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Through Hitler's Back Door (Hardback)

SOE Operations in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1945

Military WWII

By Alan Ogden
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781848842489
Published: 2nd June 2010

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Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia were all German allies in the Second World War, unlike the other countries of Europe which had either been forcibly occupied by the Nazis or remained neutral.
SOE Missions mounted within their borders were thus doubly hazardous for they were conducted in enemy-populated territory, heavily policed by military forces and gendarmerie. Furthermore all these states had well developed and experienced security services, usually supplemented by Gestapo and Abwehr units.
A further complication to the activities of SOE in these countries was that they had all been effectively conceded by Western Allies to Russia; not surprisingly therefore, operations in the Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ were to prove diabolically difficult.
This is a story about the courage of individuals in the face of overwhelming odds. Hunger, ill-health, exhaustion, cold and treachery all combined to make life for those members of SOE who parachuted into these Fascist outposts of Fortress Europe as insufferable as it was dangerous.

Alan Odgen reveals many fascinating stories of men and women who inspired courage and bravery whom were gifted in their ability for carrying out these dangerous missions without little question for which future generations should be thankful.

This is a timely, well-written and researched book.

www.polandinexile.com

Agents of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) were instructed to "set Europe ablaze". Their daring missions behind enemy lines attempted sabotage and subversion. The author paints a fascinating political background and tells an interesting story, but a sad one. Far too many of these brave men and women perished. It would have been interesting to be told more about the German's ruthlessly efficient counter-insurgence. Were the SOE's efforts in this region therefore a futile diversion of lives and resources? Alan Ogden would firmly reply not, for the chance of detaching Bulgaria and Slovakia from Germany opened huge possibilities.

Soldier Magazine, August 2010

The Special Operations Executive is best known for its efforts in Occupied Europe, in particular in western Europe and Scandanavia, but SOE was also active in the very different environment of the Balkans. SOE operatives were faced with two major problems in this part of the world. First of all, although it was Hitler's back door to the western allies, it was the front door for Stain, so the operatives were always tripping over the Soviets. The second was that most of the time the SOE operatives were always tripping over the Soviets. The second was that most of the time the SOE operatives were working in countries that were allied with the Germans, a very different prospect from working in occupied territory.

The second of these problems had the biggest impact on the day-to-day activities of the SOE agents. While agents in the west operated amongst a largely supportive population, those in the Balkans were surrounded by a hostile population and active local police forces, militias and armies. As a result of this many of the missions spent much of their time traveling through hostile remote areas attempting to evade capture, and most had a rather short life-span. Despite all of the odds against them many of these SOE missions managed to complete at least some of their objectives, slowly eroding the trust between Hitler and his Balkan allies.

This book is a fitting tribute to those brave men and women of SOE whose efforts were made in obscure corners, away from the historical limelight, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

History of War Website, November 2010
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