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We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance |  | Author: David Howarth
Creator: Stephen E. Ambrose
Publisher: Lyons Press
Category: eBooks
This item is no longer available
Rating:  98 reviews
Sales Rank: 7164
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Pages: 232
Number Of Items: 1
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.547243
ASIN: B001T4YVNI
Publication Date: November 30, 1954
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Amazon.com Review
If this story of espionage and survival were a novel, readers might dismiss the Shackleton-like exploits of its hero as too fantastic to be taken seriously. But respected historian David Howarth confirmed the details of Jan Baalsrud's riveting tale. It begins in the spring of 1943, with Norway occupied by the Nazis and the Allies desperate to open the northern sea lanes to Russia. Baalsrud and three compatriots plan to smuggle themselves into their homeland by boat, spend the summer recruiting and training resistance fighters, and launch a surprise attack on a German air base. But he's betrayed shortly after landfall, and a quick fight leaves Baalsrud alone and trapped on a freezing island above the Arctic Circle. He's poorly clothed (one foot is entirely bare), has a head start of only a few hundred yards on his Nazi pursuers, and leaves a trail of blood as he crosses the snow. How he avoids capture and ultimately escapes--revealing that much spoils nothing in this white-knuckle narrative--is astonishing stuff. Baalsrud's feats make the travails in Jon Krakauer's Mt. Everest classic Into Thin Air look like child's play. In an introduction, Stephen Ambrose calls We Die Alone a rare reading experience: "a book that I absolutely cannot put down until I've finished it and one that I can never forget." This amazing book will disappoint no one. --John J. Miller
Product Description
One of the most exciting escape narratives to emerge from the challenges and miseries of World War II chronicles Jan Baalsrud’s escape from Nazi-occupied arctic Norway.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 98
 The vintage story reads like adrenaline-infused fiction! August 18, 2010
D. Gaston (Chicago, IL)
"We Die Alone" had been on my "To Read" shelf for ohh... about 10 years! I originally pulled the title from a National Geographic list of the Top 100 Adventure Stories. I think I took a pass on it because of the desperate title. "We Die Alone" sounds like such a guy-guy, survival book cliche'! I can just picture the park bench conversation, "Hey Dave, what'cha reading?" With my brow furrowed, I'd grit my teeth and half whisper, half growl, "...WE DIE ALONE!!!" Please don't let the blunt title fool you, this book is the real deal. The vintage story reads like adrenaline-infused fiction. It starts out as a sparse, suspenseful WW2 commando mission and turns into an incredible arctic survival story. The majority of this well documented and well told tale follows a desperate and stricken commando as he attempts to be carried by sympathizers across Norway's forsaken snow plateaus to neutral Sweden. Near Perfect, 5-Stars! The fifth star is for the timeless prose. As you fly through this white-knuckler you would never guess it was written in 1955.
 An epic true tale August 15, 2010
Jeffrey D. Chansler (nj usa)
We die alone is about a botched allied operation to plant Norwegian commandos trained by the SOE to go into German occupied Norway and to send radio messages and do sabotage missions. On the way German forces find out what they are planning to do and a German ship destroys their small fishing vessel and kills everyone but Jan Baalsrud. Jan swims a shore in below freezing conditions and shoots and kills a few german soldiers. The adventure continues when Jan is must contact villagers, must ski many miles under German Control, must avoid German controls, must cut of his own toes, lives in a foxhole fore almost a month in freezing conditions and must avoid falling of mountains due to snow blindness. THis is an amazing true story. the authors tells the story and makes you feel like you are truly there. This is a great read
Escape drama between fjords of Norway. July 14, 2010
Wojciech Langer (Toronto, Ontario)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book has still being printed after 55 years! How brave, resourceful and dedicated were those who eventually saved Jan's life! Today they are not among living and I express total homage to their heroic efforts. Engrossing story that will keep you thinking about life and death long after reading it.
Book does not contain maps of places and route of Jan's movement from island to island and from village to village till the border with Sweden. This is a drawback, but I was able to google it base on mentioned names of dwellings.
Inspiring Adventure! June 5, 2010
D. Porter (UT USA)
As humans we consistently underestimate our own capacities. This story illustrates this misconception.
Set in WWII, the book tells the story of Jan Baalsrud, a Norwegian who after receiving training in Britain attempted to return to Norway to undermine the German occupation of his homeland. Intercepted by the Germans before they even were able to unload their cargo (in disguise as a fishing vessel) Jan was the only of his team to evade capture, escape to neutral Sweden and ultimately go back to Britain.
Although he was injured in his escape, Jan is able to seek out help and evade capture as he makes his way towards freedom. Ultimately, Jan's condition deteriorates and he is forced to rely on others to carry him to his final destination. Those assisting him take on great risk to themselves and their families as they hide him and provide what care they can. Jan is frequently required to spend extended periods of time both alone and exposed to the Arctic elements, isolated from those assisting him and unsure of their status or even eventual return.
An inspiring story of not only a man surviving the seemingly impossible (Jan lost half his bodywieght in the ordeal), but also those who had little to gain risking it all to save this one man.
We Die Alone May 15, 2010
Robert Chasse (West Palm Beach, Florida)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
B00k was received in a timely manner and was in excellent condition.
Five stars!!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 98
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