The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II Author: Visit Amazon's Gregory A. Freeman Page | Language: English | ISBN:
0451224957 | Format: EPUB
The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II Description
From Booklist
Bombing of the Ploiesti, Romania, oil refineries, a key German resource, started in 1942. Allied pilots sustaining damage frequently bailed out over Serbia in German-occupied Yugoslavia, where the resistance and others hid them. By 1944, more than 500 were stranded and slowly starving. The OSS concocted the daring Operation Halyard to airlift them, but they had to construct a landing strip without tools and without alerting the Germans or endangering local villagers, and then the rescuers had to avoid being shot down themselves. The operation's story is an exciting tale, but it was kept from general knowledge for decades; the resistance leader most responsible was a rival to Tito. Nazi-baited by a Stalinist mole in British intelligence, he was executed in 1946 with the consent of Britain and America, which thereafter refused to acknowledge having been snookered (the State Department kept many details classified more than 50 years). Evoking the rescuees' successive desperation, wild hope, and joy, and their gratitude to the Serbians who risked their lives to help, Freeman produces a breathtaking popular account. Murray, Frieda
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Review
“Riveting.”
—James Bradley,
New York Times bestselling author of
Flags of Our Fathers “Exciting…breathtaking.”
—
Booklist “Fascinating…full of romance, action, and adventure…told with skill and grace.”
—
America in WWII “A literary and journalistic achievement of the highest order, a book that illuminates [and] thrills… It will take your breath away.”
—Gregg Olsen,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Deep Dark --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: NAL Trade; Reprint edition (September 2, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0451224957
- ISBN-13: 978-0451224958
- Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War Two
By Gregory A. Freeman
Publisher: New American Library, 2007. New York.
Review by Aleksandra Rebic
When I asked author Gregory Freeman what drew him to the story of `Operation Halyard', he didn't hesitate:
"My interests as an author usually lead me to stories of heroism and sacrifice that went unrecognized for too long, and the story of Operation Halyard fits the bill perfectly. I was drawn to the idea that not only was this an amazing tale of intrigue and bravery, but it had been purposefully hidden from the American people for decades. A dramatic story is one thing; a dramatic story that has been kept secret is even more intriguing. The story of Operation Halyard is one of the last great stories of World War II and it is high time that the American people learn about the heroic sacrifice of Draza Mihailovich and the Serbian people."
There are men who fight for their country who are truly a personification of dedication, determination, courage and heroism. Some of them we come to know, and their names are immortalized in our historical consciousness. There are others who most people never hear of and their deeds never become legend, though they deserve to be known and remembered and permanently included in the historical record. The Forgotten 500 by author Gregory Freeman is a new and important book that not only introduces the public to such men, but explains why they and their rescuers deserve a prominent place in history. This book is a celebration of human fortitude and integrity and is so much more than just another book about World War Two.
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