Canadians Behind Enemy Lines, 1939-1945

By Roy MacLaren
Categories: History, Canadian History, Military History
Publisher: UBC Press
Paperback : 9780774811002, 352 pages, April 2004
Ebook (EPUB) : 9780774842419, 352 pages, November 2011
Ebook (PDF) : 9780774850964, 352 pages, October 2007

Table of contents

Illustrations

Preface to the 2004 Edition

Preface to the 1981 Edition

Part One: Two Clandestine Organizations

1 The Beginnings

2 Recruitment of Canadians

Part Two: Special Operations Executive

3 The First Canadian Agents into France

4 Victims

5 Playing the Radio Game

6 The Executions

7 Survivors

8 The Triumph of the Aged and Redundant

9 D-Day

10 Assignments from Algiers

11 Yugoslavia

12 The Balkans and Italy

13 Asia

14 Sarawak

15 Burma

16 Malaya Part Three: M.I.9

17 Escape and Evasion

18 Dieppe and Beyond

19 The Cross-Channel Ferry

20 The Mediterranean and Asia

Epilogue

Appendix: Frogmen in Burma

Notes

Bibliography

Index

A history of the activities and lives of undercover Canadian operatives in Europe and Asia during World War II.

Description

During the Second World War, almost one hundred Canadians served the Allied forces by passing as locals in occupied countries. At the behest of two British secret services, these men made language and custom their costumes. They risked their lives assisting resistance groups in sabotage and ambush missions or in smuggling Allied airmen out of occupied territories. Quiet heroes of the war, these bold Canadians helped to make the brutal and unrelenting warfare of the underground a potent weapon in the Allied arsenal. This is a study of unstinting personal courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

Reviews

A rattling adventure yarn.

- Vancouver Sun

An intensely interesting account of an unusual and little-known aspect of Canada’s fighting men overseas.

- Canadian Historical Review

This softbound tome provides an insight on an often overlooked areas of World War II history. It has intrigue, danger, suspense, and a bit of humor. Anyone wishing to learn more of the behind the scenes stories of World War II will find it interesting.

- Larry S. Sterett, Contributing Editor

Documents yet another stage in Canada’s reluctant coming of age.

- The Globe and Mail