In 1944, hundreds of Allied soldiers were trapped in POW camps in occupied France. The odds of their survival were long. The odds of escaping, even longer. But one-man had the courage to fight the odds . . .
An elite British S.A.S. operative on an assassination mission gone wrong. A Jewish New Yorker injured in a Nazi ambush. An eighteen-year-old Gary Cooper lookalike from Mobile, Alabama. These men and hundreds of other soldiers found themselves in the prisoner-of-war camps off the Atlantic coast of occupied France, fighting brutal conditions and unsympathetic captors. But, miraculously, local villagers were able to smuggle out a message from the camp, one that reached the Allies and sparked a remarkable quest by an unlikely—and truly inspiring—hero.
Andy Hodges had been excluded from military service due to a lingering shoulder injury from his college-football days. Devastated but determined, Andy refused to sit at home while his fellow Americans risked their lives, so he joined the Red Cross, volunteering for the toughest assignments on the most dangerous battlefields. In the fall of 1944, Andy was tapped for what sounded like a suicide mission: a desperate attempt to aid the Allied POWs in occupied France—alone and unarmed, matching his wits against the Nazi war machine.
Despite the likelihood of failure, Andy did far more than deliver much-needed supplies. By the end of the year, he had negotiated the release of an unprecedented 149 prisoners—leaving no one behind. This is the true story of one man’s selflessness, ingenuity, and victory in the face of impossible adversity.
“Filled with secret missions, Nazi villains, and daring escapes that actually happened, Behind Nazi Lines is thrilling, epic, inspiring—and have we mentioned true? Andy Hodges is a real hero whose story must never be forgotten.”—Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Miracles and Bonhoeffer
“A riveting and action-packed story, Behind Nazi Lines takes you inside a Nazi POW camp in 1944 German-occupied France and shows how one brave American Red Cross volunteer negotiated the release of 149 Allied POWs. A great read.”—Marcus Brotherton, author of Shifty´s War
“One of the most intriguing books I have read on WWII…A fascinating book about one of America’s unsung heroes in the European Theater…Captivating and nearly impossible to put down. I recommend it with enthusiasm to professional historians, history buffs, and anyone who wants to be inspired and entertained.”—Lyle W. Dorsett, author of Serving God and Country
“What a page-turner! It reads like a good novel, but it is all true. ”—Private First Class Bernard Rader, K Company, 301st Regiment, 94th Division
“A fascinating story of the courageous efforts to rescue POWs held by the Third Reich. Andy´s story is one of great courage, risks, sacrifice, and commitment to a transcendent cause. He was a hero who risked his life to bring his fellow Americans home with honor.”—Lt. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin, former commander U.S. Army´s Delta Force
“Superbly written and extensively researched, Andy Hodges’ story recounts a compelling piece of military history. It brings a human dimension to an underappreciated heroic episode to life. This informative, enjoyable and excellent work exemplifies a labor of love and courage one man had for his country.”—Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr., former director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, Senior Counsel for National Security Programs, Cyber Programs and Military Affairs, Auburn University
