Home Run: Allied Escape and Evasion in World War II

by Howard R. Simkin, Lt Gen Charles Cleveland (Ret) (Foreword)

Imagine that you are deep behind enemy lines. Your plane was shot down or perhaps you have just escaped from a prisoner of war camp. The enemy is hunting you, seeking to throw you behind barbed wire for the duration of the war. What will you do? Do you have a plan, and the skills, to make it to friendly territory?

During World War II, the Germans and Japanese held over 306,000 British and 105,000 U.S. service members as prisoners. The number of successful evaders and escapers, both U.S. and British, exceeded 35,000. Many of these were aircrew, who received intense training because of the high risk that they would have to evade or escape. This book will relate how they fared in enemy hands or managed to remain free.

This book provides a complete overview of U.S. and British escape and evasion during World War II. It tells the story of the escape and evasion organizations, the Resistance-operated lines, and the dangers faced by the escapers and the evaders in a logical and compelling narrative. Heroism, betrayal, sacrifice, and cowardice are all elements of this fascinating part of the rich tapestry of World War II.

216 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2022

Reviews

[Joannefish · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 40 year veteran of U.S. military special operations and law enforcement, Howard Simpkin is well qualified to write this excellent history of Escape and Evasion during World War II. So many WW II history books written by former military authors are boring to read because they get bogged down in details. Mr. Simkin’s book is really a “Home Run” because it combines factual history of allied prisoner captivity and treatment with escape and evasion successes and failures, but it is done in a narrative easy to read style that brings the reader into the minds of the POWs as well as their captors.

Mr. Simkin has expertly researched and documented this historical work, with excellent footnotes that you don’t want to skip over. The book also references over 50 books and news articles which represent many first-hand accounts from POWs and those who organized and ran the infamous escape lines in Europe and the Pacific.

As one of the few POWs who successfully escaped from the enemy during the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler would have loved reading this book. I don’t think I could pay a better compliment to Mr. Simpkin's work.

[Bryn Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty interesting book detailing the allied escape and evasion efforts in both the European and Asian theatres of WW2. It looks at the British and US efforts as well as the German and Japanese methods of dealing with POWs and thwarting escape attempts. The sheer number of downed airmen and civilians shuffled through safe houses and established escape routes is amazing. It's a testament to the men and women who worked tirelessly throughout the war. That includes not just those brave enough to attempt the hit the home run (escape and get back) but those behind enemy lines putting their lives on the line to help aid an abet all the while evading capture or death themselves. Many didn't survive. But the efforts continued. It's a good read on a piece of WW2 history.

[Caitlyn Abear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally written and captivating. Mr. Simkin tells the stories of escapers and evaders with such detail and accuracy. This book accurately portrays and highlights the bravery & tenacity of these men in unbearable circumstances. A WW2 must read for all history buffs alike!