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

I first became aware of WW2 escape organizations and The Comet Line in particular from the excellent historical novel, NIGHT OF FLAMES, by Douglas W Jacobson. I was intrigued by the bravery and sacrifice made by these very ordinary people in Belgium (many of them young women and teenagers). THE FREEDOM LINE is an excellent historical account of this remarkable chapter in WW2 complete with detailed storeis of the Belgian agents as well as the Allied pilots who were rescued. It is an inspiration for everyone.

This is a wonderful book that describes a part of the European Theater in World War II that many Americans know little about. I sent a copy of the book to a friend and his wife who were in the resistance in Holland in WW II. They also loved the book and said it was an absolutely accurate and riveting account of the underground resistance movement in Europe. A wonderful read...far better than any contrived fiction. The folks who saved our downed Allied aircrew members and guided them to safety are true heros. Theirs is an amazing story of sacrifice and dedication.

Bob Grimes was twenty years old, a pilot in a B-17 on the way back from bombing Germany on October 20, 1943 when an FW-190 shot off the tail of his plane. Wounded he bailed out of the stricken plane. On the ground he was incredibly lucky. He fell into the hands of The Comet Line. This was a network of people from Brussels to Spain that helped downed British and American air crew to escape. This book uses the story of Grimes to tell the story of the Comet Line itself. The Comet Line was the creation of an elegant young Belgian woman Dedee de Jongh. She ran the organization until she was captured and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp; she survived the war. Parts of this story are seen in the movie "The Great Escape" where one of the escapees travels down the line to Spain. True, this is a dramatic story of people at their best in very dangerous situations.

This is a perfect book for the present situation the world is experiencing today. This really shows how men and women who appreciate freedom sacrifice and put themselves in harms way. Peter Eisner is to be complimented and this book should be in every school library and a must read for all.