At the outbreak of the Second World War, Prime Minister Winston Churchill created the SOE (Special Operations Executive) to “set Europe ablaze” as he said, by working with resistance groups in Nazi-occupied countries in Europe—especially in France. Count Robert De La Rochefoucauld’s memoir of wartime service in the French Resistance and work with the British told of extraordinary exploits of courage and espionage.
After receiving commando, explosives, and sabotage training in Britain, De La Rouchefoucald parachuted twice into occupied France to combat the Nazis. During his resistance work he was captured on two occasions and successfully escaped from his execution. He was also known for his eclectic use of tools of espionage and escape including explosives hidden in loaves of bread, a stolen Nazi limousine, a nun’s habit, and a bicycle. His story is a remarkable account of ingenuity, endurance, and survival.
Carolyn Gossage’s authorized translation of the memoir, access to family archives, and additional research provides English readers a remarkable story of survival and sacrifice during the Second World War.
About the author:
Born and educated in Canada and France, Carolyn Gossage is the author of numerous books on art and history. Among her numerous titles are: The Accidental Captives—The Story of Seven Women Alone in Nazi Germany, Greatcoats and Glamour Boots—Canadian Women in Uniform 1939-45, and Basilicas of Ethiopia—An Architectural History.
