Canadians Behind Enemy Lines, 1939-1945

During the Second World War, Canadians found themselves behind enemy lines in Europe and Asia. Not all were ill-fated airmen, shot down in the fury of battle. In fact, some were there by design. As volunteers who risked their lives in extremely hazardous assignments, almost one hundred Canadians served the Allied forces by passing as locals in occupied countries. At the behest of two secret British services, these men made language and custom their costumes and wove themselves into the social fabric of France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Burma, Malaya, and Sarawak. As citizens of these countries, they were uniquely positioned to assist resistance groups in sabotage and ambush missions, and to smuggle Allied airmen out of the occupied territories. Quiet heroes of the war, these bold Canadians helped to make the brutal and unrelenting warfare of the underground a potent weapon in the Allied arsenal. Out of print for more than two decades, this bestselling book recognizes the unique contribution of these individuals to the underground war effort in WWII. It is also a study of unstinting personal courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Military and Canadian historians, veterans, and anyone interested in this fascinating piece of Canada’s past will appreciate MacLaren’s engaging, well-researched account.