Author: Jonathan F. Vance
Pen& Sword
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages
Book synopsis
'It shows the variety and depth of the men sent into harms way during World War II, something emphacized by the population of Stalag Luft III. Most of the Allied POWs were flyers, with all the technical, tactical and planning skills that profession requires. Such men are independent thinkers, craving open air and wide-open spaces, which meant than an obsession with escape was almost inevitable'_ - John D Gresham
Between dusk and dawn on the night of March 24th-25th 1944, a small army of Allied soldiers crawled through tunnels in Germany in a covert operation the likes of which the Third Reich had never seen before.
The prison break from Stalag Luft III in eastern Germany was the largest of its kind in World War II. Seventy nine Allied soldiers and airmen made it outside the wire - but only three made it outside Nazi Germany. Fifty were executed by the Gestapo.
Jonathan Vance tells the incredible story that was made famous by the 1963 film, _The Great Escape._ The escape is a classic tale of prisoner and their wardens in a battle of wits and wills.The brilliantly conceived escape plan is overshadowed only by the colorful, daring (and sometimes very funny) crew who executed it - literally under the noses of German guards.
From their first days in Stalag Luft III and the forming of bonds key to such exploits, to the tunnel building, amazing escape and eventual capture, Vance's history is a vivid, compelling look at one of the greatest 'exfiltration' missions of all time.
My thoughts
Rating: 5
Would I recommend it? Yes it's a story that needs to be told and read.
What an incredible story to read as well as an emotional one as well ,its a story that I had already knew a little bit about thanks to the movie The Great Escape but that's all I knew about it. As your reading it you get introduce to the soldiers and see what their lives was like before the War and doing the war and what they was like leading up to that day , many of them knowing that they might never see their loving ones again but still they wanted to try , and that's what brings the story to life is the back stories of the men , while I can understand some might not like it and not care for the information I did , because with out it , the story wouldn't have came to life , it's what helped me understand them more and understand what they where going through . It showed their strength , their courage and boldness to over come the difficulties and face the extreme dangers that was around them and that they faced wither it was from the prison camp, the German guards or the tunnels.And the emotions I felt when I read about the murders of the 50 , made me feel mixed ones from been sad to been angry . With that said I want to say thanks Netgalley for letting me read and review it ,exchange for my honest opinion.
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