Home Run: Allied Escape and Evasion in World War II [Hardcover]

This book belongs on every World War II bookshelf, filling in the gaps on what is known about this oft-mentioned but little understood topic of wartime escape and evasion. The NYMAS ReviewImagine 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.A complete overview of U.S. and British escape and evasion during World War IIthe escape and evasion organizations, the Resistance-operated lines, and the dangers faced by the escapers and the evaders.A complete overview of US and British escape and evasion during World War II.Covers the training given to Allied soldiers, the specialist equipment they received, and the plans and escape attempts made in prisoner-of-war camps in Europe and the Far East.Covers the organizations and Resistance-operated lines, including the Comet Line, the Rome Escape Line, and the Indragiri River Line. Simkins knows his audience, and they will appreciate the passion with which he tells the sl'