The Freedom Line, Peter Eisner
The Freedom Line, Peter Eisner
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The Freedom Line
The Brave Men and Women Who Rescued Allied Airmen from the Nazis During World War II

Author: Peter Eisner

Narrator: Paul Woodson

Unabridged: 10 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/23/2020


Synopsis

As war raged against Hitler's Germany, an increasing number of Allied fliers were shot down on missions against Nazi targets in occupied Europe. Many fliers parachuted safely behind enemy lines only to find themselves stranded and hunted down by the Gestapo.

The Freedom Line traces the thrilling and true story of Robert Grimes, a twenty-year-old American B-17 pilot whose plane was shot down over Belgium on October 20, 1943. Wounded, disoriented, and scared, he was rescued by operatives of the Comet Line, a group of tenacious young women and men from Belgium, France, and Spain who joined forces to recover Allied aircrews and take them to safety. Brought back to health with their help, Grimes was pursued by bloodhounds, the Luftwaffe security police, and the Gestapo. And on Christmas Eve 1943, he and a group of fellow Americans faced unexpected danger and tragedy on the border between France and Spain.

The road to safety was a treacherous journey by train, by bicycle, and on foot that stretched hundreds of miles across occupied France to the Pyrenees Mountains at the Spanish border. Armed with guile and spirit, the selfless civilian fighters of the Comet Line had risked their lives to create this underground railroad, and by this time in the war, they had saved hundreds of Americans, British, Australians, and other Allied airmen.

About Peter Eisner

Award-winning author and journalist Peter Eisner is a veteran foreign correspondent specializing on Latin America. He is consulting editor at the PBS television program Worldfocus and has been an editor and reporter at the Washington Post, Newsday, and the Associated Press.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tom on January 03, 2018

If you like World War II history, or just a compelling story, read this book!The Freedom Line: The Brave Men and Women Who Rescued Allied Airmen from the Nazis During World War II[ This is meticulously-researched history that reads like a novel by Alan Furst or Ken Follett. Peter Eisner is an award-w......more

Goodreads review by Dita on August 26, 2017

This is a great yarn and a fascinating read. What I do not get is why it has not been made into a movie. It would make a fine one.......more

Goodreads review by Leslie on March 23, 2008

I am an avid fan of reading about heroes in a war fighting for freedom and all that. I really liked this book as it described behind the scene activities of those helping downed airmen of WWII. I had seen something on this same subject on PBS or the History Channel after reading this book and it act......more

Goodreads review by Coriolana on June 17, 2024

One day I will read a book about the air war and *not* cry. But it is not this day! What a tremendous history, that is deserving of so much more attention and appreciation! Thanks to Masters of the Air for pointing me in this direction.......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on February 16, 2024

A friend of mine lent this book to me when he heard that my husband and I had been planning a trip to the Basque region of Spain. Since I'm fascinated by the Basque culture, he thought I'd find the book interesting. The book didn't disappoint. It's an exciting nonfiction account of the daring work d......more