Overview
'Behind Enemy Lines', American OSS agent John Olmsted tells the fascinating story of his experiences as a member of Jedburgh Team 'Dudley', which dropped into occupied east Netherlands on 11/12 September 1944. Together with his two comrades, Dutch officer Henk Brinkgreve and Irish radio operator John 'Bunny' Austin, Olmsted's mission was to help organize the armed resistance in Overijssel supporting the Allied advance during Operation Market Garden, which started 6 days later. Following the Allied defeat at Arnhem, Olmsted and his team were trapped behind enemy lines. John Olmsted was one of the few Allied soldiers who managed to escape with Operation Pegasus 2 across the Rhine to liberated territory after the Battle of Arnhem. He vividly wrote about his experiences in Overijssel and Gelderland on the boat trip back to the USA shortly after the end of the war. Olmsted's first person account allows us to see one of the most shocking episodes in Dutch history through the eyes of a young American officer. These are the perspectives of an outsider, who is simultaneously at the center of events. With warmth, humor and an eye for detail, he grants us a fascinating glimpse into occupied Holland in the fall of 1944. John Malcolm Olmsted (1914-2001) returned to the Netherlands in 1985. During this visit, he handed over a manuscript to historian Dr. Coen Hilbrink, whose family had sheltered Olmsted in 1944, with tragic consequences. Hilbrink added annotations, highlighting the harrowing experiences of the Overijssel Resistance and the tragic fate of Olmsted's fellow team members. Brinkgreve and Austin did not survive the war; both were executed in 1945, just weeks before the Liberation. The manuscript was edited as minimally as possible, preserving Olmsted's unique perspective as both an observer and a participant, making it a distinctive historical document.
Full Product Details
Author: John Olmsted ,
Coen Hilbrink
Publisher: Nedvision Publishing
Imprint: Nedvision Publishing
ISBN: 9789083309194
ISBN 10: 9083309193
Publication Date: 11 November 2024
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Author Information
John Malcolm Olmsted (1914-2001) returned to the Netherlands in 1985. During this visit, he handed over a manuscript to historian Dr. Coen Hilbrink, whose family had sheltered Olmsted in 1944, with tragic consequences. Hilbrink added annotations, highlighting the harrowing experiences of the Overijssel Resistance and the tragic fate of Olmsted's fellow team members. Brinkgreve and Austin did not survive the war; both were executed in 1945, just weeks before the Liberation. Coen Hilbrink (b. September 7, 1944, Almelo, Netherlands) is a distinguished Dutch historian and author, recognized for his extensive research on World War II resistance movements and the complexities of the German occupation of the Netherlands. His profound personal connection to history began with tragedy: just sixteen days after his birth, his father, Coen Hilbrink Sr., and grandfather, Sietze Hilbrink, were executed by the Sicherheitsdienst in Huize Lidwina.Hilbrink earned his doctorate in 1989 from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen with his dissertation De illegalen, a sociological study of the resistance movement in Overijssel during the Nazi occupation. His academic work and publications provide nuanced insights into the sociopolitical dynamics of the era, blending rigorous scholarship with accessible narratives.In addition to his historical research, Hilbrink has had a notable career as a teacher of German and history at a secondary school in Oldenzaal. He has also contributed to the acclaimed graphic novel series Agent Orange by Erik Varekamp and Mick Peet, exploring the life of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld.Hilbrink's works are indispensable resources for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of wartime and post-war Netherlands. His blend of academic rigor and engaging storytelling has solidified his reputation as one of the leading voices in Dutch historical scholarship.
