World War II: OSS Tragedy in Slovakia

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Better
Review: Great story, heroic people, tragic ending. Unfortunately, this great story was very hard to read for a number of reasons. First of all, I counted over a dozen typographical errors. Whomever edited this book did a very poor job. Secondly, the author mentions too many people. He would have made the book much easier to follow had he only focused on the main characters, and some minor ones. Instead, I found myself trying to figure out who half of the people mentioned were. It's almost like I needed a score card. Finally, the sub headings in each chapter destroyed the flow of the story and, in my opinion, were not necessary. The author obviously did a great deal of research and I commend him for this. I just feel that the book could have been a bit more user friendly. However, I would still recommend it to anyone interested in WWII.

Rating:
Summary: OSS Tragedy in Slovakia is terrific
Review: Reliance on intelligence and covert activities in the 21st century, USA, has risen to a new and higher level. As late as 1941 an OSS/CAI type operation was not even a secret line item in the Federal budget. The story of the OSS Tragedy in Slovakia is rich in detail of the heroics of American and British agents and Slovak partisans. Successes in September and October 1944 were followed by misteps and bad weather as winter closed in. As a result "Dawes" and Windproof" missions began disintegrating due to inability of the OSS & the 15th Air Force to mount a retrieval effort. As the weeks and months dragged on the protaganists fought a battle of survival against Germans, traitors, unreliable information and finally fragmenting of the group.
Downs has pulled this unhappy story together from untold sources and made of it an important contribution to understanding an otherwise dark and forgotten corner of WWII history.

Loy Dickinson

Rating:
Summary: World War II: OSS Tragedy in Slovakia by James Downs
Review: Several fascinating stories have been written about WWII. Over 57 years later these stories are still emerging with details that were not made available until several years after the war ended. However, most written accounts were about major campaigns, stories of specific military units and personnel as they moved through the war. However, very few accounts covered the covert activities of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

Now, James Downs of Oceanside, CA steps forward with an intriguing story of American OSS and British SOE agents in behind-the-lines operations with Slovak partisans. Set in now the country of Slovakia, these events occurred in 1944 when local partisans were rising against their pro-German government.

The missions' objectives were to recover American 15th Air Force flyers shot down on bombing raids as they flew from Italy to Germany and to assist the partisans.

The author's description of the people involved, their wits, interaction, and bravery required to carry on the challenging tasks is accomplished in intense detail. The reader actually gets to know the people and their varying personalities. This spell-binding book is full of intrigue and outlines the loyalty and hardships of these courageous Americans, British and Slovak partisans.

Rating:
Summary: World War II: OSS Tragedy in Slovakia by James Downs
Review: Several fascinating stories have been written about WWII. Over 57 years later these stories are still emerging with details that were not made available until several years after the war ended. However, most written accounts were about major campaigns, stories of specific military units and personnel as they moved through the war. However, very few accounts covered the covert activities of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

Now, James Downs of Oceanside, CA steps forward with an intriguing story of American OSS and British SOE agents in behind-the-lines operations with Slovak partisans. Set in now the country of Slovakia, these events occurred in 1944 when local partisans were rising against their pro-German government.

The missions' objectives were to recover American 15th Air Force flyers shot down on bombing raids as they flew from Italy to Germany and to assist the partisans.

The author's description of the people involved, their wits, interaction, and bravery required to carry on the challenging tasks is accomplished in intense detail. The reader actually gets to know the people and their varying personalities. This spell-binding book is full of intrigue and outlines the loyalty and hardships of these courageous Americans, British and Slovak partisans.

Rating:
Summary: WORLD WAR II: OSS TRAGEDY IN SLOVAKIA
Review: SINCE MY BROTHER WAS OF ONE OF THE MEN KILLED, I HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN HOW WELL THE STORY IS TOLD REGARDING THE DAWES MISSION. I HAVE ALSO PERSONALLY MET SOME OF THE SURVIVORS, INCLUDING MARIA GULOVICH AND IGOR NABELEK, WHICH HELPED TO VERIFY THE FACTUAL DATA AS PRESENTED IN THIS BOOK.
EVEN THOUGH IN ESSENCE, IT'S A DOCUMENTARY, THE EVENTS PRESENTED ARE STORY LINE ORDER AND THEREFORE READS LIKE A NOVEL. SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK AGREE. I THINK, FOR ANYONE WHO READS THIS BOOK AND HAS A COMPUTER, SHOULD PULL UP "MAUTHAUSEN" AND REVIEW THE DETAILS ON THIS CONCENTRATION CAMP. UNLIKE MANY OTHERS WITH MORE PUBLICITY, THIS ONE DIDN'T MAKE ANYTHING, IT WAS JUST AN EXTERMINATION CAMP. I WAS THERE, (THE CAMP HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS A MEMORIAL TO THE 160,000 KILLED THERE), AND AS A RELATIVE, IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE FACTS SURROUNDING THIS TORTURE CHAMBER. THE BOOK TRIES TO DESCRIBE THIS PLACE CAREFULLY TO AVOID ADDING TO THE FAMILIES GRIEF. THE COPIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS CONFIRM THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE EVENTS AND CHARACTERS.
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE THE GERMANS DISPLAY THEIR MERCILOUS
PERSONALITIES, COMBINED WITH OUR OWN GOVERNMENT'S FOULUPS, IN THIS CASE STAYING WITH THE MISSION AND NOT RECOGNIZING WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT AND THEN SUPPLYING ALL EFFORTS TO GET THEM TO SAFETY.
WHEN I WAS READING THE BOOK, EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE OUTCOME BEFORE HAND, I FOUND MYSELF MENTALLY YELLING AT THEM TO GET OUT WHILE THERE'S TIME. VERY WELL WRITTEN!
RUDY HORVATH

Rating:
Summary: Little known, and until now, forgotten
Review: The story of a little-known episode of World War II, in a forgotten corner of Europe, American OSS, British SOE (including Palestinian Jews) covert operators are sandwiched between the Slovaks, in rebellion against their former German Allies, and the brutal reaction of the SS and Abwehr bent on crushing the uprising, and Soviet partisans who had their own agenda.

They, including shot-down American aircrews, attempted to escape. Few made it. Of note, is the story of a brave, and very remarkable woman, Maria Gulovich, who succeeded in leading the survivors out in the middle of winter through the Carpathian Mountains.

Using de-classified documents and personal interviews, author, Jim Downs examines the fate of those who made it, and those caught - their story of torture and execution in Mauthausen is not for the faint of heart, and a reminder of the...Nazi regime, and the heartless duplicity of the Soviets.

Highly recommended for students of special operations, and those with a special interest in war crimes.

Rating:
Summary: The OSS in Slovakia during the Second World War
Review: The true report of OSS operations in Slovakia reads like a fictional narrative. There are heroic agents, dogged villains, hair breadth evasions, missed opportunities for rescue, tragic deaths, and miraculous escapes.
All of the action occurs in wartime Slovakia during the Nazi Protectorate run by the notorious Monsignor Josef Tiso, a member of the Catholic Church hierarchy, rabid anti-semite, and Hitlerite puppet.
The writing is clear and objective in style. It depicts, in unemotional terms, the personalities, strengths and foibles of an OSS team dropped behind enemy lines to find their own way out
after completing their mission. Few came out. The team and their confederates were hounded through the worst blizzard in fifty years that hit the Tatra Mountains. Their enemies were implacable. The action is rapid, the environment hostile and terrifying.
Incidentally, it offers a view of Slovakians that is an invitation for the present population to reappraise its unfortunate past and recognize the immorality that characterized that country's political policy during World war II.