Lindell's List
List by Peter Hore Mary Lindell ran an escape line in France (Marie-Claire Line) for escapers, evaders and other fugitives, two of whom were RM Commando evaders, Hasler and Sparks, survivors of Operation Frankton which a
- Author
- Peter Hore
- Publisher
- The History Press
- Price
- £20
- ISBN
- 9780 7509 66214
- Published
- 2016
Lindell’s List by Peter Hore
Mary Lindell ran the Marie-Claire escape line in France, helping escapers, evaders and other fugitives—including RM Commandos Hasler and Sparks, survivors of the Frankton raid on Bordeaux. The line often began at Ruffec before crossing the Pyrenees into Spain.
Strong-willed and difficult to work with, Lindell nonetheless displayed legendary bravery. Captured and sent to England, she returned to France, was recaptured, wounded during an escape attempt and ultimately deported to Ravensbrück concentration camp. There her refusal to be intimidated made her the leader of the British and American women prisoners.
Although the Germans denied holding Allied women, Lindell compiled lists of prisoners and smuggled the names to Switzerland. Those records prompted the Swedish Red Cross “White Buses” missions that rescued many SOE, SIS, OSS and Resistance women before they could be murdered.
Hore’s well-researched book profiles Lindell and the other women on her “list”, exposing the hell of Ravensbrück and drawing on archival discoveries in the UK, USA, France, Germany and Sweden. He retraces Lindell’s routes, even completing the high Pyrenean crossing.
ISBN 9780 7509 66214. The History Press. £20