The Evaders: The Story of the Most Amazing Mass Escape of World War II

by Leo Heaps

This World War II adventure story offers a thrilling first-person account of the escape of Allied soldiers from behind enemy lines following the disastrous Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. Of 10,000 Allied troops, there were 8,000 casualties. However, some 250 men were hidden by the Dutch singly and in groups, theirs were some of the most remarkable escapes of the war. The author, a Canadian paratrooper taken prisoner during the battle, jumped from a moving train on its way to Germany, and subsequently organized the successful rescue of other survivors; for his part in one of the most incredible mass escapes ever recorded, he earned the Military Cross. The stories of the escapees are inter-weaved with those of the brave Dutch resistance who helped them. It is a moving portrayal of heroism and compassion told with a vigor that keeps readers enthralled.

Genres: World War II

245 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Laura Shoults]

Reading WWII NF has such a sobering effect on me. I’m so grateful to live in an era where this wasn’t my reality. I can only hope that I would be as brave as so many of the Dutch were. That being said, this wasn’t the easiest book to read- much of this is written in a detailed factual manner rather than “telling a story”.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a WWII survival story. Following the disaster of A Bridge Too Far; a small group of paratroopers survive with the help of the Dutch Resistance. As the sub-title states, a mass escape will be planned and completed.