Shetland. The books starts somewhat slowly describing all the technical aspects of running Norwegian fishing boats from Shetland to Norway under the noses of the Nazis. The sheer impossibility of what they did amazed me. The stories of the boats that didn't make it and what happened to those men were tragic but fascinating. Towards the end I couldn't put the book down in order to read the story of a single survivor who somehow made it to Sweden, walking up and down steep mountains, suffering frostbite and evading the Nazis who looking for him high and low. The bravery of the men on the boats and the Norwegians who were occupied by the Nazis was astounding. It is estimated that this whole part of the war led to diverting tens of thousands of Nazi soldiers to Norway and shortened the war by possibly two years. An amazing tale. I can't wait to return to Shetland and visit the museum there on The Shetland Bus.
March 29, 2018
I have been struggling to find information on my great-uncle, William Enoksen, and this book gave me a great view of what he did during ww2. Greatly written and researched.
March 6, 2014
Copyright © The Literary Estate of David Howarth, 1998
First published in Great Britain by
James Nelson and Sons Ltd 1951
From the Foreword: During the war a group of small Norwegian boats manned by Norwegian refugees, normally with a background as fishermen, maintained a route between The Shetland Islands and occupied Norway.
Opening: SAGA is an old Norse word which meant simply a story. But from its association with the kind of story which ancient Norseman liked to tell, it has come to mean a story of heroism and endeavour, and of adventure at sea.
#16 TBR Busting 2013
Liberally dotted with photographs, the stories are relayed in unadorned sincerity. Each and every mission was life-risking and the men who undertook them were so brave.
5* We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance
3* The Shetland Bus
October 11, 2015
I persuaded my local library to buy a copy of this book after a trip to Norway. Our guide, Inger, recommended this book . I read it and enjoyed it. Our cruise started and ended in Bergen, Norway, base of the boats in the book
February 28, 2013
During World War II when Norway was invaded and occupied by the Germans, there was an essential spy ring that operated on the Shetland Islands. Captains and crews of small boats braved the temperatures of the Arctic winters, the unexpected squally weather and the threat of being attacked by German boats and planes all under the cover of darkness. The trips to transport necessary weapons and supplies as well as transporting agents and refugees were long (some were thousands of miles and took up to three weeks), were dangerous and many were unsuccessful, resulting in the deaths of all members on board the ship. I believe the forward to the book by the author does the best job of summing up what the book is about and why it was written:
"During the German occupation of Norway, from 1940 to 1945, every Norwegian knew that small boats were constantly sailing from the Shetland Isles to Norway to land weapons and supplies and to rescue refugees. The Norwegians who stayed in Norway and struggled there against the invaders were fortified by this knowledge, and gave the small boats the familiar name which is the title of this book: 'to take the Shetland bus' became a synonym in Norway for escape when danger was overwhelming. This record of the adventures of the Norwegian sailors who manned the boats is offered as a tribute from an English colleague to Norwegian seamanship, and as a humble memorial to those who lost their lives." - D.H.
This book was filled with stories of action and espionage and was an eye-opener as to how dangerous these missions in the Arctic were for those who willingly took part in order to help win the war against Nazi Germany. A great read with much insight provided.
"During the German occupation of Norway, from 1940 to 1945, every Norwegian knew that small boats were constantly sailing from the Shetland Isles to Norway to land weapons and supplies and to rescue refugees. The Norwegians who stayed in Norway and struggled there against the invaders were fortified by this knowledge, and gave the small boats the familiar name which is the title of this book: 'to take the Shetland bus' became a synonym in Norway for escape when danger was overwhelming. This record of the adventures of the Norwegian sailors who manned the boats is offered as a tribute from an English colleague to Norwegian seamanship, and as a humble memorial to those who lost their lives." - D.H.
This book was filled with stories of action and espionage and was an eye-opener as to how dangerous these missions in the Arctic were for those who willingly took part in order to help win the war against Nazi Germany. A great read with much insight provided.
October 10, 2016
I knew absolutely nothing of this operation before reading David Howarth's book. Small fishing boats constantly sailed the North Sea between the Shetland Islands and Bergen, Norway (180 miles as the crow flies), during WWII to deliver munitions and radio equipment and agents and to pick up refugees bound for England. The Shetland Bus, as this operation was known, could offer escape when there was no other option. David Howarth thinks this mission for which he served as second in command was a worthwhile effort that made occupied Norway more self-confident. The author praises the adventurous spirit and heroism of those involved, some of whom lost their lives in the process, but advises a younger generation to understand the dreadful effects and consequences of war. "And to ascribe glory to the violent death of any young man loving life is only to add further folly to the failure of human wisdom which is the cause of war" (p. 215).
I found this book quite by accident as I began searching for books written in English about Norway. It's brief, but most informative, and hard to put down. Whether you're interested in WWII history or planning a trip to Norway (as I am), you'll find this book informative and the reading worthwhile.
I found this book quite by accident as I began searching for books written in English about Norway. It's brief, but most informative, and hard to put down. Whether you're interested in WWII history or planning a trip to Norway (as I am), you'll find this book informative and the reading worthwhile.
September 4, 2016
I don't often read non-fiction historical accounts, but I loved this one. I have visited the Shetland Islands but hadn't heard much about the "Shetland Bus" until recently when I saw a reference to it in a work of fiction. Written by one of the British officers who helped run the mission, this book tells the story of this mission which used small Norwegian fishing boats to travel between the Shetland Islands and Norway during the German occupation of Norway. They delivered weapons, supplies and agents, and they brought back refugees, usually sailing during the long winter nights, in all kinds of weather. Told in first person by the officer who was second in command of the Shetland base, this is very well written and does a great job of conveying the inventiveness, skill and heroism of those invovled in this mission.
This would be a great read for any WWII history buffs, as well as for people like me who are simply fascinated with the remote islands of Scotland.
This would be a great read for any WWII history buffs, as well as for people like me who are simply fascinated with the remote islands of Scotland.
February 10, 2019
This is the story of a little know event. Written by David Howarth, who was second in command of the Shetland base. The journey tells of the trips made by fishing boats resisting the Nazi atrocities.
March 22, 2014
Saw this on the Kindle deal of the day, missed it that day, and went ahead and paid the full price because it looked so interesting. Glad that I did. It was fascinating. I can't believe that no one has picked it up to write a screenplay and make a movie of it. And as you read it, you know that there are so many many more stories than the author knew or could write about fully. It is put forth in an almost documentary style, but that didn't take anything away from it. There were many who lived and many who died. These are heroes that I believe not that many people have heard of, so I hope their stories will become better known. They deserve their place in history. (I thought I had given the gist of the book before, but in case I didn't - it is the story of a secret base in the Shetlands, which used Norwegian fishermen and their boats for smuggling arms, agents, and refugees in and out of occupied Norway, during WWII.)
October 22, 2024
I’ve now read two books by David Howarth. His book We Die Alone was about Jan Baalsrud, who was part of a group of Norwegians who volunteered to build local resistance against the Nazi occupiers of Norway during World War II. Baalsrud was the lone survivor of an unexpected battle near Tromsö and an unexpected survivor of a harrowing escape from Norway back to England. Baalsrud and other Norwegians undermined Nazi efforts to subdue their nation by using fishing and sail boats to shuttle people, weaponry, supplies, and information between Norway and the Shetland Islands. They performed that work under the leadership of Howarth and other British officers operating the Shetland Bus. And that’s the name of Howarth’s book I just finished: The Shetland Bus: A WWII Epic of Escape, Survival, and Adventure. It was a great read.
I’ve been reading several books about Norwegians in WWII recently in an attempt to know my ancestors’ nation better. I still recall all the built artifacts leftover from the Nazi Occupation that I saw in 1994. My ancestors didn’t surrender They resisted overtly and covertly. I loved reading Howarth’s memories of his group’s naval guerrilla tactics. There were small victories, missed opportunities, countless tragedies, and touches of humor in these pages. His engaging writing was almost conversational, which made his stories easy to follow.
The Shetland Bus was the collective name for hundreds of trips run by small boats between Norway’s west coast and the Shetland bases in Lunna and Scalloway. A majority of the trips occurred during the winter when extended darkness could hide operations but also when fierce, punishing storms could intervene and swallow boats and crews. The crews consisted of volunteers and their boats weren’t always in great shape, but they rallied together and buoyed their countrymen’s spirits.
“As Allied strategy never called for an invasion of Norway, our work and that of the forces in Norway which we supplied always remained a sideshow and never reached the climax which we expected would come before the end. At the end, we wondered whether it had all been worthwhile,” Howarth wrote. The Shetland Bus brought nearly 400 tons of weapons and dozens of radio transmitters and operators to Norway. They also rescued 350 refugees who were in trouble with the Gestapo. Their efforts also convinced Nazi leaders to keep 284,000 soldiers there instead of recalling them to the frontlines in the south.
I recommend this book.
I’ve been reading several books about Norwegians in WWII recently in an attempt to know my ancestors’ nation better. I still recall all the built artifacts leftover from the Nazi Occupation that I saw in 1994. My ancestors didn’t surrender They resisted overtly and covertly. I loved reading Howarth’s memories of his group’s naval guerrilla tactics. There were small victories, missed opportunities, countless tragedies, and touches of humor in these pages. His engaging writing was almost conversational, which made his stories easy to follow.
The Shetland Bus was the collective name for hundreds of trips run by small boats between Norway’s west coast and the Shetland bases in Lunna and Scalloway. A majority of the trips occurred during the winter when extended darkness could hide operations but also when fierce, punishing storms could intervene and swallow boats and crews. The crews consisted of volunteers and their boats weren’t always in great shape, but they rallied together and buoyed their countrymen’s spirits.
“As Allied strategy never called for an invasion of Norway, our work and that of the forces in Norway which we supplied always remained a sideshow and never reached the climax which we expected would come before the end. At the end, we wondered whether it had all been worthwhile,” Howarth wrote. The Shetland Bus brought nearly 400 tons of weapons and dozens of radio transmitters and operators to Norway. They also rescued 350 refugees who were in trouble with the Gestapo. Their efforts also convinced Nazi leaders to keep 284,000 soldiers there instead of recalling them to the frontlines in the south.
I recommend this book.
February 4, 2016
This book, which was written by the late English historian who was also profoundly involved in espionage efforts in occupied Norway during World War II, is obviously the work of someone of great skill who is writing a war memoir that manages to give a great deal of honor and praise to the brave volunteer Norwegian refugees in the Shetlands who helped popularize a new expression in Norwegian and show their loyalty to the Allied cause during that nation's dark hour under German misrule. The expression "taking the Shetland bus" became a way to refer to escaping from an intolerable situation, and the awareness that there was a link between Norway and the outside world free from Nazi oppression likely made dealing with such experiences at least a little bit easier to those who were trapped in Norway during those years, although many people seem to have been motivated by that experience to leave Norway after the war, because home had become filled with too many bad memories, I suppose [1]. That is something that I can understand better than most, and though the author was apologetic for writing so much about himself in these pages, his prose is so achingly beautiful and clearly written with obvious suffering from the war that I am inclined not to complain that so much about himself ended up in these pages. If we make history and write history, we cannot help but be in the history, after all [2].
In its contents, this war memoir is slightly over 200 pages and contains 15 chapters of very uneven length, mostly focusing on the time between 1940 and 1943. The author discusses the early and massive escape of refugees from occupied Norway, their establishment of several bases in the remote Shetland Islands, which are lovingly discussed, and the rivalries that existed between the decidedly informal operation that Howarth was involved in as the second-in-command and the Norwegian fleet-in-exile, which did not have the sort of tradition or longevity to be able to handle the decidedly irregular attitude of the people Howarth helped lead. The author discusses logistical matters of how to set up a base and take care of a fleet of small fishing boats that were sent towards the coast of Norway in an attempt to blend in with the local fishing boat population until fuel scarcity made it impossible to continue to send slow fishing boats and the fleet was outfitted with sleek American boats, discussed in the epilogue. The author discusses a variety of efforts at putting agents into occupied Norway for various acts of sabotage as well as extracting agents and refugees and the fiances of various volunteer seamen. One of the chapters discusses the story of Jan Baalsrud, which is given at length in another one of the author's books and in one of the greatest Norwegian movies of all time [3], and the book as a whole is filled with the tension between a historian seeking to write as accurately as possible and the melancholy and haunted man faced with the ghosts of many dead men on his conscience who worked mostly in a logistical position on base while people risked their lives for the freedom of their nation.
This is a book that serves many worthwhile purposes. It should careful research, colorful first-hand experience, and is clearly written by someone who suffered greatly in his efforts to help the war effort. The stories in this book give honor and credit to the courageous men and women of Norway both among those who stayed at home and risked their lives and freedom to oppose Nazi tyranny however they could and to those who fled into exile and attempted to help their country from abroad. The book speaks knowledgeably about problems of espionage, the risks of falling into German hands, the cat and mouse games played by the British navy and the Germans, and the logistical capacities of the various nations during the war. As this book is a chronicle of obscure action in an often-forgotten front of the war, it is a book that is worthy of being read by those who are interested in such matters as World War II history, espionage, logistics, and naval history, as well as those who are generally fond of reading about British and Norwegian history. As this is a large potential audience, this is a book that will likely be appreciated by audiences for a long time to come.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
Some examples of the author's achingly beautiful prose include the following samples:
"The last of the crew of Vita was Jens Haldorssen. He was a quiet, gentle, and studious man. His quietness made him conspicuous in our gang, most of whose members were extrovert and noisy, and his appearance also was not what one would expect in a seaman of proven toughness. With a thin ascetic face, and large calm and innocent brown eyes, he looked more like a priest or a poet. He spoke fluent English with an idiom all his own, and I always enjoyed hearing him telling a story in a slow, rather mournful voice, in which the most powerful swear words passed almost unnoticed (30)."
"When our friends in the base disappeared in this way we could not forbear to speculate on the possible causes of their deaths, though we knew such speculation was useless. From the loss of Blia the image of a dreadful scene of suffering and fear, of revolt against an inescapable fate, or of resignation as the end could be seen to be approaching, will always remain with us and haunt us, and remind us that though wars can still bring adventures which can stir the heart, their true nature is of innumerable personal tragedies, of grief, waste and sacrifice, wholly evil and not redeemed by glory (77)."
[3] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
In its contents, this war memoir is slightly over 200 pages and contains 15 chapters of very uneven length, mostly focusing on the time between 1940 and 1943. The author discusses the early and massive escape of refugees from occupied Norway, their establishment of several bases in the remote Shetland Islands, which are lovingly discussed, and the rivalries that existed between the decidedly informal operation that Howarth was involved in as the second-in-command and the Norwegian fleet-in-exile, which did not have the sort of tradition or longevity to be able to handle the decidedly irregular attitude of the people Howarth helped lead. The author discusses logistical matters of how to set up a base and take care of a fleet of small fishing boats that were sent towards the coast of Norway in an attempt to blend in with the local fishing boat population until fuel scarcity made it impossible to continue to send slow fishing boats and the fleet was outfitted with sleek American boats, discussed in the epilogue. The author discusses a variety of efforts at putting agents into occupied Norway for various acts of sabotage as well as extracting agents and refugees and the fiances of various volunteer seamen. One of the chapters discusses the story of Jan Baalsrud, which is given at length in another one of the author's books and in one of the greatest Norwegian movies of all time [3], and the book as a whole is filled with the tension between a historian seeking to write as accurately as possible and the melancholy and haunted man faced with the ghosts of many dead men on his conscience who worked mostly in a logistical position on base while people risked their lives for the freedom of their nation.
This is a book that serves many worthwhile purposes. It should careful research, colorful first-hand experience, and is clearly written by someone who suffered greatly in his efforts to help the war effort. The stories in this book give honor and credit to the courageous men and women of Norway both among those who stayed at home and risked their lives and freedom to oppose Nazi tyranny however they could and to those who fled into exile and attempted to help their country from abroad. The book speaks knowledgeably about problems of espionage, the risks of falling into German hands, the cat and mouse games played by the British navy and the Germans, and the logistical capacities of the various nations during the war. As this book is a chronicle of obscure action in an often-forgotten front of the war, it is a book that is worthy of being read by those who are interested in such matters as World War II history, espionage, logistics, and naval history, as well as those who are generally fond of reading about British and Norwegian history. As this is a large potential audience, this is a book that will likely be appreciated by audiences for a long time to come.
[1] See, for example:
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https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
Some examples of the author's achingly beautiful prose include the following samples:
"The last of the crew of Vita was Jens Haldorssen. He was a quiet, gentle, and studious man. His quietness made him conspicuous in our gang, most of whose members were extrovert and noisy, and his appearance also was not what one would expect in a seaman of proven toughness. With a thin ascetic face, and large calm and innocent brown eyes, he looked more like a priest or a poet. He spoke fluent English with an idiom all his own, and I always enjoyed hearing him telling a story in a slow, rather mournful voice, in which the most powerful swear words passed almost unnoticed (30)."
"When our friends in the base disappeared in this way we could not forbear to speculate on the possible causes of their deaths, though we knew such speculation was useless. From the loss of Blia the image of a dreadful scene of suffering and fear, of revolt against an inescapable fate, or of resignation as the end could be seen to be approaching, will always remain with us and haunt us, and remind us that though wars can still bring adventures which can stir the heart, their true nature is of innumerable personal tragedies, of grief, waste and sacrifice, wholly evil and not redeemed by glory (77)."
[3] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
December 4, 2021
A really interesting book written by someone who was an RNVR officer immersed in the practicalities of evacuating people from occupied Norway in WWII but even more so in sending supplies to help set up the resistance.
This is a part of the war I remember hearing nothing about. The work done in such harsh conditions. The danger from the elements as well as trying to avoid detection from the enemy. So many of their men lost at sea or killed or captured by the Germans.
The bus was made up of a number of fishing boats shuttling back and forth doing anything but fishing. Mostly sailing at night in the worst of weather and hiding by day amongst the numerous islands around Norway.
There is another book by David Howard, We Die Alone, which I will read shortly. It expands on the story of one of the Norwegians mentioned here who took part in one of these missions. He was the only survivor and was pursued relentlessly by the Germans. It took him two months to travel the 80 miles to Sweden often swimming through icy seas, helped through the mountains by locals when he couldn't walk.
These truly were brave men.
This is a part of the war I remember hearing nothing about. The work done in such harsh conditions. The danger from the elements as well as trying to avoid detection from the enemy. So many of their men lost at sea or killed or captured by the Germans.
The bus was made up of a number of fishing boats shuttling back and forth doing anything but fishing. Mostly sailing at night in the worst of weather and hiding by day amongst the numerous islands around Norway.
There is another book by David Howard, We Die Alone, which I will read shortly. It expands on the story of one of the Norwegians mentioned here who took part in one of these missions. He was the only survivor and was pursued relentlessly by the Germans. It took him two months to travel the 80 miles to Sweden often swimming through icy seas, helped through the mountains by locals when he couldn't walk.
These truly were brave men.
January 8, 2024
A history of WW II operations to ferry agents and supplies from the Shetland Islands to occupied Norway using fishing boats crewed by Norwegian fishermen. The failed attack by a 55-foot fishing boat against the battleship Tirpitz is the highlight of the book. It would have been the ultimate David vs. Goliath story if it had succeeded. There are only three maps in the book so it is best to have google maps nearby to follow the routes through the obscure Norwegian islands and towns. The author was the second in charge of the Shetland base and wrote well. A reoccurring theme is how well the independent-minded civilian fishermen worked with little military discipline. For example, boat crews chose their own captains.
January 6, 2022
Another great book by David Howarth about the Norwegian Resistance during World War II. The "bus" he writes about is the secretive transport of arms, equipment, messages and people from the Shetland Islands to Norway. And all done of Norwegian fishing boats that were outfitted for defense if necessary, and men operating the boats were mostly volunteers who were not soldiers by training. Some of the book reads like that narrative about an exciting and dangerous adventure on the North Sea and the fjords of Norway patrolled by German soldiers. Other parts of the book describe the community of the men: independent fishermen who were not accustomed to the regimen and ranks of the military, and Englishmen who were trying to adjust to life in the desolate and remote landscape of the Shetlands.
June 19, 2024
A book that tells the true story of the bravery and courage of Norwegian fishermen during the 2nd
World War. Supported by allied forces they ran the "Shetland Bus" from Shetland to Norway and back transported arms and equipment in one direction refugees in the other. Many lost their lives in the process. The book does not seek to glorify war but is a record of a little known part of WW2.
World War. Supported by allied forces they ran the "Shetland Bus" from Shetland to Norway and back transported arms and equipment in one direction refugees in the other. Many lost their lives in the process. The book does not seek to glorify war but is a record of a little known part of WW2.
September 13, 2024
This is SO interesting, I really loved finding out all about The Shetland Bus and am now watching Suicide Mission as a follow up!
June 26, 2014
Beautifully written (not as many pages as Goodreads says it is by the way). There's an old copy of this book around somewhere (my grandparents having lived on Shetland for a while) but I was reading this new edition, the first actually published there, and it has some additions although the original text is reproduced as was.
The story of the Shetland Bus, the lines of communication between Shetland and Norway kept open during the second world war, is one of great courage and it is told with compassion, humour and balance. Of course it is an exciting story, but this is no simple boys' tale of derring do. It is written by the British officer who set up and facilitated the operation, which (although he does not say so) was an SOE exercise. The details of how the whole thing was set up, rather experimentally at first, are fascinating. Beginning with small Norwegian fishing boats crewed by Norwegian resistance members who ran enormous risks sailing right in along the coast of occupied Norway to make contact with agents, deliver explosives and other items and bring away refugees, many if whom were in trouble with the Gestapo, and towards the end of the war benefitting from the use of three American submarine chasers, the "Shetland bus" has passed into legend - there was a film featuring many of those who took part playing themselves, and there is a lovely memorial in Bergen harbour. There is much reflection here too - grief over those who were lost (I had not realised what a high proportion that was), the two big escapes when things went wrong, and consideration of whether it was all worth while (and perhaps a little disappointment that there was in the end to be no Allied invasion and liberation of Norway). A story well worth telling and remembering, and very readable.
The story of the Shetland Bus, the lines of communication between Shetland and Norway kept open during the second world war, is one of great courage and it is told with compassion, humour and balance. Of course it is an exciting story, but this is no simple boys' tale of derring do. It is written by the British officer who set up and facilitated the operation, which (although he does not say so) was an SOE exercise. The details of how the whole thing was set up, rather experimentally at first, are fascinating. Beginning with small Norwegian fishing boats crewed by Norwegian resistance members who ran enormous risks sailing right in along the coast of occupied Norway to make contact with agents, deliver explosives and other items and bring away refugees, many if whom were in trouble with the Gestapo, and towards the end of the war benefitting from the use of three American submarine chasers, the "Shetland bus" has passed into legend - there was a film featuring many of those who took part playing themselves, and there is a lovely memorial in Bergen harbour. There is much reflection here too - grief over those who were lost (I had not realised what a high proportion that was), the two big escapes when things went wrong, and consideration of whether it was all worth while (and perhaps a little disappointment that there was in the end to be no Allied invasion and liberation of Norway). A story well worth telling and remembering, and very readable.
August 11, 2018
I recently finished "Red Bones" by Anne Cleeves where the Shetland Bus was mentioned and it interested me. I have never been to the Shetland Islands but have been to the Resistance museum in Oslo and don't remember a reference. The author of this 1951 book was one of the commanders of an outpost of the Royal Navy that prepared Norwegian boats and mostly fishermen to make secretive trips back and forth to Norway taking materials and trained agents into Norway and bringing out people who were threatened by the Nazi regime. Fascinating in the detailed planning and hard physical work by all involved. So glad I read this before all copies disappear from library shelves.
October 12, 2021
Great book for an Ordnance man but I prefer my war stories with a little more action.
April 21, 2024
This book tells of the men who sailed tiny fishing boats between Shetland and Norway during World War 2, rescuing refugees from Norway and taking supplies and people to help with the Norwegian resistance.
It's a part of World War 2 history that I knew nothing about before reading this book, and I found it extremely interesting. It's true that the writing style can be a little on the dry and impersonal side, but Howarth makes it clear that he wants the focus to be on the heroism of the men who sailed the boats, so he is deliberately trying to write in an impersonal way. "My own part in the work of the base was quite unheroic...But in writing of events in which one has taken an intimate part, it is hard to avoid making too much of one's personal experiences, opinions and impressions, and if any of my colleagues should read this account of our mutual adventures they will think me too self-centred."
And honestly, the book doesn't need personal or emotive language in order to make the subject absorbing. You only have to look at the photographs of the fishing vessels that were used and the maps of the area in which they sailed to be amazed at the heroism of the men who operated 'The Shetland Bus'. They faced death at sea and also on land since the German army was liable to shoot anyone they caught, and over 40 men died while operating this service, yet the survivors never hesitated to set sail once again.
Howarth gives another reason for the lack of emotion in his writing as he closes the book. "In writing a book on a kind of warfare which was picturesque and adventurous and sometimes even enjoyable, I have been anxious not to lead any members of a younger generation to think that these are, or ever can be, the qualities of warfare itself...Adventure can always be found by the adventurous, in war or peace...And to ascribe glory to the violent death of any young man loving life is only to add further folly to the failure of human wisdom which is the cause of war."
I think he has succeeded in his goal. This book is a generous tribute to a very brave group of men, which honours their work for freedom and justice and celebrates their courage without in any way glorifying war. In a world which is increasingly prone to violence and upheaval, there is much to be said for this kind of 'war writing'.
It's a part of World War 2 history that I knew nothing about before reading this book, and I found it extremely interesting. It's true that the writing style can be a little on the dry and impersonal side, but Howarth makes it clear that he wants the focus to be on the heroism of the men who sailed the boats, so he is deliberately trying to write in an impersonal way. "My own part in the work of the base was quite unheroic...But in writing of events in which one has taken an intimate part, it is hard to avoid making too much of one's personal experiences, opinions and impressions, and if any of my colleagues should read this account of our mutual adventures they will think me too self-centred."
And honestly, the book doesn't need personal or emotive language in order to make the subject absorbing. You only have to look at the photographs of the fishing vessels that were used and the maps of the area in which they sailed to be amazed at the heroism of the men who operated 'The Shetland Bus'. They faced death at sea and also on land since the German army was liable to shoot anyone they caught, and over 40 men died while operating this service, yet the survivors never hesitated to set sail once again.
Howarth gives another reason for the lack of emotion in his writing as he closes the book. "In writing a book on a kind of warfare which was picturesque and adventurous and sometimes even enjoyable, I have been anxious not to lead any members of a younger generation to think that these are, or ever can be, the qualities of warfare itself...Adventure can always be found by the adventurous, in war or peace...And to ascribe glory to the violent death of any young man loving life is only to add further folly to the failure of human wisdom which is the cause of war."
I think he has succeeded in his goal. This book is a generous tribute to a very brave group of men, which honours their work for freedom and justice and celebrates their courage without in any way glorifying war. In a world which is increasingly prone to violence and upheaval, there is much to be said for this kind of 'war writing'.
February 28, 2022
This was an excellent historical account of how the North Sea was used as a conduit by joint British-Norwegian forces during WW2, taking agents and other saboteurs from Britain by fishing boats (many of which were lost, with their crews over time) over to Norway - who were sent to train, arm and assist the Norwegian resistance in their fight against Nazi occupation and oppression - plus bringing refugees from Norway back to Britain when they could. The bravery and daring of the essentially untrained Norwegian fisherman sailors was astonishing - all with the aim of ridding their homeland of the invaders and keeping the North Sea open to traffic. I've been on a ship sailing across the North Sea (there used to be a car ferry between Newcastle and Bergen) and I can attest that those waters are usually totally unforgiving, often mountainous seas. I wouldn't have wanted to do the trip once in a small fishing boat, let alone many times over. But the allied forces were determined that they should destroy the enemy's attempts to smash the efforts of Norwegian forces to scupper (pardon the pun) the Nazi desire to dominate and subdue Norway, a sovereign nation. There are also tales of overland escape from failed seaward missions, which must have been horrific in mid-winter when the temperatures plummet to many degrees below freezing and snow falls thick and fast for an unrelenting ca. 7-8 months (Oct to Apr/May) Survival was only possible due to the bravery and defiance remaining Norwegian regular people (those who didn't become 'quislings'). A tale of daring-do as we say in Britain. Well worth the read, even by those with no links to Norway. I lived there for 8 years and can attest to the defiant resilience, heart-warming character and unhesitant hospitality of that country's people. And the country is stupendous in its beauty - a visit during summer (unless one likes skiing or other snow sports) is highly recommended.
July 27, 2024
During WWII in Nazi occupied Norway it became common knowledge that the British were sneaking people out of the country across the North Sea, so common that the locals named it the Shetland Bus. Howarth was second in command of the British operation to ferry refugees out of Norway and sneak agents and supplies in using Norwegian fishing boats with Norwegian crews operating out of the Shetland Islands. These ships were generally around 60 feet in length with engines of 100 hp or less. For comparison, the crab boats on "Deadliest Catch" average 120 feet with dual 700 hp engines. The Shetland Bus ran these fishing boats across the North Sea without radar or GPS. In winter. At night.
Howarth tells the story, more a compendium of events, in an enlightening and often humorous manner. The Norse sailors were all characters, none of them military, and they did not take to discipline at all. Yet they braved winter seas, ice, hurricane winds, Nazi gunboats and aircraft without shirking. Many of them did not survive.
Included are the story of a secret mission to sink the Tirpitz, the story of how the Norwegians were angered when their containers of lubricating oil were found to contain lubrication oil and not rum, and the tale of Jan Baalsrud and his failed commando mission which became the basis for the book We Die Alone. Very good book on a little covered part of WWII.
Howarth tells the story, more a compendium of events, in an enlightening and often humorous manner. The Norse sailors were all characters, none of them military, and they did not take to discipline at all. Yet they braved winter seas, ice, hurricane winds, Nazi gunboats and aircraft without shirking. Many of them did not survive.
Included are the story of a secret mission to sink the Tirpitz, the story of how the Norwegians were angered when their containers of lubricating oil were found to contain lubrication oil and not rum, and the tale of Jan Baalsrud and his failed commando mission which became the basis for the book We Die Alone. Very good book on a little covered part of WWII.
October 1, 2024
Easily a 4.5 rating, this recounting of the WWII fishing boat resistance operation as told by the second in command is a compelling look at how ordinary people rise to meet extraordinary conditions changing the course of history. The book is well written and does not glorify war but shows how the Norwegian citizens defended their country from invasion in the way that they knew best, through their detailed knowledge of the sea, fiords, weather, and boats of their beloved country. Most in this recounting were not members of the military but instead a citizen force lead by the author. Good book. Loved and will finish this review with the final paragraph:
“Our adventures were not created by the war, but by the adventurous spirit of the men who sailed our boats. Adventure can always be found by the adventurous, in war or peace, and enjoyment by the joyous. For a very few war may increase the opportunity for adventure; but for nearly all ordinary people it brings no gain, but only pain and sorrow, whether the war is won or lost. The drowning of the Bård and his crew, the dreadful end of the Blia, the execution of Minder and Pete: these were the effects of war upon us. And to ascribe glory to the violent death of any young man loving life is to only add further folly to the failure of human wisdom which is the cause of war.”
“Our adventures were not created by the war, but by the adventurous spirit of the men who sailed our boats. Adventure can always be found by the adventurous, in war or peace, and enjoyment by the joyous. For a very few war may increase the opportunity for adventure; but for nearly all ordinary people it brings no gain, but only pain and sorrow, whether the war is won or lost. The drowning of the Bård and his crew, the dreadful end of the Blia, the execution of Minder and Pete: these were the effects of war upon us. And to ascribe glory to the violent death of any young man loving life is to only add further folly to the failure of human wisdom which is the cause of war.”
September 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. For all the chaotic and brave stories that came out of WW2, this one seemed special and isolated. A small team of sailors set up base in the Shetland Islands during Nazi Germany’s reign in Norway in WW2. The team traveled to Norway to smuggle in supplies or to take out refugees, and this book is simply the account of the entire process from the formation of the Shetland Bus to the many successful missions they carried out.
While many brave soldiers died on the frontlines. This book was a reminder that fighting in the war looked like many things. I suppose I enjoyed most how the book just highlighted what the real story was (an opposite example of this would be “The tattooist of Auschwitz” which told a WW2 story so plain that it lost its sense of tangibility).
Every time they geared up to go overseas to Norway you never new what was going to happen - did I mention they’re using modified fishing boats? They don’t have any major military support. If I remember correctly I think only one guy on the whole base is even a military officer.
An amazing story.
While many brave soldiers died on the frontlines. This book was a reminder that fighting in the war looked like many things. I suppose I enjoyed most how the book just highlighted what the real story was (an opposite example of this would be “The tattooist of Auschwitz” which told a WW2 story so plain that it lost its sense of tangibility).
Every time they geared up to go overseas to Norway you never new what was going to happen - did I mention they’re using modified fishing boats? They don’t have any major military support. If I remember correctly I think only one guy on the whole base is even a military officer.
An amazing story.
January 21, 2019
The Shetland Bus is not about buses in a conventional sense - it is a term used for the fishing vessels and their crews, sailing between Shetland and Norway during World War 2.
Having visited Shetland during the month of January, to witness Up Helly Aa, I have some small experience of getting to the islands by sea. That trip was aboard the CalMac ferry from Aberdeen, a sizeable vessel that was delayed leaving because of the sea-state. The adverse weather and battering waves that we encountered en route helped me to understand the trust that seafarers invest in their rugged little craft and the skills of their skippers.
I commend this account to anyone who is at all interested in knowing about the unorthodox, secret wartime missions across the North Sea. That they contributed to winning the war is, in my view, beyond doubt.
With many thanks to Bunty, who inspired me to read this book.
Having visited Shetland during the month of January, to witness Up Helly Aa, I have some small experience of getting to the islands by sea. That trip was aboard the CalMac ferry from Aberdeen, a sizeable vessel that was delayed leaving because of the sea-state. The adverse weather and battering waves that we encountered en route helped me to understand the trust that seafarers invest in their rugged little craft and the skills of their skippers.
I commend this account to anyone who is at all interested in knowing about the unorthodox, secret wartime missions across the North Sea. That they contributed to winning the war is, in my view, beyond doubt.
With many thanks to Bunty, who inspired me to read this book.
February 7, 2023
I visited the coast of Norway in late summer 2007. Our tour group visited several sites along the coast which could boast a vigorous involvement in resistance to Nazi occupation during the second war. We learned of the so called "Shetland Bus" - small fishing boast crossing and criss crossing the North Sea bringing arms and other wartime necessities to Norway and returning to Scotland with refugees who sought safety from being arrested, imprisoned, and perhaps executed.
This book, written by the British Naval officer who was in charge of the operations in the Shetland Islands is a fascinating read. Nail biting suspense in more than one chapter, and a sobering summary of the loss of life among the brave Norwegian men who rode the Shetland Bus on a regular basis.
Each time the text mentioned a town or island I had visited I felt a tinge of excitement - to learn more about the places I had seen in person.
This book, written by the British Naval officer who was in charge of the operations in the Shetland Islands is a fascinating read. Nail biting suspense in more than one chapter, and a sobering summary of the loss of life among the brave Norwegian men who rode the Shetland Bus on a regular basis.
Each time the text mentioned a town or island I had visited I felt a tinge of excitement - to learn more about the places I had seen in person.
March 18, 2019
If you are a fan of history and particularly of WWII this book is for you. It focuses on an almost hidden part of the history of the war. Norway was invaded by Germany and completely cut off from the world. In response, Britain recruited Norwegian fishermen to operate Norwegian fishing boats from a base in the Shetland Islands. These boats blended in with the thousands of legitimate fishing boats in and around Norway and were able to supply the Norwegian resistance, insert British agents and remove hundreds of refugees. These crews tied up significant German resources throughout the war. This is a book about mice that roared. The Norwegian people had a morale boost knowing that what they called “The Shetland Bus” was running much of the year and was a symbol to them that they weren’t totally alone.
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