Great Épinal Escape: Indian Prisoners of War in German Hands by Ghee Bowman (Hardback)

On 11 May 1944, just weeks before D-Day, a mission by the US Army Air Forces’ ‘Mighty Eighth’ inadvertently triggered one of the most remarkable escapes of the Second World War. Sixty-seven American heavy bombers dropped 168 tons of explosives on the French town of Épinal, unknowingly breaching the walls of a camp holding over 3,000 Indian prisoners of war.

Fleeing the shattered camp, the escapees scavenged food and clothing before embarking on a perilous journey toward neutral Switzerland. Their path to freedom stretched over 100 kilometers of French countryside, fraught with danger from Nazi forces, collaborators, and the constant threat of capture.

The Great Épinal Escape recounts this extraordinary tale of resilience, courage, and the triumph of humanity over adversity. Against the backdrop of war’s brutality, this story highlights the unwavering kindness and solidarity of ordinary people who risked everything to help the escapees. Ultimately, this is a powerful narrative of hope and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges.