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MI9: Escape and Evasion 1939-1945
A classic espionage book about the British secret service that arranged the daring escapes of allied prisoners during World War II.
Michael Foot, CBE, was decorated for service with the French Resistance in Brittany.
J.M. Langley organized the escape from German prisoner-of-war camps of around three thousand people.
Michael Foot, CBE, was decorated for service with the French Resistance in Brittany.
J.M. Langley organized the escape from German prisoner-of-war camps of around three thousand people.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1979
3 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
M.R.D. Foot
36 books14 followersMichael Richard Daniell Foot, CBE, TD, known as M. R. D. Foot — was a British military historian and former British Army intelligence officer and special operations operative during World War II.
The son of a career soldier, Foot was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, where he became involved romantically with Iris Murdoch. He joined the British Army on the outbreak of World War II and was commissioned into a Royal Engineers searchlight battalion. In 1941 searchlight units transferred to the Royal Artillery. By 1942, he was serving at Combined Operations Headquarters, but wanting to see action he joined the SAS as an intelligence officer and was parachuted into France after D-Day. He was for a time a prisoner of war, and was severely injured during one of his attempts to escape. For his service with the French Resistance he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the Croix de Guerre. He ended the war as a major. After the war he remained in the Territorial Army, transferring to the Intelligence Corps in 1950.
After the war Foot taught at Oxford University for eight years before becoming Professor of Modern History at Manchester University. His experiences during the war gave him a lifelong interest in the European resistance movements, intelligence matters and the experiences of prisoners of war. This led him to become the official historian of SOE, with privileged access to its records, allowing him to write some of the first, and still definitive, accounts of its wartime work, especially in France. Even so, SOE in France took four years to get clearance.
Foot left the Labour Party while his namesake Michael Foot — to whom he was very distantly related — was leading it, and joined the SDP (Social Democratic Party).
Foot was the great-great-great-grandson of Benjamin Fayle who built Dorset's first railway, the Middlebere Plateway in 1806. Fayle was the great-great-grandson of William Edmunson, the First Irish Quaker.
He was at one time married to the British philosopher Philippa Foot (née Bosanquet), the granddaughter of U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Foot's second was wife was Elizabeth King, with whom he had a son and a daughter. In 1972 Foot married Mirjam Romme.
M.R.D. Foot was appointed a CBE in 2001. He also received the Territorial Decoration for Long Service in the Territorial Army.
See also his obituaries at:
1) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obitu... accessed 26 May 2012.
2) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/... accessed 26 May 2012.
The son of a career soldier, Foot was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, where he became involved romantically with Iris Murdoch. He joined the British Army on the outbreak of World War II and was commissioned into a Royal Engineers searchlight battalion. In 1941 searchlight units transferred to the Royal Artillery. By 1942, he was serving at Combined Operations Headquarters, but wanting to see action he joined the SAS as an intelligence officer and was parachuted into France after D-Day. He was for a time a prisoner of war, and was severely injured during one of his attempts to escape. For his service with the French Resistance he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the Croix de Guerre. He ended the war as a major. After the war he remained in the Territorial Army, transferring to the Intelligence Corps in 1950.
After the war Foot taught at Oxford University for eight years before becoming Professor of Modern History at Manchester University. His experiences during the war gave him a lifelong interest in the European resistance movements, intelligence matters and the experiences of prisoners of war. This led him to become the official historian of SOE, with privileged access to its records, allowing him to write some of the first, and still definitive, accounts of its wartime work, especially in France. Even so, SOE in France took four years to get clearance.
Foot left the Labour Party while his namesake Michael Foot — to whom he was very distantly related — was leading it, and joined the SDP (Social Democratic Party).
Foot was the great-great-great-grandson of Benjamin Fayle who built Dorset's first railway, the Middlebere Plateway in 1806. Fayle was the great-great-grandson of William Edmunson, the First Irish Quaker.
He was at one time married to the British philosopher Philippa Foot (née Bosanquet), the granddaughter of U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Foot's second was wife was Elizabeth King, with whom he had a son and a daughter. In 1972 Foot married Mirjam Romme.
M.R.D. Foot was appointed a CBE in 2001. He also received the Territorial Decoration for Long Service in the Territorial Army.
See also his obituaries at:
1) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obitu... accessed 26 May 2012.
2) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/... accessed 26 May 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 12, 2021
I have to say I am so thankful to my Brother in Law Chris who pointed out this book in a Bristol Charity shop a few years ago- and I am so embarrassed I took so long to read it. MRD Foot CBE and JM Langley MBE MC are both decorated veterans of this Imperial Military Intelligence department , using the best records then available to them in 1979 to write an unofficial history of the Allied program to get their people back from enemy held territory, cause general disruption to the enemy, and get useful information out of enemy POW compounds. It was frankly amazing how successful they were at it, as more than 35000 escapers and evaders managed to regain Allied lines, sometimes completely on their own, but as the war went on, increasingly through the efforts of and with the help of MI9 and MIS-X, its American counterpart.. The authors tell the story, alternating between top-down moves made in London, and the amazing exploits of the escapers and evaders themselves and their resistance helpers. This is all told in the fabulous breezy style of the dashing young chaps of the time, with a lot of self deprecating and danger reducing humour , and wit. I think any general reader will be drawn in to the intrigue of codes and POW escapes, the amazing evasions from right under the enemy's nose, and the stories of amazing bravery to get soldiers, sailors and especially airmen back to the fight. Even In the Pacific and Asian War, where escape was nigh impossible without horrible repercussions-evasion was a very good alternative with a little knowledge of Jungle and Rain Forest flora, fauna , and indigenous peoples. Military history buffs will enjoy learning about a very different type of war- where running away is winning big time.
Escapes are when you've been taken by the enemy- and manage to get away. Evasion is when they never do hold you- but you have to pass through their territory all the same. WWI had removed any last shame in getting captured in Western Society- but had brought in the obligation to escape from enemy hands. So the British Empire-feeling the War could get big- began to think about teaching principals of escape/evasion and providing materials to help those who might be need them in a pinch. Thus began a massive flow of silk maps, button compasses and a myriad of other helpful items- taken to a whole new level after Dunkirk of course. But in the months after Dunkirk and the other Naval evacuations from France- the first evaders began to trickle in over the Spanish border- thence to Lisbon and home- or over the Swiss border to internment. This proof that both were possible seems to have filled the sails of the department- and the fight was on. The Air Campaign over Nazi Europe then led to further successes- and then communication- at snail mail pace- but communication nonetheless with the POW Camps themselves. And that is just the beginning as this book just amazes with every few pages. A gripping story told in a gripping way.
There are a lot of adult themes and some graphic torture and casualty description so this is a book best read by the Junior Reader over about 13/14. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military enthusiast- its a real festival of ideas. Although there are some cool cooperation with the SAS/Popski's Private Army/Commando "Pinch" teams at the end of the war that might work for cool FOW/BA/CoC scenarios, I think the RPG folks can really make an interesting Character Game with Escapers/Evaders and Resistance/Partisan (royalist/Communist/Nationalist/Anti-Nazi groups could be at odds in any given territory in The Ukraine/Poland/Greece/Albania/Yugoslavia/France or Northern Italy after the Armistice in 1943), collaborating forces (Milice in Vichy France, Ustashi In Croatia for example), and the Germans, Heer, Polizei, and Waffen SS/Gestapo- making a rich melange for a game. Modelers get a interesting part of the war to understand for dioramas of POW situations, and of Catalina and Lysander pickups of Airmen behind the lines. But in this case it is the Military Enthusiast who gets the most - a fascinating look behind the scenes in London, at the front of the Allied Air war, and behind the lines evaders at large making their way- and POWs in camps plotting escapes and sometimes succeeding. I loved the content and I enjoyed the style so I have to say this is a strong recommendation for Military History Buff and general reader alike.
Escapes are when you've been taken by the enemy- and manage to get away. Evasion is when they never do hold you- but you have to pass through their territory all the same. WWI had removed any last shame in getting captured in Western Society- but had brought in the obligation to escape from enemy hands. So the British Empire-feeling the War could get big- began to think about teaching principals of escape/evasion and providing materials to help those who might be need them in a pinch. Thus began a massive flow of silk maps, button compasses and a myriad of other helpful items- taken to a whole new level after Dunkirk of course. But in the months after Dunkirk and the other Naval evacuations from France- the first evaders began to trickle in over the Spanish border- thence to Lisbon and home- or over the Swiss border to internment. This proof that both were possible seems to have filled the sails of the department- and the fight was on. The Air Campaign over Nazi Europe then led to further successes- and then communication- at snail mail pace- but communication nonetheless with the POW Camps themselves. And that is just the beginning as this book just amazes with every few pages. A gripping story told in a gripping way.
There are a lot of adult themes and some graphic torture and casualty description so this is a book best read by the Junior Reader over about 13/14. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military enthusiast- its a real festival of ideas. Although there are some cool cooperation with the SAS/Popski's Private Army/Commando "Pinch" teams at the end of the war that might work for cool FOW/BA/CoC scenarios, I think the RPG folks can really make an interesting Character Game with Escapers/Evaders and Resistance/Partisan (royalist/Communist/Nationalist/Anti-Nazi groups could be at odds in any given territory in The Ukraine/Poland/Greece/Albania/Yugoslavia/France or Northern Italy after the Armistice in 1943), collaborating forces (Milice in Vichy France, Ustashi In Croatia for example), and the Germans, Heer, Polizei, and Waffen SS/Gestapo- making a rich melange for a game. Modelers get a interesting part of the war to understand for dioramas of POW situations, and of Catalina and Lysander pickups of Airmen behind the lines. But in this case it is the Military Enthusiast who gets the most - a fascinating look behind the scenes in London, at the front of the Allied Air war, and behind the lines evaders at large making their way- and POWs in camps plotting escapes and sometimes succeeding. I loved the content and I enjoyed the style so I have to say this is a strong recommendation for Military History Buff and general reader alike.
January 28, 2026
This is a fascinating history of the Military Intelligence department responsible for organising and aiding the escape of prisoners of war and the evasion of Allied troops stranded in enemy territory during WWII. MI 9 Escape and Evasion is written by M.R.D. Foot and J.M. Langley, both of whom had the experience of being captured during wartime. This edition was published in 1979.
As a result of experiences in the 1914-18 Great War, senior officers in the British War Office created MI 9 and put a Major Crockatt in charge. His remit was fairly broad: facilitate the escape of POWs in order to get them home to continue the fight; facilitate the return to UK of those who evaded capture in enemy occupied territory; to collect and distribute information; to assist in the denial of information to the enemy; and to maintain morale of British POWs in enemy prison camps (pp 34/35).
In the early stages of the war troops and airmen were issued with ingenious escape boxes that might help them evade capture – comprising maps, limited sustenance, compass, fishing line, etc.
Over time a number of escape lines were set up in Belgium, France, and Spain by MI 9 officers. There was some assistance given by SOE and even MI 6 and OSS agents in place. Later, further escape routes were established on the coastline of Greece. Escapes were rare in the Far East, but there were evaders, and they were helped by Chinese and Malay civilians (almost all of whom hated the Japanese) as well as MI 9 agents.
Astonishingly, MI 9 had contact with many POWs in camps in Germany, Italy and elsewhere through illicit radios and coded letters. Information was obtained by escapees as well as evaders and passed on to MI 9 for dissemination to other camps and British High Command.
A number of prison camps are mentioned, among them Colditz and Sagan, the latter being depicted in The Great Escape. At one time or another between sixty and seventy tunnels were begun in Sagan until they settled on three, Tom, Dick and Harry.
Not all the evaders were men. A US plane carrying a dozen or so nurses and other non-combatants crash-landed in Albania; they burned their plane and set off into the countryside. They managed to hook up with some SOE men and stayed only an hour or two ahead of German patrols, to be finally spirited away to safety.
There are dozens of fascinating tales of bold escapes and the survival of hardships in inhospitable mountainous terrain. Some incidents may only get a sentence or two, but they could easily expand into an exciting book.
It is remarkable that over this period there were about 23,000 escapers and 10,300 evaders roaming enemy occupied territory who were rescued by this organisation. At the war’s end, about 250,000 British, Commonwealth and American prisoners marched out to freedom.
Inevitably, there are hundreds of people’s names mentioned; and almost as many abbreviations are quoted – thankfully most of the latter are explained in a list at the end of the book. There are useful maps as well as sources including among them very readable autobiographies are referenced: Actor Sam Kydd’s For You the War is Over; Richard Pape’s Boldness be My Friend; Russell Braddon’s Nancy Wake; and Airey Neave They Have their Exits. The latter was murdered by cowardly INLA the year that this book was published.
The authors were frustrated that certain files were not due to be opened till 2010. I wonder if that happened...
As a result of experiences in the 1914-18 Great War, senior officers in the British War Office created MI 9 and put a Major Crockatt in charge. His remit was fairly broad: facilitate the escape of POWs in order to get them home to continue the fight; facilitate the return to UK of those who evaded capture in enemy occupied territory; to collect and distribute information; to assist in the denial of information to the enemy; and to maintain morale of British POWs in enemy prison camps (pp 34/35).
In the early stages of the war troops and airmen were issued with ingenious escape boxes that might help them evade capture – comprising maps, limited sustenance, compass, fishing line, etc.
Over time a number of escape lines were set up in Belgium, France, and Spain by MI 9 officers. There was some assistance given by SOE and even MI 6 and OSS agents in place. Later, further escape routes were established on the coastline of Greece. Escapes were rare in the Far East, but there were evaders, and they were helped by Chinese and Malay civilians (almost all of whom hated the Japanese) as well as MI 9 agents.
Astonishingly, MI 9 had contact with many POWs in camps in Germany, Italy and elsewhere through illicit radios and coded letters. Information was obtained by escapees as well as evaders and passed on to MI 9 for dissemination to other camps and British High Command.
A number of prison camps are mentioned, among them Colditz and Sagan, the latter being depicted in The Great Escape. At one time or another between sixty and seventy tunnels were begun in Sagan until they settled on three, Tom, Dick and Harry.
Not all the evaders were men. A US plane carrying a dozen or so nurses and other non-combatants crash-landed in Albania; they burned their plane and set off into the countryside. They managed to hook up with some SOE men and stayed only an hour or two ahead of German patrols, to be finally spirited away to safety.
There are dozens of fascinating tales of bold escapes and the survival of hardships in inhospitable mountainous terrain. Some incidents may only get a sentence or two, but they could easily expand into an exciting book.
It is remarkable that over this period there were about 23,000 escapers and 10,300 evaders roaming enemy occupied territory who were rescued by this organisation. At the war’s end, about 250,000 British, Commonwealth and American prisoners marched out to freedom.
Inevitably, there are hundreds of people’s names mentioned; and almost as many abbreviations are quoted – thankfully most of the latter are explained in a list at the end of the book. There are useful maps as well as sources including among them very readable autobiographies are referenced: Actor Sam Kydd’s For You the War is Over; Richard Pape’s Boldness be My Friend; Russell Braddon’s Nancy Wake; and Airey Neave They Have their Exits. The latter was murdered by cowardly INLA the year that this book was published.
The authors were frustrated that certain files were not due to be opened till 2010. I wonder if that happened...
January 28, 2017
I liked the book. Given the scope, the sad part is that particular sections have large voids as a lot of information from and about former Warsaw Pact nations was not available. Also, there is a constant indirect relationship to the material. Given secrecy, the memoirs of the escapers is necessarily circumstance regarding assistance or training from MI9. What is notable is the tenacity of some of the escapers, particularly those that managed to escape the Germans only to be picked up by Soviet forces who tended to imprison them, rather than repatriate, but the most hardy managed to not be help by either the Germans or the Soviets. The overall scope is quite large, but the authors do dip in to interesting stories throughout the work. I was worried that this would be a tradition, dry official history and it's not.
May 28, 2022
As a person without much knowledge about war-related history, the book can get difficult to read at times — much of the background is glossed. The readers are expected to know the main events of the war to truly appreciate the book. However, the book remains enjoyable and the authors have masterfully crafted the chapters to keep them as engaging and interesting as possible. Overall, a decently enjoyable read (with lots of information to learn).
August 6, 2025
This is a very dated book on an interesting topic. The main problem with the book is that one of the authors, JM Langley, was a senior officer in MI 9. Largely as a result, it often reads like an in house history, with almost everything being told from the perspective of the headquarters. There’s very little on the experiences of escapers as seen through their eyes and almost nothing about the brave civilians who assisted them.
August 22, 2025
I am an avid student of WW2. This book was a facet of the war which I had given little thought to. It was so amazing to me the number of people that were able to return to duty, the intelligence gained from the prisoners, the communications that were established, the people that risked, and gave their lives, to help these soldiers in their journey to freedom. Any person with an interest in this, the world’s greatest conflict, time period is a must read.
July 14, 2017
Fascinating and amazing. So glad I read it
July 27, 2025
For serious W W II history buffs only.
March 15, 2015
Detailed, startling, breath-taking.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews