Description
Discover the untold story of resilience and bravery in The Greatest Escape, a gripping account of the largest POW escape during World War II. This compelling trade paperback follows the thrilling tale of 106 Allied prisoners who broke free from a Nazi camp in Slovenia in August 1944. Unravel the incredible adventure organized not by high-ranking officers but by ordinary individuals: Australian Ralph Churches, a former bank clerk, British jazz pianist Les Laws, and American intelligence officer Franklin Lindsay. Their daring escape was a result of meticulous planning and collaboration with local partisans, navigating treacherous terrain and evading relentless pursuers. This powerful narrative spans from the harrowing experiences of capture in Greece to a heart-stopping 160-mile journey through the Alps, showcasing the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversities. The Greatest Escape illuminates not only the bravery of these men but also sheds light on secret Allied intelligence operations in Slovenia. With thorough research spanning seven countries, this book is a remarkable chronicle of survival, friendship, and the fight for freedom. Add this brand new edition to your collection today and explore a pivotal moment in history that changed the lives of those involved. Shipping for this item is free, and you can expect delivery within 6 weeks. Please note, once your order is placed, it cannot be canceled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781529060348
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK
Pages: 368
Description:
The gripping, vividly told story of the largest POW escape in the Second World War - organized by an Australian bank clerk, a British jazz pianist and an American spy.
In August 1944 the most successful POW escape of the Second World War took place - 106 Allied prisoners were freed from a camp in Maribor, in present-day Slovenia. The escape was organized not by officers, but by two ordinary soldiers: Australian Ralph Churches (a bank clerk before the war) and Londoner Les Laws (a jazz pianist by profession), with the help of intelligence officer Franklin Lindsay. The American was on a mission to work with the partisans who moved like ghosts through the Alps, ambushing and evading Nazi forces.
How these three men came together - along with the partisans - to plan and execute the escape is told here for the first time. The Greatest Escape, written by Ralph Churches' son Neil, takes us from Ralph and Les's capture in Greece in 1941 and their brutal journey to Maribor, with many POWs dying along the way, to the horror of seeing Russian prisoners starved to death in the camp. The book uncovers the hidden story of Allied intelligence operations in Slovenia, and shows how Ralph became involved. We follow the escapees on a nail-biting 160-mile journey across the Alps, pursued by German soldiers, ambushed and betrayed. And yet, of the 106 men who escaped, 100 made it to safety. Thanks to research across seven countries, The Greatest Escape is no longer a secret.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781529060348
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK
Pages: 368
Description:
The gripping, vividly told story of the largest POW escape in the Second World War - organized by an Australian bank clerk, a British jazz pianist and an American spy.
In August 1944 the most successful POW escape of the Second World War took place - 106 Allied prisoners were freed from a camp in Maribor, in present-day Slovenia. The escape was organized not by officers, but by two ordinary soldiers: Australian Ralph Churches (a bank clerk before the war) and Londoner Les Laws (a jazz pianist by profession), with the help of intelligence officer Franklin Lindsay. The American was on a mission to work with the partisans who moved like ghosts through the Alps, ambushing and evading Nazi forces.
How these three men came together - along with the partisans - to plan and execute the escape is told here for the first time. The Greatest Escape, written by Ralph Churches' son Neil, takes us from Ralph and Les's capture in Greece in 1941 and their brutal journey to Maribor, with many POWs dying along the way, to the horror of seeing Russian prisoners starved to death in the camp. The book uncovers the hidden story of Allied intelligence operations in Slovenia, and shows how Ralph became involved. We follow the escapees on a nail-biting 160-mile journey across the Alps, pursued by German soldiers, ambushed and betrayed. And yet, of the 106 men who escaped, 100 made it to safety. Thanks to research across seven countries, The Greatest Escape is no longer a secret.