Behind Enemy Lines: Evasion and Escape Aids of World War II

In 2013, well known scholar and leading authority on Second World War evasion and escape tactics Bob Baldwin, author of “Last Hope: The Blood Chit Story” (Schiffer Publishing, 1997), was invited to guest curate an important exhibit of evasion and escape artifacts at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. The exhibit, “Behind Enemy Lines: Evasion and Escape Aids of World War II,” showcased hundreds of rare items which are seldom seen and had never previously been displayed together in one place.

To accompany the exhibit, a high quality, full colour catalog featuring photographs and descriptions of all of the artifacts on display was produced.

The danger faced by soldiers trapped behind enemy lines has been recognized since the beginnings of warfare. Allied aircrew members, special operations personnel, and other soldiers at high risk of being caught behind enemy lines during World War II had a “secret weapon” unlike anything seen before. This weapon came in the form of the secret Evasion and Escape (E&E) organizations established first by the British government, and then by the United States. These organizations provided E&E training for Allied soldiers, organized safe escape routes in occupied countries, communicated with prisoners in enemy prisoner-of-war camps, and provided special E&E aids. It was an extraordinary operation, unique in military history, and inspired the Survival, Evasion, Rescue and Escape (SERE) operations conducted by today’s military.

The illustrated catalog proved to be extremely popular as a reference source for students, historians and collectors, and, long after the exhibit ended, copies of this book are still highly sought after. It is now offered as a reprinted second edition, featuring a new foreword and introduction by Mr. Baldwin.