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Ortiz’s War: The Allies' Secret Weapon Against the Nazis in France
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26The untold story of the Allies’ secret weapon in occupied France.
Peter J. Ortiz’s path to becoming one of the most decorated Marines of World War II was unlike any born an American, he ran away from a privileged life in France at eighteen to join the rigorous French Foreign Legion, where he became a decorated veteran in North Africa. After fighting on the front lines against the Germans in 1940, he was wounded and repeatedly escaped captivity, once even fleeing a hospital train by assuming the identity of a dead soldier.
Driven by a fierce determination to restore the honor of France, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was quickly commissioned after impressing military leadership. Recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), America’s World War II spy agency, Ortiz led two highly dangerous missions, code-named “Union,” into the French Alps. Operating far behind enemy lines, Ortiz successfully organized the fledgling resistance movement known as the Maquis. Using incredible bravado, he infiltrated German officer gatherings by posing as a fashion expert and personally escorted downed Allied airmen across the Pyrenees to safety.
In August 1944, Ortiz led his second mission into the Alps with a team of U.S. Marines, culminating in the massive “Le Grand Parachutage” supply drop to the Maquis. When his small patrol was surrounded by vastly superior German forces in the village of Centron, Ortiz must choose between fighting the enemy and saving the town. Ortiz’s story—an untold corner of World War II history—and extraordinary courage and self-sacrificing devotion cement his place in history forever.
Peter J. Ortiz’s path to becoming one of the most decorated Marines of World War II was unlike any born an American, he ran away from a privileged life in France at eighteen to join the rigorous French Foreign Legion, where he became a decorated veteran in North Africa. After fighting on the front lines against the Germans in 1940, he was wounded and repeatedly escaped captivity, once even fleeing a hospital train by assuming the identity of a dead soldier.
Driven by a fierce determination to restore the honor of France, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was quickly commissioned after impressing military leadership. Recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), America’s World War II spy agency, Ortiz led two highly dangerous missions, code-named “Union,” into the French Alps. Operating far behind enemy lines, Ortiz successfully organized the fledgling resistance movement known as the Maquis. Using incredible bravado, he infiltrated German officer gatherings by posing as a fashion expert and personally escorted downed Allied airmen across the Pyrenees to safety.
In August 1944, Ortiz led his second mission into the Alps with a team of U.S. Marines, culminating in the massive “Le Grand Parachutage” supply drop to the Maquis. When his small patrol was surrounded by vastly superior German forces in the village of Centron, Ortiz must choose between fighting the enemy and saving the town. Ortiz’s story—an untold corner of World War II history—and extraordinary courage and self-sacrificing devotion cement his place in history forever.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 12, 2026
A gripping and meticulously reported thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Marvelous biography of a real hero who when given a chance to escape surrendered to the Nazis to save a small French village in the Alps.
If that isn’t something to pique your interest, then the story of Pierre “Peter” J. Ortiz’s renaissance flair, swashbuckling adventures, and spying career is bound to captivate you as much as it did me.
Born in New York but raised in California and France, he would do stints as a merchant marine, French Legionnaire, circus performer, race car driver and even an actor. His career in the French Foreign Legion I found the most interesting - up until his spying that is. His father allowed him to join the Legionnaires after he was told perhaps glowing “untrue” things, but Ortiz thrived there even making it to the rank of master sergeant (as a non-French citizen he could not achieve a commissioned rank). Making his way back to the US on December 7, 1941, Ortiz enlisted in the Marines, but due his language fluency in French and lesser abilities in Arabic, German, and Spanish, instead of heading to the Pacific with the rest of the Marines, he was recruited to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) - predecessor of the CIA.
Ortiz spent much time behind the lines in Southeastern France. Some of his daring and dangerous tasks included blowing up Nazi infrastructure and helping downed airmen - one of whom was the grandfather of the book’s co-author (there’s a lovely video of her speaking about him on LinkedIn). He used many covers - fashion designer (his father was in the fashion industry) and a minor Vichy official for example - and infiltrated Nazi events obtaining information to help the Allies. Back in London before D-Day he was among the most wanted men by the Gestapo. It was after D-Day he and his six men were surrounded by the Germans and knowing if he escaped the town would perish that he fave himself up. He ended up a POW for eight months, escaping it.
Ortiz went on to get two Navy Crosses - the highest naval honor - and served in the Pacific. The Marine Corp Press, Chapter 21, is an online history of this marvelously brave and resilient man - so unlike our orange draft dodger who loves to salute (since he never served this is a disgraceful act).
Highly recommend!
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Horizon for allowing me access to this ARC.
.
If that isn’t something to pique your interest, then the story of Pierre “Peter” J. Ortiz’s renaissance flair, swashbuckling adventures, and spying career is bound to captivate you as much as it did me.
Born in New York but raised in California and France, he would do stints as a merchant marine, French Legionnaire, circus performer, race car driver and even an actor. His career in the French Foreign Legion I found the most interesting - up until his spying that is. His father allowed him to join the Legionnaires after he was told perhaps glowing “untrue” things, but Ortiz thrived there even making it to the rank of master sergeant (as a non-French citizen he could not achieve a commissioned rank). Making his way back to the US on December 7, 1941, Ortiz enlisted in the Marines, but due his language fluency in French and lesser abilities in Arabic, German, and Spanish, instead of heading to the Pacific with the rest of the Marines, he was recruited to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) - predecessor of the CIA.
Ortiz spent much time behind the lines in Southeastern France. Some of his daring and dangerous tasks included blowing up Nazi infrastructure and helping downed airmen - one of whom was the grandfather of the book’s co-author (there’s a lovely video of her speaking about him on LinkedIn). He used many covers - fashion designer (his father was in the fashion industry) and a minor Vichy official for example - and infiltrated Nazi events obtaining information to help the Allies. Back in London before D-Day he was among the most wanted men by the Gestapo. It was after D-Day he and his six men were surrounded by the Germans and knowing if he escaped the town would perish that he fave himself up. He ended up a POW for eight months, escaping it.
Ortiz went on to get two Navy Crosses - the highest naval honor - and served in the Pacific. The Marine Corp Press, Chapter 21, is an online history of this marvelously brave and resilient man - so unlike our orange draft dodger who loves to salute (since he never served this is a disgraceful act).
Highly recommend!
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Horizon for allowing me access to this ARC.
.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ortiz’s War by Nicholas Reynolds and Katie S. Sanders is a gripping and very detailed biography of Peter J. Ortiz, one of the most decorated U.S. Marines of World War II. The book tracks Ortiz’s trajectory from the French Foreign Legion, where his brutal training in North Africa forged a fatalistic toughness and sharp survival instincts, to his clandestine work as an OSS operative in occupied France. The authors bring his legendary exploits to life with the driving pace of a thriller, from undercover intelligence work and daring rescues of downed Allied airmen to a dramatic confrontation in a nightclub where he revealed his full Marine uniform to unsuspecting German officers.
Beyond the high-stakes espionage, the book delivers a sobering, realistic look at the mechanics and heavy costs of war. The narrative reaches its emotional peak during the tragic Vercors campaign, highlighting the limits of resistance fighters when facing a highly disciplined German army. Ortiz’s leadership and moral courage shine through, culminating in the small town of Centron where he chose to surrender alongside two comrades to save the village from total annihilation. His willingness to sacrifice himself to save an entire village, captured perfectly in his own written reflections, underscores the raw psychological reality of serving behind enemy lines.
What truly elevates this biography is its profound commitment to the human dimension of the conflict, enriched by co-author Sanders’ personal connection as the granddaughter of an Allied airman rescued by these very networks. The story doesn't stop there. It follows Ortiz through relentless POW escape attempts, his subsequent request to fight in the Pacific, and his postwar life as a Hollywood military advisor. For anyone interested in special operations history, the OSS, or narratives of immense personal initiative under extreme risk, this book is an absolute must-read. As a Marine Corps veteran, I highly recommend this exceptional work.
Beyond the high-stakes espionage, the book delivers a sobering, realistic look at the mechanics and heavy costs of war. The narrative reaches its emotional peak during the tragic Vercors campaign, highlighting the limits of resistance fighters when facing a highly disciplined German army. Ortiz’s leadership and moral courage shine through, culminating in the small town of Centron where he chose to surrender alongside two comrades to save the village from total annihilation. His willingness to sacrifice himself to save an entire village, captured perfectly in his own written reflections, underscores the raw psychological reality of serving behind enemy lines.
What truly elevates this biography is its profound commitment to the human dimension of the conflict, enriched by co-author Sanders’ personal connection as the granddaughter of an Allied airman rescued by these very networks. The story doesn't stop there. It follows Ortiz through relentless POW escape attempts, his subsequent request to fight in the Pacific, and his postwar life as a Hollywood military advisor. For anyone interested in special operations history, the OSS, or narratives of immense personal initiative under extreme risk, this book is an absolute must-read. As a Marine Corps veteran, I highly recommend this exceptional work.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There is a lot of World War II literature. It is the nature of the game currently that they just sell better than most nonfiction, so the publishers pump them out. This is in and of itself is not a problem. There are plenty of stories from World War II which need to be told. The problem becomes that many authors don't realize that they have a fantastic article but not a book.
Luckily, this is not a problem from Nicholas Reynolds and Katie Sanders in Ortiz's War. It is the story of Peter Ortiz who was an absolute maniac in the best sense of the word. A kid from a rich family who decided school wasn't for him. Instead, he joins the French Foreign Legion and begins a military career that will include numerous battles, captures, escape attempts, and episodes of bravery that verge on sheer insanity.
Reynolds and Sanders understand their assignment. This is a gateway book in that it gives the bare essentials about the wider war while keeping the focus on Ortiz. It's another sign that the story isn't there when the author tries to recap all of World War II instead of trusting the reader to know that Hitler is bad, D-Day was amazingly heroic, and getting captured by Germans is not ideal. The book clocks in just a whisper over 300 pages and doesn't try to do too much. I wanted to read about a hero and his actions. It's exactly what I got.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Harper Horizon.)
Luckily, this is not a problem from Nicholas Reynolds and Katie Sanders in Ortiz's War. It is the story of Peter Ortiz who was an absolute maniac in the best sense of the word. A kid from a rich family who decided school wasn't for him. Instead, he joins the French Foreign Legion and begins a military career that will include numerous battles, captures, escape attempts, and episodes of bravery that verge on sheer insanity.
Reynolds and Sanders understand their assignment. This is a gateway book in that it gives the bare essentials about the wider war while keeping the focus on Ortiz. It's another sign that the story isn't there when the author tries to recap all of World War II instead of trusting the reader to know that Hitler is bad, D-Day was amazingly heroic, and getting captured by Germans is not ideal. The book clocks in just a whisper over 300 pages and doesn't try to do too much. I wanted to read about a hero and his actions. It's exactly what I got.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Harper Horizon.)
Review of advance copy
A fascinating story of one man’s war experience. Certainly an individual different from many, one with a penchant for action that a post-war, peacetime life left him ill-prepared. A solid history of a singular experience.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Extraordinary heroism.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This hits on all the important aspects of Ortiz’s life but failed to draw me in; the majority of it read like a detailed Wikipedia article.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
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August 7, 2026Thanks Harper Horizon for this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews