On September 11 and 12, 1944, the Jedburgh Team ‘Dudley’ was dropped over Overijssel. This team consisted of American OSS agent John Olmsted, Dutch officer Henk Brinkgreve and Irish radio operator John ‘Bunny’ Austin. Their mission? To support the armed resistance in the eastern Netherlands during the Allied advance of Operation Market Garden, which began six days later. But when the Battle of Arnhem ended in Allied defeat, the three men found themselves trapped behind enemy lines. During the dangerous rescue operation “Pegasus 2,” seven weeks later, John Olmsted was one of the few Allies to escape across the Rhine into liberated territory. After the war, John Olmsted wrote a vivid account of his personal experiences in England, Overijssel and Gelderland on his way back to the U.S. ‘Behind the Lines’ offers a unique perspective on one of the most shocking episodes in Dutch history. Through the eyes of a young American officer – an outsider who stood in the middle of events – the occupation and resistance in the fall of 1944 are brought to life. With warmth, humor and a keen eye for detail, Olmsted paints a fascinating picture of occupied Holland. In 1985, Olmsted visited the Netherlands again. During that visit, he presented his manuscript to historian Dr. Coen Hilbrink, whose family had sheltered him and his team in 1944 – with tragic consequences. Hilbrink placed Olmsted’s story in the historical context of the armed resistance and its resulting tragedy. Olmsted’s teammates, Henk Brinkgreve and John “Bunny” Austin, did not survive the war and were executed in 1945, just weeks before liberation. Olmsted’s manuscript has been edited as minimally as possible to preserve his unique view as both observer and participant. As such, “Behind the Lines” is not only a compelling story, but also an important historical document that honors the significance of the resistance and the sacrifices made in the process. John Olmsted was active in the following places, among others: Hooge Hexel, Daarle, Zenderen, Enter, Saasveld, Zwolle, Raalte, Luttenberg, Heeten, Ede, Arnhem.
Behind the Lines. The wartime memories of Jedburgh officer John Olmsted
$21.99
Dutch-language publication Behind the Lines. The war memories of Jedburgh officer John Olmsted John Olmsted, Coen Hilbrink Nedvision Publishing ISBN 9789083309170 140 pages with original photos and map