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The Sledge Patrol: A WWII Epic of Escape, Survival, and Victory |  | Author: David Howarth
Publisher: Lyons Press
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
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Seller: pbshop
Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 416859
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Pages: 232
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.7
ISBN: 1599213222
Dewey Decimal Number: 940
EAN: 9781599213224
ASIN: 1599213222
Publication Date: June 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Gripping true tale how of men who patrolled by dogsleds a stark 500-mile stretch of Greenland fought capture or death by outwitting and outlasting the Nazis.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
An interesting story September 14, 2009
J. Bryan (Santa Maria CA,USA)
The story was interesting to me as I spent time with the Greenlanders and Danes at Scoresby Sund in the mid fifties and knew people who had been on the sledge patrol.
The unknown war September 12, 2009
J. A. Dolan (The holy city of Brooklyn)
No one would have believed that WW2 was fought above the artic cycle. Yet, it happened. This is an account of one of many firefights in this unknown battlefield.
The progress of war needed good weather. To predict the weather for Europe the weather of Greenland was considered necessary. Good weather told each side that enemy aircraft attacks were coming. Bad weather, grounded aircraft, meant no attacks. Greenland became the epicenter for this information.
American(sledge)patrols were on the lookout for secret German weather stations. The German's wanted to keep their mission secret. Both sides did their duty. Both sides had to battle against an unforgiving environment and enemy hot lead.
The book is an easy read and colorful. Yet, leaves gaps in explanation. I wish it had a chapter or two on an overview of the Greenland conflict.
This is a good start for history buffs.
Little Known Part of WW II August 3, 2009
Mac Pro (Oklahoma USA)
Like his book "We Die Alone" David Howarth acquaints us with a little know part of World War II, reminding us once again that this was really a WORLD WAR. The occupants of Greenland, faced with helping their home country of Denmark against the German aggression were willing to use their talents and experience. There wasn't much understanding of this war, especially among the native Eskimos, but they were willing to follow orders anyway. No ordinary men could have withstood the problems they incurred, such as traveling dozens of miles without adequate clothing. Although interviews and official documents were used to tell the story I suspect some of the thoughts of the men were fabricated. Also, it's obvious the story was written back in the 50s when religion and Christianity was so much more a part of the life of citizens of most of the world. These days there probably wouldn't have been reference to God, prayer, etc. It was refreshing to hear a variety of people comforted by their faith. I couldn't help but think that if everyone had the convictions of the Eskimos then there probably wouldn't have been a war at all! It was a little confusing sometimes to keep all the people straight and the places they were going. Would have liked to have an actual map of their travels. Also, don't know if this came from the original or from the reprint but there are a lot of typographical errors that tended to distract while reading. I counted one on three consecutive pages, simple things but things that should have been cleaned up by an editor. However, the book is worth reading and just adds another detail to the study of World War II.
 Great story, good narration, shame about the cultural bias March 23, 2008
Gunnlaugur Þ. Briem (Reykjavík, Iceland)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
The story itself is interesting and exciting, and I enjoyed the accompanying insights into life and travel in the arctic. The author narrates well, but almost manages to spoil it with an intolerably smug, condescending attitude towards the "eskimos", which he probably mistakes for a kind of colonial "affection for the natives". He describes them as absurdly naïve, refers to them repeatedly as "somebody's eskimos" as if they are servants of a master race, and paints an image of Danes "teaching them Christianity" and introducing modernity to them while simultaneously protecting them from it as if coddling a baby. He paints careful character portraits of the Danish, Norwegian and German characters, while leaving the native Greenlanders faceless, spineless and mostly nameless. His deference to their expertise in the arctic nature does little to compensate for this.
A Christian religious slant appears intermittently, which appears to come from the author rather than any of the characters or the natives "whose whole morality was in the Sermon on the Mount". Characters are described approvingly as religious or being brought back to God by the beauty of the arctic. When the German commander was regaining his sense and began to think in a balanced way again, "he was able to pray". This may go over well with a devoutly religious reader; to the rest of us it seems silly and contrived, foreign to the subject matter.
I can recommend the book, but not unreservedly. If you can stomach the cultural bias, it makes a good read.
Extreme survival January 6, 2007
Stratiotes Doxha Theon (Richmond, Missouri)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A truly inspiring story of survival against all odds - the elements and a determined human foe. An incredible story of irregular warfare in the extreme. An adventure that is beyond comprehension and seems too incredible for belief. It is difficult to read the story and not feel the chill and the terror in your own bones. A phenomenal story of heroism and survival against all odds.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
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