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SAS Italian Job: The Secret Mission to Storm a Forbidden Nazi Fortress
An impossible mission in wartime the next explosive bestseller from Damien Lewis.In the hard-fought winter of 1944 the Allies advanced northwards through Italy, but stalled on the fearsome mountainous defences of the Gothic Line. Two men were parachuted in, in an effort to break the deadlock. Their to penetrate deep into enemy territory and lay waste to the Germans' impregnable headquarters.At the eleventh hour mission commanders radioed for David 'The Mad Piper' Kilpatrick to be flown in, resplendent in his tartan kilt. They wanted this fearless war hero to lead the assault, piping Highland Laddie as he went - so leaving an indelible British signature to deter Nazi reprisals.As the column of raiders formed up, there was shocking news. High command radioed through an order to stand down, having assessed the chances of success at little more than zero. But in defiance of orders, and come hell or high-water, they were going in.Damien Lewis's new bestseller tells the incredible story.
398 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2018
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1398 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 69 reviews
June 26, 2022
This is a fantastic book, Damien's best.
I've read a whole bunch of books by this author, and while he's always done a pretty good job of portraying action in an almost movie-like manner, with SAS Italian Job, he has surpassed himself.
First, this is a convoluted book, with two separate stories - following two different SAS operatives, one Farran and one Lees, one in France and one in Italy, until they paths join eventually. Second, the book is also written in a rather colorful, twisty manner, different from the previous ones, with far more anecdotes and personal stories, which add to the depth of the narrative. Third, the action is real and vivid.
You can definitely imagine yourself in the middle of it, and more than that, reading this book, I had flashbacks (in a good way) to the iconic war movies of the 50s and 60s like the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Dirty Dozen, and alike, with an almost nostalgic feeling, which is not how one should treat the serious matter of war, and yet, Damien manages to give you an "it's gonna be alright" sensation, despite the obvious harshness and brutality of the portrayed reality.
There is not an idle moment in the book, not a word used in vain. It's all very tight, very colorful and original. Even when the joint team executes their "final" mission (which I won't tell about in order not to spoil it, but it's kind of self-evident), the outcome is far from obvious. There's more to the epilogue than "they got medals and lived happily forever after". Really, the book has everything to make into a fantastic movie. I'd be surprised if one isn't in the making as we speak.
You have the hardy rebel against the authority, the mad piper, the Spanish mercenaries, the Russian brigade, the German who's turned against the homeland, the Italian partisans of all ilks, the political backstabbing, crazy stunts and incredible feats of bravery, friendship, romance, and then some. Seriously, this is as good as it gets.
5/5, extremely recommended!
Igor
I've read a whole bunch of books by this author, and while he's always done a pretty good job of portraying action in an almost movie-like manner, with SAS Italian Job, he has surpassed himself.
First, this is a convoluted book, with two separate stories - following two different SAS operatives, one Farran and one Lees, one in France and one in Italy, until they paths join eventually. Second, the book is also written in a rather colorful, twisty manner, different from the previous ones, with far more anecdotes and personal stories, which add to the depth of the narrative. Third, the action is real and vivid.
You can definitely imagine yourself in the middle of it, and more than that, reading this book, I had flashbacks (in a good way) to the iconic war movies of the 50s and 60s like the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Dirty Dozen, and alike, with an almost nostalgic feeling, which is not how one should treat the serious matter of war, and yet, Damien manages to give you an "it's gonna be alright" sensation, despite the obvious harshness and brutality of the portrayed reality.
There is not an idle moment in the book, not a word used in vain. It's all very tight, very colorful and original. Even when the joint team executes their "final" mission (which I won't tell about in order not to spoil it, but it's kind of self-evident), the outcome is far from obvious. There's more to the epilogue than "they got medals and lived happily forever after". Really, the book has everything to make into a fantastic movie. I'd be surprised if one isn't in the making as we speak.
You have the hardy rebel against the authority, the mad piper, the Spanish mercenaries, the Russian brigade, the German who's turned against the homeland, the Italian partisans of all ilks, the political backstabbing, crazy stunts and incredible feats of bravery, friendship, romance, and then some. Seriously, this is as good as it gets.
5/5, extremely recommended!
Igor
November 23, 2024
When I first read the title or briefly skimmed the description, I thought it was an effort against one fortress held by the Nazi's, but really it is about during the battle over Italy, the guerilla warfare lead by British and Italian partisans behind the Gothic Line. it proved to be another great book by Damien Lewis. If you like WWII history, this would be another good one to pick up.
February 5, 2019
Bloody brilliant, couldn't put this down. Meticulously researched, loved the background stories within the story. Build up and tension to the main raid/attack, was extremely gripping. This is the third book from Damien Lewis I have read and he truly is a master of his craft. Would highly recommend this book.
April 12, 2021
Cracking yarn. He really can tell a war tale. I like the way he fills in the gaps as best he can to narrate a story about people rather than get to factual about sources. The British ambivalence towards the partisans because of their communist links is also an interesting part of the story. Amazing that any government can lock official reports away for 105 years!
September 15, 2021
You might think everything that could have been written about World War II has already reached a wider public, especially now that even the oldest veterans and survivors are passing from the scene. But you would be wrong. An excellent case in point is British author Damien Lewis’ Churchill’s Hellraisers. The book’s subtitle suggests it’s a conventional account of yet another heroic raid on a Nazi strongpoint. But it’s more than that. Woven into Lewis’ breathtaking tale of extraordinary courage and resourcefulness by British special forces and Italian partisans is a deplorable story of political interference in the conduct of the war.
Weakening the Nazis’ Gothic Line from behind
The central topic of Churchill’s Hellraisers is Operation Tombola, which unfolded in northern Italy in the closing weeks of World War II. Despite the collapse of Nazi forces on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, the German 10th and 14th Armies lay dug into seemingly impregnable defensive positions on the Gothic Line that lay high across the calf of the Italian peninsula. The Allied drive north through Italy was stalled. Tombola was conceived to create havoc behind the line in support of an Allied offensive to break through and drive the Nazis from the country. There, British special forces would ally with Italian partisans to do what seemed impossible. And it worked. But there’s much more to the story.
Two remarkable men are the central characters in Lewis’ account. They’re the field commanders of the mission to storm the German 14th Army Headquarters in March 1945.
Michael Lees
Captain Michael Lees (1922-93) was a member of an aristocratic English family with a distinguished war record. After service in the British army, he volunteered for the Special Operations Executive and served on a perilous assignment with the Chetnik partisans in Yugoslavia before being sent to Italy. In September 1944, he parachuted into the Reggiani Valley in the rugged country of the Apennine Mountains near the Western end of the Gothic Line. To stiffen partisan resistance to the Nazis there, he organized and trained a 300-person multinational force including Spanish Republicans who had fled the Franco regime, Russian POWs, and escaped slave laborers as well as Italian partisans hand-picked from hundreds in the valley. Lees was the principal planner of Operation Tombola.
Roy Farran
To take command of Operation Tombola, Major Roy Farran (1921-2006) of the Special Air Service parachuted into the Reggiani Valley against express orders to do so. (On March 4, 1945, he “accidentally” fell out of the aircraft that was ferrying troops and equipment to join Lees.) Proceeding on schedule, he and Lees moved a force of 100 men out on a difficult march toward the German 14th Army Headquarters. They left 200 behind to secure the valley, convinced there would be a massive reprisal by the Nazis. Not long before their force was in position to launch the attack, they received frantic last-minute orders by messenger to stand down.
Knowing that delay would destroy the partisans’ morale and ensure no attack ever took place, they went ahead against orders. In the event, the attack was remarkably successful. And even though Allied forces weren’t ready to assault the Gothic Line—the reason for the order to delay the mission—they had caused so much disruption within the German army that the breakthrough succeeded.
Churchill’s Hellraisers brings to light three aspects of the war that haven’t come to light in any of my other reading.
The role of propaganda
Most accounts of partisan operations in Europe note the role of the BBC in transmitting attack orders to British special forces and their partisan collaborators. But the BBC and other Allied radio operations also played a major role in building and sustaining the morale of isolated partisan bands by broadcasting news of successful operations. Lewis makes clear in his tale of Operation Tombola that such broadcasts helped stiffen the spines of guerrilla bands involved in Italy as well as elsewhere. Since large-scale partisan operations didn’t get underway until late in the war, when an Allied victory seemed inevitable, there were many opportunities to brag about the damage they were inflicting on the Germans.
Betrayal of the Italian partisans
In the most dramatic revelation in Churchill’s Hellraisers, Lewis details how anti-Communist zealots in the British Cabinet and US State Department overrode military decisions to continue supporting the Italian partisans. Knowing that most of those involved in anti-Nazi efforts in northern Italy were Communists, officials feared that arming them would lead to a Communist takeover of the country following the war. With orders coming down from on high, mid-ranking officers in the field had little choice but to curtail shipments of arms and supplies.
British special forces commanders in the field such as Lees and Farran raged at the betrayal, which undermined their operations. A few well-connected officers, the two leaders of Operation Tombola among them, managed to wheedle the necessary support despite the fears of the politicians. And, in the event, the Italian Communist partisans never made any move to seize control of the government or set up a rival power center. They entered politics instead.
Multinational character of the fighting forces
British special forces and Italian partisans didn’t carry the fight to the Nazis on their own. Nearly one-third of the 100-man attack force Farran and Lees led to the 14th Army headquarters were Russians. Many were escaped POWs, others slave laborers sent to factories in Central Europe. In addition, a significant number of Spaniards who had fled Francisco Franco’s regime took part in the operation as well. In fact, the polyglot nature of the force presented a special challenge to Major Farran. To facilitate the all-important communication with the Russians, he brought across the line an Austrian Jewish soldier who spoke German with the Russian commander.
Churchill’s Hellraisers doesn’t read like a thriller
Reviewers crow over accounts of World War II that “read like a thriller.” Churchill’s Hellraisers does not. In fact, the book is tough sledding at times, especially for an American reader.
** The subtitle suggests that Operation Tombola is the book’s subject. But Major Farran, the mission’s commander, doesn’t arrive on the scene until halfway through the story. The first half introduces him and Captain Lees in a rambling account of numerous other officers and men and the special operations they carried out not just in Italy but throughout Europe and North Africa.
** Although Lewis spotlights the two central figures, he delights in introducing scores of other colorful characters, each depicted in an information-packed paragraph or two. The author describes their varied experience in Italy, Spain, France, Norway, Yugoslavia, and North Africa. It’s all too easy to find yourself on page 200 trying to remember a soldier first mentioned a hundred pages earlier.
** It’s difficult to tell where the orders come from, or who’s in charge. In fairness, the men in the field often felt equally confused. But it’s worse for a reader. Lewis brings all the different British special forces commands into the tale: the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Special Air Service (SAS), and Special Boat Service (SBS). Even the Commandos and MI6 get mentioned. And, on top of all that, a confusing welter of majors, colonels, and generals get into the act as well, some British, some American.
** And the author sees fit to season his account with colloquial British words and phrases so obscure that I’ve never come across them anywhere else.
Churchill’s Hellraisers might have benefited from an aggressive editor.
About the author
Damien Lewis is NOT the British actor who starred in Band of Brothers, Homeland, and Billions. HE spells his first name with two a’s (Damian, not Damien). The author is a British filmmaker who has written eighteen nonfiction books, many of them about war and warriors, as well as two thrillers. Wikipedia notes that he “has spent over twenty years reporting from and writing about conflict zones in many countries. He has produced about twenty films.”
Weakening the Nazis’ Gothic Line from behind
The central topic of Churchill’s Hellraisers is Operation Tombola, which unfolded in northern Italy in the closing weeks of World War II. Despite the collapse of Nazi forces on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, the German 10th and 14th Armies lay dug into seemingly impregnable defensive positions on the Gothic Line that lay high across the calf of the Italian peninsula. The Allied drive north through Italy was stalled. Tombola was conceived to create havoc behind the line in support of an Allied offensive to break through and drive the Nazis from the country. There, British special forces would ally with Italian partisans to do what seemed impossible. And it worked. But there’s much more to the story.
Two remarkable men are the central characters in Lewis’ account. They’re the field commanders of the mission to storm the German 14th Army Headquarters in March 1945.
Michael Lees
Captain Michael Lees (1922-93) was a member of an aristocratic English family with a distinguished war record. After service in the British army, he volunteered for the Special Operations Executive and served on a perilous assignment with the Chetnik partisans in Yugoslavia before being sent to Italy. In September 1944, he parachuted into the Reggiani Valley in the rugged country of the Apennine Mountains near the Western end of the Gothic Line. To stiffen partisan resistance to the Nazis there, he organized and trained a 300-person multinational force including Spanish Republicans who had fled the Franco regime, Russian POWs, and escaped slave laborers as well as Italian partisans hand-picked from hundreds in the valley. Lees was the principal planner of Operation Tombola.
Roy Farran
To take command of Operation Tombola, Major Roy Farran (1921-2006) of the Special Air Service parachuted into the Reggiani Valley against express orders to do so. (On March 4, 1945, he “accidentally” fell out of the aircraft that was ferrying troops and equipment to join Lees.) Proceeding on schedule, he and Lees moved a force of 100 men out on a difficult march toward the German 14th Army Headquarters. They left 200 behind to secure the valley, convinced there would be a massive reprisal by the Nazis. Not long before their force was in position to launch the attack, they received frantic last-minute orders by messenger to stand down.
Knowing that delay would destroy the partisans’ morale and ensure no attack ever took place, they went ahead against orders. In the event, the attack was remarkably successful. And even though Allied forces weren’t ready to assault the Gothic Line—the reason for the order to delay the mission—they had caused so much disruption within the German army that the breakthrough succeeded.
Churchill’s Hellraisers brings to light three aspects of the war that haven’t come to light in any of my other reading.
The role of propaganda
Most accounts of partisan operations in Europe note the role of the BBC in transmitting attack orders to British special forces and their partisan collaborators. But the BBC and other Allied radio operations also played a major role in building and sustaining the morale of isolated partisan bands by broadcasting news of successful operations. Lewis makes clear in his tale of Operation Tombola that such broadcasts helped stiffen the spines of guerrilla bands involved in Italy as well as elsewhere. Since large-scale partisan operations didn’t get underway until late in the war, when an Allied victory seemed inevitable, there were many opportunities to brag about the damage they were inflicting on the Germans.
Betrayal of the Italian partisans
In the most dramatic revelation in Churchill’s Hellraisers, Lewis details how anti-Communist zealots in the British Cabinet and US State Department overrode military decisions to continue supporting the Italian partisans. Knowing that most of those involved in anti-Nazi efforts in northern Italy were Communists, officials feared that arming them would lead to a Communist takeover of the country following the war. With orders coming down from on high, mid-ranking officers in the field had little choice but to curtail shipments of arms and supplies.
British special forces commanders in the field such as Lees and Farran raged at the betrayal, which undermined their operations. A few well-connected officers, the two leaders of Operation Tombola among them, managed to wheedle the necessary support despite the fears of the politicians. And, in the event, the Italian Communist partisans never made any move to seize control of the government or set up a rival power center. They entered politics instead.
Multinational character of the fighting forces
British special forces and Italian partisans didn’t carry the fight to the Nazis on their own. Nearly one-third of the 100-man attack force Farran and Lees led to the 14th Army headquarters were Russians. Many were escaped POWs, others slave laborers sent to factories in Central Europe. In addition, a significant number of Spaniards who had fled Francisco Franco’s regime took part in the operation as well. In fact, the polyglot nature of the force presented a special challenge to Major Farran. To facilitate the all-important communication with the Russians, he brought across the line an Austrian Jewish soldier who spoke German with the Russian commander.
Churchill’s Hellraisers doesn’t read like a thriller
Reviewers crow over accounts of World War II that “read like a thriller.” Churchill’s Hellraisers does not. In fact, the book is tough sledding at times, especially for an American reader.
** The subtitle suggests that Operation Tombola is the book’s subject. But Major Farran, the mission’s commander, doesn’t arrive on the scene until halfway through the story. The first half introduces him and Captain Lees in a rambling account of numerous other officers and men and the special operations they carried out not just in Italy but throughout Europe and North Africa.
** Although Lewis spotlights the two central figures, he delights in introducing scores of other colorful characters, each depicted in an information-packed paragraph or two. The author describes their varied experience in Italy, Spain, France, Norway, Yugoslavia, and North Africa. It’s all too easy to find yourself on page 200 trying to remember a soldier first mentioned a hundred pages earlier.
** It’s difficult to tell where the orders come from, or who’s in charge. In fairness, the men in the field often felt equally confused. But it’s worse for a reader. Lewis brings all the different British special forces commands into the tale: the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Special Air Service (SAS), and Special Boat Service (SBS). Even the Commandos and MI6 get mentioned. And, on top of all that, a confusing welter of majors, colonels, and generals get into the act as well, some British, some American.
** And the author sees fit to season his account with colloquial British words and phrases so obscure that I’ve never come across them anywhere else.
Churchill’s Hellraisers might have benefited from an aggressive editor.
About the author
Damien Lewis is NOT the British actor who starred in Band of Brothers, Homeland, and Billions. HE spells his first name with two a’s (Damian, not Damien). The author is a British filmmaker who has written eighteen nonfiction books, many of them about war and warriors, as well as two thrillers. Wikipedia notes that he “has spent over twenty years reporting from and writing about conflict zones in many countries. He has produced about twenty films.”
February 9, 2020
SAS Italian Job is an astonishing account of behind enemy lines operations in northern Italy towards the end of the Second World War. It’s a breathless read, and really should be a tale of courageous derring-do as well known as the Dambusters or Telemark raids. Damien Lewis recounts in impressively researched detail how a small British led force of SAS commandos, together with their comrades in arms - Italian partisans and escaped Russian POWs - raiding the German enemy from behind the previously impregnable ‘Gothic Line’*, managed to swoop down out of the Apennine mountains to carry out an audacious demolition job on the German HQ that controlled half of the front across the Italian peninsular.
*Those German forces in northern Italy, early 1945, under Hitler’s favourite commander Field Marshal Kesselring, are some million strong, and considered the most formidable remnant of the Reich’s war machine at this stage of the war.
Seriously outnumbered and outgunned, Major Roy Farran (SAS) and Captain Michael Lees (SOE), must first train up their unlikely band of brothers in the arts of guerrilla warfare in the weeks leading up to the raid. Their seemingly ragtag mob includes local priests, former Spanish Civil War veterans, an escaped Dutch intelligence officer POW, and even several Wehrmacht deserters. The Italian partisans consist of several dozen local communists as well as a force of non-communist Christian Democrats; all equally committed to ridding their homeland of the Nazi occupiers.
As other key SAS fighters and equipment are parachuted in to join them behind enemy lines, the ‘Battaglione Alleato’ (Allied Battalion) takes shape and hones its potency. Farran even has the partisans stitch the SAS motto ‘Chi Osera Vincera’ (Who Dares Wins) on their uniforms, and Italian flag coloured hackles (beret feathers) air-dropped in to help galvanise the unit’s espirit de corps!
Without spoiling the particulars of the raid itself, the Allied Battalion is to serve a decisive role in leading to the German collapse on the southern front in the crucial final phase of the war. Away from the heat of the battle, political and British Army Staff HQ considerations will play an extremely cruel part in the betrayal of some of the key actors in this story; some of the aspects of which remain unresolved even today almost 75 years later. This story would be hard to believe if it weren’t for the fact that it’s all 100% true. ‘SAS Italian Job’ is begging to be made into a breathtaking film of epic proportions. A highly recommended and rewarding read.
*Those German forces in northern Italy, early 1945, under Hitler’s favourite commander Field Marshal Kesselring, are some million strong, and considered the most formidable remnant of the Reich’s war machine at this stage of the war.
Seriously outnumbered and outgunned, Major Roy Farran (SAS) and Captain Michael Lees (SOE), must first train up their unlikely band of brothers in the arts of guerrilla warfare in the weeks leading up to the raid. Their seemingly ragtag mob includes local priests, former Spanish Civil War veterans, an escaped Dutch intelligence officer POW, and even several Wehrmacht deserters. The Italian partisans consist of several dozen local communists as well as a force of non-communist Christian Democrats; all equally committed to ridding their homeland of the Nazi occupiers.
As other key SAS fighters and equipment are parachuted in to join them behind enemy lines, the ‘Battaglione Alleato’ (Allied Battalion) takes shape and hones its potency. Farran even has the partisans stitch the SAS motto ‘Chi Osera Vincera’ (Who Dares Wins) on their uniforms, and Italian flag coloured hackles (beret feathers) air-dropped in to help galvanise the unit’s espirit de corps!
Without spoiling the particulars of the raid itself, the Allied Battalion is to serve a decisive role in leading to the German collapse on the southern front in the crucial final phase of the war. Away from the heat of the battle, political and British Army Staff HQ considerations will play an extremely cruel part in the betrayal of some of the key actors in this story; some of the aspects of which remain unresolved even today almost 75 years later. This story would be hard to believe if it weren’t for the fact that it’s all 100% true. ‘SAS Italian Job’ is begging to be made into a breathtaking film of epic proportions. A highly recommended and rewarding read.
July 13, 2019
Did not finish this, I'm afraid.
Lewis leans towards stories of espionage and unconventional warfare. So, in theory this should have been a fast-paced read. Unfortunately, the book was slow to get going. The Albinea raid doesn't appear for a long time. We get lots of build up, and detailed information from once sealed records. The stories of these brave men and women should be told. And I praise Lewis for bringing these untold stories to the reader's attention. Not for me; needed a lot more pace.
Lewis leans towards stories of espionage and unconventional warfare. So, in theory this should have been a fast-paced read. Unfortunately, the book was slow to get going. The Albinea raid doesn't appear for a long time. We get lots of build up, and detailed information from once sealed records. The stories of these brave men and women should be told. And I praise Lewis for bringing these untold stories to the reader's attention. Not for me; needed a lot more pace.
November 24, 2024
In "Churchill's Hellraisers: The Secret Mission to Storm a Forbidden Nazi Fortress," Damien Lewis delivers a pulse-pounding account of one of World War II's most daring raids. This gripping narrative plunges readers into the heart of a covert operation that would help turn the tide of the war. Set in the winter of 1944, the story unfolds as Allied forces have liberated most of Axis-occupied Italy, save for one crucial stronghold: the Nazi headquarters north of the Gothic Line. This mountain fortress, heavily guarded and surrounded by treacherous terrain, seemed impenetrable. However, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, determined to strike at the "soft underbelly of Europe," hatched an audacious plan. Lewis masterfully introduces us to an eclectic cast of characters that reads like a Hollywood screenplay. Two intrepid paratroopers form the core of this unlikely band of brothers, joined by Italian resistance fighters, escaped POWs, downed US airmen, and even a bagpipe-playing Scotsman known as "The Mad Piper.” Despite their diverse backgrounds and varying levels of military training, these men were united in their unwavering resolve to defeat the Nazi enemy. With his background as a war reporter, Lewis brings an authenticity and immediacy to his writing that transports readers to the frontlines. The author's meticulous research shines through as he details the planning, preparation, and execution of this high-stakes mission. From the heart-stopping parachute drop into enemy territory to the final assault on the fortress, every page crackles with tension and suspense. “Churchill's Hellraisers" is more than just a thrilling war story; it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Lewis skillfully weaves together individual acts of heroism to paint a broader picture of the war effort and the unsung heroes who helped bring an end to one of history's darkest chapters. Bracingly tense, brilliantly researched, and truly unforgettable, "Churchill's Hellraisers" is a must-read for history buffs and adventure seekers alike. Damien Lewis has once again proven himself a master storyteller, breathing life into a little-known episode of World War II and ensuring that the bravery of these hellraisers will not be forgotten.
September 6, 2020
CHURCHILL'S HELLRAISERS is a very apt title for this fascinating book on a little-known aspect of WWII in Europe - - - the actions of fearless volunteers and brave resistance fighters to cause chaos behind the German battle lines. This book focuses on a few key members of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), which Churchill and the military leaders would sometimes refer to as the "Ministry for Ungentlemanly Warfare." This group of special British Army volunteers were placed in dangerous positions behind enemy lines in the European theater, and their job was to hook up with local resistance fighters against the Nazis. Working together, their job was to provide vital tactical information of enemy positions and movements, as well as to blow up lines of communication and transport --- and generally to cause as much damage, chaos and misinformation as possible to cause the enemy to retreat and to give up their strategic positions as the Allies advanced further into the European continent.
Damiel Lewis is an acknowledged expert on World War II in Europe, and has done a masterful job in gathering information on this top secret group of men - and women - who daily risked their lives to help save even more Allied lives as they fought through Italy and France on their way to Germany. By the very nature of their secret work, and the fact that there are very few living survivors of these operations, Lewis has done a masterful job of placing the reader in the heat of the action. As I read this book, I felt myself caught up in the tension and stress of what the formidable odds that these brave fighters regularly faced, and came away with much gratitude and pride in the sacrifices made by these people 70 years ago to keep the Western world free. For anyone interested in military history, and for new insights into an aspect of the War in Europe that has been rarely addressed, this book will be an eye-opener and a treasured history. Most highly recommended!
Damiel Lewis is an acknowledged expert on World War II in Europe, and has done a masterful job in gathering information on this top secret group of men - and women - who daily risked their lives to help save even more Allied lives as they fought through Italy and France on their way to Germany. By the very nature of their secret work, and the fact that there are very few living survivors of these operations, Lewis has done a masterful job of placing the reader in the heat of the action. As I read this book, I felt myself caught up in the tension and stress of what the formidable odds that these brave fighters regularly faced, and came away with much gratitude and pride in the sacrifices made by these people 70 years ago to keep the Western world free. For anyone interested in military history, and for new insights into an aspect of the War in Europe that has been rarely addressed, this book will be an eye-opener and a treasured history. Most highly recommended!
June 4, 2021
On the face of it, if this was just a fictional novel about a daring raid on a key Axis HQ in Italy in the Second World War, it would be an OK read....
However, it portends to be an historical record of such a raid, and tries to make a case for real individuals to gain more recognition than they received in reality.....
As such, there are far too many anomalies to give it much credibility at all. Whilst there is no doubt that the author has researched his topic well - he hasn't edited his content quite so well. We are introduced to certain key figures. Then a little later, we are introduced to them again (as if the earlier introduction hadn't happened). And then when it happens a third and even a fourth time in one case - there is a credibility issue. Exacerbated by contrasting accounts of specific events, and too many big issues introduced but left completely unresolved.
This raid was supposed to have a massive, direct impact on the Allies' breaking of the Gothic Line - but no concrete conclusions are reached on this at all. There are confusions and contradictions about orders received and orders carried out - which does nothing at all to help the authenticity of the whole narrative thrust. There are some supposed major war heroes here - but other than people saying they were jolly good blokes, mad as hatters, they did some good stuff elsewhere - there is very little direct evidence to show they actually achieved very much at all.
I know there's the fog of war and all that - but once the mist has cleared on this book, there is very little to see which justifies a lot of the main claims.
As I say, it's a good yarn - but as an historical piece, it is holier than a holy colander, I'm afraid.
However, it portends to be an historical record of such a raid, and tries to make a case for real individuals to gain more recognition than they received in reality.....
As such, there are far too many anomalies to give it much credibility at all. Whilst there is no doubt that the author has researched his topic well - he hasn't edited his content quite so well. We are introduced to certain key figures. Then a little later, we are introduced to them again (as if the earlier introduction hadn't happened). And then when it happens a third and even a fourth time in one case - there is a credibility issue. Exacerbated by contrasting accounts of specific events, and too many big issues introduced but left completely unresolved.
This raid was supposed to have a massive, direct impact on the Allies' breaking of the Gothic Line - but no concrete conclusions are reached on this at all. There are confusions and contradictions about orders received and orders carried out - which does nothing at all to help the authenticity of the whole narrative thrust. There are some supposed major war heroes here - but other than people saying they were jolly good blokes, mad as hatters, they did some good stuff elsewhere - there is very little direct evidence to show they actually achieved very much at all.
I know there's the fog of war and all that - but once the mist has cleared on this book, there is very little to see which justifies a lot of the main claims.
As I say, it's a good yarn - but as an historical piece, it is holier than a holy colander, I'm afraid.
March 23, 2024
Compelling once the mission gets going.
“SAS Italian Job: The Secret Mission to Storm a Forbidden Nazi Fortress” by Damien Lewis tells the story of Operation Tombola: a combined SOE / SAS led partisan raid on a German Army Headquarters in Italy’s Apennine mountains during the last weeks of World War 2. The writer has done a good job in drawing attention to this daring but largely unknown operation. Although the actual raid is stuff of legend, and considered to be a success, one can question its necessity and outcome.
Unfortunately, I struggled to get through most of the book. The story takes a long time to get going. There are too many side-stories Lewis tries to tell and many (often colourful) characters making an appearance. In addition, the political and military strategic context of Operation Tombola are mentioned in passing but not given the attention it deserves. Finally, there are no good maps and there is no German angle to the story. It seems that the author’s main objective has been to rehabilitate one of the main characters rather than tell a complete story.
And yet, once the raid starts, the action is compelling and full of fascinating detail. It kept me glued to the pages. Without giving anything away, the bravery is unquestionable, the commitment to see it through unmistaken and the stubbornness to go ahead and not wait admirable. In the heat of the action, I did wonder a few times, why they did not lay low for a few more weeks and see the war out. Instead, they chose to run havoc behind enemy lines and make history.
All in all, I can recommend this to anyone interested in military history or the second world war in general or SAS and irregular warfare mor specific.
“SAS Italian Job: The Secret Mission to Storm a Forbidden Nazi Fortress” by Damien Lewis tells the story of Operation Tombola: a combined SOE / SAS led partisan raid on a German Army Headquarters in Italy’s Apennine mountains during the last weeks of World War 2. The writer has done a good job in drawing attention to this daring but largely unknown operation. Although the actual raid is stuff of legend, and considered to be a success, one can question its necessity and outcome.
Unfortunately, I struggled to get through most of the book. The story takes a long time to get going. There are too many side-stories Lewis tries to tell and many (often colourful) characters making an appearance. In addition, the political and military strategic context of Operation Tombola are mentioned in passing but not given the attention it deserves. Finally, there are no good maps and there is no German angle to the story. It seems that the author’s main objective has been to rehabilitate one of the main characters rather than tell a complete story.
And yet, once the raid starts, the action is compelling and full of fascinating detail. It kept me glued to the pages. Without giving anything away, the bravery is unquestionable, the commitment to see it through unmistaken and the stubbornness to go ahead and not wait admirable. In the heat of the action, I did wonder a few times, why they did not lay low for a few more weeks and see the war out. Instead, they chose to run havoc behind enemy lines and make history.
All in all, I can recommend this to anyone interested in military history or the second world war in general or SAS and irregular warfare mor specific.
July 20, 2020
CHURCHILL'S HELLRAISERS:THE SECRET MISSION TO STORM A FORBIDDEN NAZI FORTRESS BY DAMIEN LEWIS is the true story of the Special Forces group of people who secretly infiltrated Nazi held Italy during WWII to help not only feed and supply the Italian resistance groups ,but to conduct operations both singly and jointly ,to destroy,sabotage and disrupt the Nazi troops,facilities and equipment and help resistant groups do the same. Many men were killed , but the survivors of these groups have finally opened up and told the secrets that they sworn to preserve after many many decades. In CHURCHILL'S HELLRAISERS,their , bravery and their stories are finally being told.
This book is a fitting tribute to the countless lives that were sacrificed and forgotten. Not only that of the Italian resistance groups,but the the American,British, Dutch and many more nations whose men and women took the battle to the doorstep of Hitler's butcherers . The people,whose story you read here have been the silent hero's. It is time for those people of all the nations who stood up for what was right and died, to be brought into the light and the author did a great job of seeing they get the honors and the attention they deserved.
i recieved this e copy free from goodreads in exchange for a honest review.
This book is a fitting tribute to the countless lives that were sacrificed and forgotten. Not only that of the Italian resistance groups,but the the American,British, Dutch and many more nations whose men and women took the battle to the doorstep of Hitler's butcherers . The people,whose story you read here have been the silent hero's. It is time for those people of all the nations who stood up for what was right and died, to be brought into the light and the author did a great job of seeing they get the honors and the attention they deserved.
i recieved this e copy free from goodreads in exchange for a honest review.
May 6, 2020
I was pleased to receive an advance copy of "Churchill's Hellraisers", by Damien Lewis, for review purposes. It is being published under the Citadel Press imprint. The book is narrative history and reads like a somewhat disorganized novel. It eventually focuses on a singular raid on a German headquarters in 1945. This raid is used to examine the ways in which SOE and SAS interacted with Italian resistance movements in the last months of World War II. Anyone familiar with the many factions that emerged in Italy as fascism collapsed can well imagine the challenges this posed to Allied units dedicated to promoting and coordinating resistance to the German occupation. It is a story marked by courage, a failure of command and control, and in some sense betrayal. Several of the leading characters in the tale were later discarded and disavowed for their apparent eagerness to lead partisans into combat against their occupiers. The colorful cast of characters include British operatives cut from the same cloth as people like Orde Wingate, Chinese Gordon and Lawrence of Arabia. Unfortunately, like their predecessors, they did not play well with others. The very characteristics that made them effective in the pressure cooker of partisan warfare kept them from functioning as the sort of paper pushing colorless men who actually ran the large military and political organizations which threw them under the bus whenever the political winds shifted and then worked hard to neutralize their effectiveness. The book is longer than it needed to be, and the first half lacks focus, seeming to meander in a disjointed fashion until the central event, the attack on a German headquarters near the end of the war is finally set up. The author, at one point, seems to admire Mark Clark, and this alone gave me pause as to the depth of his understanding of events on the Italian front, but he quickly returns to his tale. If you want to read a rousing description of partisan warfare (more tactical and operational than strategic) on the Italian front, this book offers many useful insights once you get into it.
November 3, 2020
**I received this Kindle Edition book as part of goodreads giveaways**
I'm always up for a nonfiction book, especially when it is about a little known event. This story takes place in Italy, when a special forces type group of British soldiers and Italian partisans aim to take down a major Nazi officer and his base.
The events depicted in this story are incredible and fascinating. The politics of the military are tragically and typically what impacts many events that take place during the time leading up to the military action and the recognitions that do/don't result. It is an event worth reading about.
So why only 3 stars (really 3.5)? The writing was difficult to follow. The good news is that the author gives supporting details without getting bogged down in them. The pace of the book moves along well. The hard part was keeping all the people and abbreviations straight. In particular, when some have nicknames, it is even more confusing. Trying to keep track of who belonged to what unit was also a bit of a challenge. Many times the author jumps back in time to give background stories, which is good, but frequently adds to the confusion of the timeline. Pictures are included, which is always nice with an historical book.
I'm always up for a nonfiction book, especially when it is about a little known event. This story takes place in Italy, when a special forces type group of British soldiers and Italian partisans aim to take down a major Nazi officer and his base.
The events depicted in this story are incredible and fascinating. The politics of the military are tragically and typically what impacts many events that take place during the time leading up to the military action and the recognitions that do/don't result. It is an event worth reading about.
So why only 3 stars (really 3.5)? The writing was difficult to follow. The good news is that the author gives supporting details without getting bogged down in them. The pace of the book moves along well. The hard part was keeping all the people and abbreviations straight. In particular, when some have nicknames, it is even more confusing. Trying to keep track of who belonged to what unit was also a bit of a challenge. Many times the author jumps back in time to give background stories, which is good, but frequently adds to the confusion of the timeline. Pictures are included, which is always nice with an historical book.
October 27, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
This was such an enjoyable and informative read about a part of WW2 that is honestly, vastly overlooked when one talks or reads about the war. I was completely enthralled by the story of Lees, Farran and their motley crew of Italian partisans, and the wide variety of people that joined their fight in the Italian mountains. I didn't realize just how much guerilla warfare took place during WW2 but there was quite a bit. By the time we start this part of the war Lees and Farran had both amassed a slew of hit-and-run operations at quite young ages. That was another, slightly mind blowing fact, most of these guys had huge reputations at the ages of 20 to 25 years old.
I really enjoyed the way Lewis set out the story as well. It honestly read more like a story than just straight out facts with dry statistics. You really feel yourself pulled into what these guys were going through. I for one, am definitely intrigued and will be checking out a few of the books mentioned in the bibliography that go into more detail of each of these individuals wartime lives.
This was such an enjoyable and informative read about a part of WW2 that is honestly, vastly overlooked when one talks or reads about the war. I was completely enthralled by the story of Lees, Farran and their motley crew of Italian partisans, and the wide variety of people that joined their fight in the Italian mountains. I didn't realize just how much guerilla warfare took place during WW2 but there was quite a bit. By the time we start this part of the war Lees and Farran had both amassed a slew of hit-and-run operations at quite young ages. That was another, slightly mind blowing fact, most of these guys had huge reputations at the ages of 20 to 25 years old.
I really enjoyed the way Lewis set out the story as well. It honestly read more like a story than just straight out facts with dry statistics. You really feel yourself pulled into what these guys were going through. I for one, am definitely intrigued and will be checking out a few of the books mentioned in the bibliography that go into more detail of each of these individuals wartime lives.
December 31, 2019
A gripping account of the SAS and SOE operating with partisan groups behind German lines in Italy.
Also fascinating, was how the SAS embraced ex Spanish Civil War and French Foreign Legion veterans as members, before going on to train and lead partisan groups from Italian resistance to escaped Russian prisoners of war!
Existing in often harsh mountain conditions, they went beyond usual shoot and scoot tactics, to full engagement with the German Army, driving out a battalion with a frontal assault; SAS, Italian and Russian charging and breaking the German line, to the extraordinary attack on the well defended German Army HQ.
This required a long brutal march in total secrecy, to launch the surprise attack intended to kill the German General and staff and destroy signals and command and control logistics.
The great travesty of the story is the appalling treatment of SOE Captain Michael Lees, who despite organising the Resistance and planning the German Army HQ assault, where he lead one attack and remarkably survived five bullet wounds. He was made a pariah by the SOE for being too aggressive in the fight against the Germans, which was seen as disobeying orders.
Beside him in battle was SAS Major Roy Farran, who likely disobeyed far more orders, including not to drop behind lines with his men to support Lees. The US aircrew reported that he had fallen from the aircraft, presumed dead. Not mentioning he had a parachute on his back.
Farran's ignoring of orders was sidelined because US Special Forces thought he was a great asset and supported him with airdrops, so British SF had to turn a blind eye. They could hardly court martial an officer for an operation for which they had been decorated for bravery?
No so with Lees. SAS Major Farran recommended he be awarded the Military Cross. Writing a glowing citation of his courage, initiative and bravery. Inexplicably, the SOE, mind made up that Lees was an uncontrollable liability, not only responded that the SAS could not recommend awards to SOE officers, but blocked Lees from a post war career with MI6.
It is a story about those who have mastered irregular warfare and certainly, next time I hear a joke about Italians being cowards or surrendering, I will draw them to the extraordinary heroism they showed in this book. They just need a cause worth fighting for and in this case it was Nazi occupation.
Italian partisans charged German Army positions alongside the SAS.
A final touch was how SAS Major Farran had a young Scottish bagpiper parachuted in. Not only did he motivate the British and partisans in attack, his playing convinced the Germans it was a wholly British assault, which minimised German retribution on local Italian civilian populations.
Also fascinating, was how the SAS embraced ex Spanish Civil War and French Foreign Legion veterans as members, before going on to train and lead partisan groups from Italian resistance to escaped Russian prisoners of war!
Existing in often harsh mountain conditions, they went beyond usual shoot and scoot tactics, to full engagement with the German Army, driving out a battalion with a frontal assault; SAS, Italian and Russian charging and breaking the German line, to the extraordinary attack on the well defended German Army HQ.
This required a long brutal march in total secrecy, to launch the surprise attack intended to kill the German General and staff and destroy signals and command and control logistics.
The great travesty of the story is the appalling treatment of SOE Captain Michael Lees, who despite organising the Resistance and planning the German Army HQ assault, where he lead one attack and remarkably survived five bullet wounds. He was made a pariah by the SOE for being too aggressive in the fight against the Germans, which was seen as disobeying orders.
Beside him in battle was SAS Major Roy Farran, who likely disobeyed far more orders, including not to drop behind lines with his men to support Lees. The US aircrew reported that he had fallen from the aircraft, presumed dead. Not mentioning he had a parachute on his back.
Farran's ignoring of orders was sidelined because US Special Forces thought he was a great asset and supported him with airdrops, so British SF had to turn a blind eye. They could hardly court martial an officer for an operation for which they had been decorated for bravery?
No so with Lees. SAS Major Farran recommended he be awarded the Military Cross. Writing a glowing citation of his courage, initiative and bravery. Inexplicably, the SOE, mind made up that Lees was an uncontrollable liability, not only responded that the SAS could not recommend awards to SOE officers, but blocked Lees from a post war career with MI6.
It is a story about those who have mastered irregular warfare and certainly, next time I hear a joke about Italians being cowards or surrendering, I will draw them to the extraordinary heroism they showed in this book. They just need a cause worth fighting for and in this case it was Nazi occupation.
Italian partisans charged German Army positions alongside the SAS.
A final touch was how SAS Major Farran had a young Scottish bagpiper parachuted in. Not only did he motivate the British and partisans in attack, his playing convinced the Germans it was a wholly British assault, which minimised German retribution on local Italian civilian populations.
September 3, 2020
The story of the SAS and SOE operatives working behind the Gothic Line in Northern Italy in WWII. These men were a unique bunch, from their leaders Major Roy Farran and Captain Michael Lees who planned and lead operations, to David "The Mad Piper" Kilpatrick parachuting in with kilt and bagpipes to lend the operation a British flair, Russian defectors, Spanish Civil war veterans, and . They were "outside the box" thinkers that sacrificed a lot to the war and didn't take the easy out that so many of them could have. Great stories of guerilla raids and the work of the locals to help the Allies to liberate Italy from the Nazis. While these men were great field agents the politics of the war and post war world didn't treat them all fairly and this book tells their exciting stories. I received a free Kindle edition of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
March 4, 2025
In spring of 1945 the allies seem to be deadlocked in Italy at the formidable Gothic line. This book details the parachuting in of two SAS officers determined to break this deadlock at a town called Borghese both of them disobeyed orders in order to do this one by even parachuting in in the first place, he claimed it was an accident, and he just happened to fall out of the aircraft whilst conveniently wearing a parachute, the other launched the attack on the villa, even though he had been ordered to stand down. The former officer was not formally criticized by the UK military, as he had been given a military honour by the Americans in recognition of his heroism. No such luck for the second man, though, who was permanently injured in this conflict, and was denigrated by the UK authorities afterwards, despite great bravery.
April 18, 2023
I just like books that deal with the irregular or unorthodox Allies units of WWII. This book just fits the bill. It covers the fighting of the SOE and the SAS in northern Italy at the close of the War. The main focus of the story is an operation against the headquarters of the 14th German Army on the Gothic Line. However, it also showed how that leaders in the rear areas don't have a true picture of what agents in the field are up against and make policy that effects operations in the field. So the field agents, those mavericks, sometimes have to disobey orders to get the job done. If you like the idea of thrilling adventures that seem to be just a little insane then this is a book to read, because they did raise hell.
August 5, 2025
This made a fine follow-up reading on the Italian campaign of World War II with a British side of the Allied advance into Northern Italy and the Gothic Line after another work on the 1945 offensive in Italy: Climb to Conquer: The Untold Story of WWII's 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops.
This is about Operation Tombola how it went forward as a British SAS-led multinational partisan effort against orders. The tactics of the HQ attack and the fallout for the leaders is all here.
This is about Operation Tombola how it went forward as a British SAS-led multinational partisan effort against orders. The tactics of the HQ attack and the fallout for the leaders is all here.
February 25, 2020
My first Damien Lewis book. I've now read seven as a result. The way he blends story telling with historical facts, quotes and information is seamless. I have to constantly remind myself that the people in these stories are real and that their incredible feats are equally true. The way Lewis writes, he takes you through the page and back in time as if you were there along side these men and women. His talent as a reporter shines and his respect is translated perfectly providing a wonderful way to remember what people gave and what they were fighting for.
July 31, 2020
Superbly researched and documented account of "daring do" from WW2. The real life exploits of SAS and partisan Italian/Russian fighters with British officers and men both guiding and fighting behind the German lines surpasses belief in the havoc wrought and lives expended.
The raid on Nazi headquarters is brought vividly to life in the grim but moving detail which describes the scene. Worthy of a major film barring the disgusting treatment of Capt Lees who was caught in a web of political wrangling that marred much of his and others heroic accomplishments.
The raid on Nazi headquarters is brought vividly to life in the grim but moving detail which describes the scene. Worthy of a major film barring the disgusting treatment of Capt Lees who was caught in a web of political wrangling that marred much of his and others heroic accomplishments.
November 10, 2020
Once again Damien Lewis brings to life the men of the SAS. Telling the stories of Lees and Farran, you are transported behind enemy lines and get a chance to see the ungentlemanly warfare at work.
The book does begin with two stories, providing a background of the main men. Once they are United in Italy, their story and the fighting pick up speed.
I'm never disappointed by Mr. Lewis, and Churchill's Hellraisers is no exception.
The book does begin with two stories, providing a background of the main men. Once they are United in Italy, their story and the fighting pick up speed.
I'm never disappointed by Mr. Lewis, and Churchill's Hellraisers is no exception.
July 20, 2019
A great story about a handful of astonishingly brave men in WW2. The fact that this is all true makes it all the more amazing. My only grievance is the amount of military detail involved, which is fine for a historian or student of combat but I found it bogged down the story telling at times. Still a great read.
September 13, 2019
Heroes all
Fascinating story of what can be achieved when men and women put their mind, bravery and total dedication can achieve against all odds. A story also of the people behind desks, with stars on their shoulders, look after themselves and dare not give credit to the ones who save them and thief country
Fascinating story of what can be achieved when men and women put their mind, bravery and total dedication can achieve against all odds. A story also of the people behind desks, with stars on their shoulders, look after themselves and dare not give credit to the ones who save them and thief country
March 17, 2020
Holding my hands up to ignorance, I knew nothing of this campaign until I read this book. A tale of true heroics and true grit, but what a dismal way to treat war heroes. Poor Capt Lees, he deserved so much better. Poor, poor effort from "the Brits" who were more interested in Italian not going communist than truly helping the resistance.
August 25, 2020
Dating stuff
A fascinating account of partisan activity in Italy and the apparent denial of Lees MC appears to be a travesty of Establishment power. Fast paced account of the raid but a little too much padding/narrative either side for my liking. Overall, I enjoyed the book though.
A fascinating account of partisan activity in Italy and the apparent denial of Lees MC appears to be a travesty of Establishment power. Fast paced account of the raid but a little too much padding/narrative either side for my liking. Overall, I enjoyed the book though.
May 3, 2021
Very informative Book on SOE
Gave it 5 stars for the excellent information and writing style ... It's information on the villification and demonization of a fine officer typifies the vengeance meted out by some of the fatherless scum sucking eleatists in charge of the English military in WWII.
Gave it 5 stars for the excellent information and writing style ... It's information on the villification and demonization of a fine officer typifies the vengeance meted out by some of the fatherless scum sucking eleatists in charge of the English military in WWII.
May 2, 2025
A thrilling account of one of the most pivotal missions in the Allied advance through fascist Italy. Filled with all the hallmarks of a great war story: devil may care bravery, fearless local resistance, clueless commanders with little real knowledge of the difficulties on the ground and ultimate victory over the forces of Nazi evil.
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