Sledge Patrol - Softcover

Howarth, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843410095 ISBN 13: 9781843410096

Publisher: Birlinn Limited, 2004

Synopsis

In 1943, using dogsleds to patrol a 500-mile stretch of the Greenland coast, the wartime mission of Danish and Norwegian hunters was to guard against Nazi interlopers. However, when spotting the enemy, they were forced to escape, walking 56 miles to get back to base. This is their story.

About this title

From the Back Cover

In 1943, a group of brave Danish and Norwegian hunters carried out one of the most dramatic operations of World War II. Using dogsleds to patrol a stark 500-mile stretch of the Greenland coast, their wartime mission was to guard against Nazi interlopers - an unlikely scenario given the cruel climate. But one day, a footprint was spotted on desolate Sabine Island, along with other obvious signs of the enemy. Not expecting to find the trouble they did, the three Sledge Patrol members escaped to the nearest hunting hut only to have the Germans pursue on foot. In the dead of the Arctic night, the men escaped capture at the last instant and, without their coats or sled dogs, walked fifty-six miles to get back to base.While the Sledge Patrol had only hunting rifles, resilience, and their knowledge of outdoor survival, the Germans were armed with machine guns and grenades and greatly outnumbered them. David Howarth skillfully relates the tensely exciting true tale of how the men of the Sledge Patrol fought capture or death in desolation by outwitting and outlasting the enemy. This is a saga of human skill, faith, and endurance - and one of the most remarkable Allied victories ever recorded. (5 1/2 X 8 1/4, 248 pages, b&w photos, maps)

About the Author

David Howarth served as a British naval officer during World War II running the Norwegian-manned spy ring whose name became the title of his first best selling book. He was a prolific author and his most famous book - The Shetland Bus has never been out of print since first publication.

Edition details

• Publisher: Birlinn Limited
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1843410095
• ISBN 13: 9781843410096
• Binding: Paperback