- Hardcover: 444 pages
- Publisher: Souvenir Press Ltd; First Edition edition (22 April 1982)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0285625195
- ISBN-13: 978-0285625198
- Product Dimensions: 22.1 x 14.7 x 4.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 463,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Four months before D-Day the Gestapo captured several members of the French resistance who knew when and where the landings would take place. The Allied high command could not risk them revealing the secret under torture. Instead, British aircraft attacked Amiens prison where the men were held: bombing from very low level, the aircraft broke down the prison walls. The result: the largest jail break in history. Some 700 prisoners escaped, not just resistance members but thieves, forgers, pimps, prostitutes and murderers. All were hunted by the Gestapo, the SS and the German army -- as well as the Allied spy network that had to spirit the right people to safety.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Jack Fishman is the author of two bestselling books THE SEVEN MEN OF SPANDAU and MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, his biography of Lady Churchill. It was translated into seventeen languages. It was Fishman's investigative ability as a journalist that exposed Philby as the 'third man', and he was the co-author of KG200, the factually based bestselling novel on the astounding stories he had uncovered about the Luftwaffe squadrons that masqueraded as Allied airmen flying B17s and Liberator bombers.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The daring raid by the brave airmen of RAF 21 Squadron in February 1944 flying at wave top height across the Channel and then across the French countryside at tree top height is brilliantly told by an author who understands the ground breaking task performed by the air crews in ther new Mosquito fighter-bombers, and the urgency of their mission with D-Day plans already laid. Their courageous daylight attack is graphically illustrated by Jack Fishman's descriptive prose, as is the heroic struggle by the French Resistance. The break out from Amiens Prison is brilliantly drawn and the description of the French characters brings the story dramatically to life.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book relates one the most significant but lesser known events of WW2 which played a significant part in ensuring the success of the the allied invasion of France. Written also from a very human level.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Why is this not considered a classic?
3 April 2008
Format:Hardcover
I saw a documentary on the Mosquito bomber the other night and it mentioned a raid on a prison in Amiens that was quite successful. Not having heard of it and being a student of history, it intrigued me and I found this gem at my local library. I got much more than I hoped for.
This book tells an interesting and complex story about the Amiens raid, the reasons for it and the very different people involved. In 1943 the French Resistance was taking a hit from the Gestapo collaborating with treasonous locals and intelligence preparations for D-Day were being compromised. Many key members of the Resistance were captured, being tortured and awaiting execution. The resistance urgently requested a raid and the British, not wanting to bomb allies, were hesitant but soon realized a raid was the most prudent thing to do. And they did it in bold and spectacular fashion; just a day before many were scheduled to be executed.
What I enjoyed about this book is a description of the people involved and their motives. One immediately takes to the masterminds of the local resistance, feels sympathy for the petty criminals in the prison, hatred for the betrayals and you gain an appreciation for the British Mosquito crews. I especially liked how the locals outwitted the Gestapo while risking their lives daily and the lives of their families. Interesting is the portrait and stories of wartime forgers, safe crackers, shoplifters and prostitutes - truly enlightening.
One can't help but admire Flight Commander Pickard (and his remarkable sheep dog Ming) and the bravery of the war tired flight crews. And, of course, the book details the great versatility Mosquito bomber.
It was difficult to keep the story smooth as there were more than 400 prisoners in the jail (some to escape prosecution by the Gestapo on more serious charges!), each with their own interesting story but Fishman did a commendable job and writes in an easy prose. But you'll need to refer to the index to keep track of some characters. Of course more maps would have made this better but it's not a story of logistics but a story of humanity and their love of freedom. Reading how the true criminals bonded together while in the caves was surprising but there are many other surprises in this superb book.
Great great story and you'll understand more about how the French resistance operated and what life was like under German occupation in a typical French town. This should be a classic.
This book tells an interesting and complex story about the Amiens raid, the reasons for it and the very different people involved. In 1943 the French Resistance was taking a hit from the Gestapo collaborating with treasonous locals and intelligence preparations for D-Day were being compromised. Many key members of the Resistance were captured, being tortured and awaiting execution. The resistance urgently requested a raid and the British, not wanting to bomb allies, were hesitant but soon realized a raid was the most prudent thing to do. And they did it in bold and spectacular fashion; just a day before many were scheduled to be executed.
What I enjoyed about this book is a description of the people involved and their motives. One immediately takes to the masterminds of the local resistance, feels sympathy for the petty criminals in the prison, hatred for the betrayals and you gain an appreciation for the British Mosquito crews. I especially liked how the locals outwitted the Gestapo while risking their lives daily and the lives of their families. Interesting is the portrait and stories of wartime forgers, safe crackers, shoplifters and prostitutes - truly enlightening.
One can't help but admire Flight Commander Pickard (and his remarkable sheep dog Ming) and the bravery of the war tired flight crews. And, of course, the book details the great versatility Mosquito bomber.
It was difficult to keep the story smooth as there were more than 400 prisoners in the jail (some to escape prosecution by the Gestapo on more serious charges!), each with their own interesting story but Fishman did a commendable job and writes in an easy prose. But you'll need to refer to the index to keep track of some characters. Of course more maps would have made this better but it's not a story of logistics but a story of humanity and their love of freedom. Reading how the true criminals bonded together while in the caves was surprising but there are many other surprises in this superb book.
Great great story and you'll understand more about how the French resistance operated and what life was like under German occupation in a typical French town. This should be a classic.
History at its best!!!
3 July 2011
Format:Hardcover
When history reads as narrative, one is naturally skeptical. This book reads like the best of narratives, so one is led to wonder whether plot line dominated fact. Any such concern is dispelled by Jack Fishman's Author Note and Acknowledgments. He stipulates that "Every incident depicted in this book happened...To guard against fallible memories, every statement or quote in the book was reinforced by the collaboration of others who either directly participated or witnessed, or by factual evidence. If a story couldn't be supported, I didn't use it." (pp. 436-437). What more could one ask.
This book puts one into the fabric of both the Resistants and the RAF who collaborated with the underground movement to free imprisoned freedom fighters. Their freedom was critical to the success of the D-Day landings. The author provides fascinating insights into the motivations of hundreds of French people who risked their lives to save the lives of others, and into the startling complexity of planning that goes into the countless tactical plans made during wartime. I was particularly absorbed by the descriptions of the coping strategies of the freedom fighters and the way in which military decision makers must weigh the risks of every decision. As a bonus, in an economy of words, the author is able to give all principals in his story an identity that makes their actions understandable.
By now I have read hundreds, probably thousands of books about WWII. This book has rocketed to a place in my top 10. I was sorry to put it down but grateful for the time spent with it as I have come away from it with a deepened appreciation of the sacrifices made by so many in the past so I can be free to write reviews like this.
This book puts one into the fabric of both the Resistants and the RAF who collaborated with the underground movement to free imprisoned freedom fighters. Their freedom was critical to the success of the D-Day landings. The author provides fascinating insights into the motivations of hundreds of French people who risked their lives to save the lives of others, and into the startling complexity of planning that goes into the countless tactical plans made during wartime. I was particularly absorbed by the descriptions of the coping strategies of the freedom fighters and the way in which military decision makers must weigh the risks of every decision. As a bonus, in an economy of words, the author is able to give all principals in his story an identity that makes their actions understandable.
By now I have read hundreds, probably thousands of books about WWII. This book has rocketed to a place in my top 10. I was sorry to put it down but grateful for the time spent with it as I have come away from it with a deepened appreciation of the sacrifices made by so many in the past so I can be free to write reviews like this.
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