SOE and The Resistance: As told in The Times Obituaries
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Product Description
Product Description
SOE and The Resistance describes the extraordinary contribution to the allied war effort made by the Special Operations Executive, from its formation in 1940 to the end of the war. Within a broadly chronological framework, the book illustrates how resistance was stimulated among the subjugated populations of Europe and the Far East, leading to the sabotage of industry and communications critical to the Axis cause. Ranging from France, through Scandinavia, the Low Countries, North Africa, the Balkans and the Far East, the story unfolds through the lives of the heroic men and women who served with the SOE in enemy-held territory, as recorded in their obituaries in The Times.
About the Author
Michael Tillotson served in Europe, Malaya, Indo-China, South Arabia and with the UN in Cyprus before retiring as a major-general. He has published a number of books, including Finland at Peace & War and the biography of Field Marshal Lord Bramall. He has contributed military obituaries to The Times since 1997.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a book of the lives of the great and the good, who served in Special Operations Executive and the resistance during World War Two and the material has been taken from their obituaries in The Times. I knew a number of the luminaries who feature in these pages: the section on Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker does little to convey to the reader his charm, affability and steely determination and little of Dick Rubenstein's impish charm and ability as a raconteur becomes apparent in his obituary.
And why? Because many of these obituaries in The Times are pompously stuffy and po-faced; the reasons why these brave men and women were decorated for their gallantry are often described almost dismissively or skirted-over. This is particularly the case when mentioning Rubenstein's award of the Military Cross, as casually as one might remark upon a child receiving a tube of Smarties. The book is noticeable by its omissions; nowhere in the Greek section is there any reference to `The Cretan Runner', George Psychoundakis - and where is the entry for Leo Marks, the head of SOE's code department, of the passionate utterances and the steely handshake? Not in this book, that's for sure. That intrepid secret agent, Xan Fielding who won a DSO in Crete for, as he self-deprecatingly put it, `going into a town' receives the briefest of brief mentions. Perhaps they didn't merit an obituary in The Times; and if so, that's that newspaper's loss.
Michael Tillotson has edited the book - hardly the most onerous of tasks - and although it would be suitable for anyone carrying out pure research, it really is as dull as ditchwater. The Daily Telegraph's various books of obituaries are far, far better. What could have - and should have - been an enthralling read, isn't.
And why? Because many of these obituaries in The Times are pompously stuffy and po-faced; the reasons why these brave men and women were decorated for their gallantry are often described almost dismissively or skirted-over. This is particularly the case when mentioning Rubenstein's award of the Military Cross, as casually as one might remark upon a child receiving a tube of Smarties. The book is noticeable by its omissions; nowhere in the Greek section is there any reference to `The Cretan Runner', George Psychoundakis - and where is the entry for Leo Marks, the head of SOE's code department, of the passionate utterances and the steely handshake? Not in this book, that's for sure. That intrepid secret agent, Xan Fielding who won a DSO in Crete for, as he self-deprecatingly put it, `going into a town' receives the briefest of brief mentions. Perhaps they didn't merit an obituary in The Times; and if so, that's that newspaper's loss.
Michael Tillotson has edited the book - hardly the most onerous of tasks - and although it would be suitable for anyone carrying out pure research, it really is as dull as ditchwater. The Daily Telegraph's various books of obituaries are far, far better. What could have - and should have - been an enthralling read, isn't.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellently organised series of obituaries which reveal a great deal about the amazing feats and lives of SOE agents. Bringing these obituaries together into a single volume enables the reader, aided both by the expert commentary and the thoughtful grouping, a greater insight than could be achieved from reading them as published individually in the Times. Michael Tillotson is to be commended on his sure-footed handling of the material. The foreword by the late Professor M R D Foot is instructive though Amazon should not present the book a 'by M.R.D. Foot', it is principally the work of Michael Tillotson.
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A fascinating, exciting and unputdownable book, which left me breathless with the deeds and actions of the SOE men and women.
Stories taken from the Times Obituaries are necessarily short and I constantly found myself wanting to know far more than these 'snippets' told. But even with the brevity of the individual stories, the fantastic and amazing experiences of the individuals leaves modern day espionage stories completely in the shadows.
And all these stories are real, men and women who risked and often gave, their lives for their unshakable belief in the fight for the cause of freedom. Read of the medal lists of these people, be awestruck that so many countries felt honoured to honour them and, even after reading just half of the book, there is a feeling that something truly wonderful has been committed to print.
I can't recommend this to all who take interest in this part of history.
Stories taken from the Times Obituaries are necessarily short and I constantly found myself wanting to know far more than these 'snippets' told. But even with the brevity of the individual stories, the fantastic and amazing experiences of the individuals leaves modern day espionage stories completely in the shadows.
And all these stories are real, men and women who risked and often gave, their lives for their unshakable belief in the fight for the cause of freedom. Read of the medal lists of these people, be awestruck that so many countries felt honoured to honour them and, even after reading just half of the book, there is a feeling that something truly wonderful has been committed to print.
I can't recommend this to all who take interest in this part of history.
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