So Close to Freedom: A World War II Story of Peril and Betrayal in the Pyrenees
$ 16.69
Description
So Close to Freedom: A World War II Story of Peril and Betrayal in the Pyrenees. Here, the evaders were handed over to passeurs, or people smugglers, responsible for guiding them over the Pyrenees and across the border with "neutral" Spain. As the number of evaders in each group reached new highs, risk of accident or detection by the Grenzpolizei grew. So Close to Freedom by Jean-Luc E. Cartron Estimated delivery 3-12 business days Format Hardcover Condition Brand New Description Drawing on government and private World War II archives, Cartron gives the first detailed account of the only failed mission of the smuggler Charbonnier—when 29 Allied soldiers in a group of 35 were captured on their way to freedom over the French Pyrenees. Publisher Description Many organizations contributed to the Allied cause during World War II by funneling hundreds of downed airmen, escaped POWs, Engelandvaarders, and Resistance fighters out of occupied Europe and allowing them to rejoin the fight against Nazi Germany. The work of escape lines was carried out by civilian volunteers, or "helpers" who looked after "evaders" and guided them from one safe house to the next, each time risking their own lives. Many of the escape lines followed routes through France to the foothills of the Pyrenees. Here, the evaders were handed over to passeurs, or people smugglers, responsible for guiding them over the Pyrenees and across the border with "neutral" Spain. In France, Toulouse was an important nexus of escape lines working together, Dutch-Paris, Francoise, and the unnamed network operated by Gabriel Nahas and passeur Jean-Louis Bazerque (""Charbonnier""). As evader numbers stagnated, Charbonnier recruited more passeurs and opened up more routes over the central Pyrenees. As the number of evaders in each group reached new highs, risk of accident or detection by the Grenzpolizei grew. Charbonnier did not survive the war and his accomplishments have largely gone unrecognized. His one failed attempt, when 29 evaders in a group of 35 were captured near Luchon on April 21-22, 1944, has only been told in bits and pieces and only through the lens of a few American and British airmen who believed that one of the passeurs had betrayed the group. Drawing on government and private archives in the United States, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, Jean-Luc Cartron gives the first detailed account of what happened. The author reveals the heretofore unknown identities of some of the evaders in the party, among them a Belgian Olympian, a French priest and leader of the French Resistance, and the son of Mary Lindell, who was much celebrated in the UK after the war. Using multiple testimonies and legal proceedings, Cartron reveals how Charbonnier operated and how the group was betrayed and by whom." Details ISBN 1640121021 ISBN-13 9781640121027 Title So Close to Freedom Author Jean-Luc E. Cartron Format Hardcover Year 2019 Pages 256 Publisher Potomac Books Inc GEItemID:158347896; About Us Grand Eagle Retail is the ideal place for all your shopping needs! With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and over 1,000,000 in stock items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! Shipping & Delivery Times Shipping is FREE to any address in USA. Please view eBay estimated delivery times at the top of the listing. Deliveries are made by either USPS or Courier. We are unable to deliver faster than stated. International deliveries will take 1-6 weeks. NOTE: We are unable to offer combined shipping for multiple items purchased. This is because our items are shipped from different locations. Returns If you wish to return an item, please consult our Returns Policy as below: Please contact Customer Services and request "Return Authorisation" before you send your item back to us. Unauthorised returns will not be accepted. Returns must be postmarked within 4 business days of authorisation and must be in resellable condition. Returns are shipped at the customer's risk. We cannot take responsibility for items which are lost or damaged in transit. For purchases where a shipping charge was paid, there will be no refund of the original shipping charge. Additional Questions If you have any questions please feel free to Contact Us. Categories Baby Books Electronics Fashion Games Health & Beauty Home, Garden & Pets Movies Music Sports & Outdoors Toys
