Overview

High in the Tuscan hills above Florence, the menacing Vincigliata Castle - a very special prisoner-of-war camp converted on Mussolini's personal orders - held thirteen of the most senior British and Commonwealth officers captured during the campaign in North Africa. Against insuperable odds, these extraordinary middle-aged POWs drove a complex tunnel beneath the castle, and by March 1943 it was ready... Six men would attempt the impossible: an air marshal, three brigadiers, two lieutenant-generals. Three were knights of the realm and two held the Victoria Cross. One was missing a hand and eye, another suffered a gammy hip. The youngest was 48, the oldest 63. During that rainswept night, three teams burst out of the earth and slipped away, intent on reaching neutral Switzerland. Acclaimed historian Mark Felton, author of Zero Night and The Sea Devils, tells the amazing true story of their adventures on the run. But did any of them make it to freedom?

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9781785782190

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Reviews

'Another excellent example of [Felton's] growing library of sensational true war stories.' 'Felton really brings this tale of incredible wartime daring and heroism to life.' 'A remarkable story of wartime bravery and escape.' '[A] stunning true story.' 'Keeps up the suspense to the end.' 'A gripping account.' 'An extraordinary, and largely forgotten wartime story -- brought back to life in this Boys' Own account.' 'This tale romps along, tumbling over itself with excitement.'

Author Information

Mark Felton has written over a dozen books on World War Two, including most recently, The Sea Devils, a thrilling tale of World War Two derring-do in the Pacific and Zero Night, an account of a mass POW escape, described as 'a thundering good read' by History of War magazine. His Japan's Gestapo was named Best Book of 2009 by the Japan Times. He also writes regularly for publications including Military History Monthly and World War II. After a decade spent working in Shanghai, he now lives in Colchester. Visit www.markfelton.co.uk.

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