Escape and Evasion

by Ian Dear

How does a captured soldier make a great escape? During World War Two, many tried to break out...but few actually succeeded. Here is the planning and execution of 18 incredible flights to freedom--some never written about before. These exciting true stories read like fiction, showing in detail how resistance fighters on the outside organized escape routes and safe houses. The group of intrepid characters comes not only from the Allied powers, but also from Germany and Japan.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, World War II, Military History

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1972

Reviews

[K A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tells the true stories of some very brave individuals and organisations who helped thousands of downed airmen and captured soldiers to escape to safety.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, but it often suffers from dry dispassionate writing. Best for WWII history fans, not really for the casual reader. There is extensive use of acronyms throughout, with some sentences seemingly entirely made up of them. Here's an example: "An MI9 unit, known as IS9 (WEA), was formed to work as part of Eisenhower's Supreme headquarters (SHAEF), and in August 1944 N Section, which had been divided between the esatern and central Mediterranean in December 1943, became IS9 (ME), and IS9 (CMF)." Maybe it's just me, but I have to admit that I had trouble keep track of all of the organizations referred to in the book. But I suppose that just comes with the territory when including stories from all fronts and all participants.

What makes it at all worthwhile is the info on the role of women in the French resistance, and the role of the priests in the Vatican both for the allies and for the axis. Both of which I was not fully aware of. The story of Dedee De Jongh alone is worth the price of admission.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well researched book on the various escape lines which helped escaped prisoners and resistance members to safety during World War II. It is loaded with maps and does not focus on well known escapes such as the Great Escape which has been well-documented elsewhere. Of particular interest to me as I had been unaware of them, were the details of a large Japanese POW break-out in Australia and of Vatican assistance given to Nazi's in post wartime. I would have enjoyed it if this book could also have included photographs of some of the main people discussed.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lifts the lid on the other secret war - escape lines for POWS & downed airmen. Lists the almost routine heroism of ordinary people & their unbelievable betrayal by collaborators. For various different reasons all these people deserve to be remembered.

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most I was familiar with escape attempts in Europe but this book covers many others including the Far East and Australia. More interesting is the the attitude towards imprisonment ie the Japanese and also the need for escape which did not necessarily mean getting home but evading changing governments.
However, I found that not all the maps were helpful with places referred to not shown and the many acronyms used caused some confusion which would have been helped if a glossary had been included.

[Mark Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting relatively short book on some of the lesser known prisoner evasion routes in WW2. Deals with both Allied and Axis prisoners and evaders and also the European and Pacific wars. Chronicles some very brave people, especially some of the women in Europe. I hadn't heard at all of the large Japanese breakout which led to several hundred deaths. Worthwhile read.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains some real insight into the escape routes and rat lines used in WW2. It’s an aspect of WW2 that I wasn’t really clued up on. This book walks the fine line between dry matter of fact information and engaging storytelling. I feel like it could have leaned more into the storytelling side as some of the individuals in this book were truly remarkable and courageous in the face of adversity.

[Don Wilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unassuming looking little book is not so much about escapes and escapers but the networks and intellegence planning that went into assisting them once they were on the run. Much of the information about the thorough planning that went into establishing WW2 escape neworks and the men and women who ran them has only recently become declassified and is astounding in its scope of organisation to say nothing of the bravery of those who risked and often lost thier lives for others. It describes German POW breakouts and a serious Japanese breakout in Australia. Vatican 'ratlines' which continued for many years after the war smuggling and aiding Nazi fugetives were often ignored by western governments and agencies who were then cynically more concerned with using former tyrants and enemiies to combat the influence of communism. A v

ery good and recommended read shedding light on a hitherto little known aspect of intellegence, ecape and evasion. The text is well supported by some good maps - just a pity they didnt ask me to consruct them.