Podcast Episode #123 - The Unsung Icarus of the French Resistance with Peter Dowding
Members of the French Resistance including Bruce Dowding and Nancy Wake stood together briefly for a blurry photo in the midst of World War II.
Nancy Wake was one of the best-known female spies who worked in occupied France, with books, documentaries, and TV series memorializing her accomplishments during the war. But far less known until recently was Bruce Dowding, who tragically did not live to see the war’s end.
Bruce grew up in Australia and traveled to France for study at the Sorbonne in January 1938, even as Western Europe was bracing itself for the war it knew was coming. Despite his family’s reservations, Bruce was undeterred in his intent to experience France for himself. But no one knew at the time that when he said his goodbyes to his family that they would never see him alive again.
Bruce fell in love with Paris during his months at the Sorbonne, perfecting his French and even learning conversational Spanish. After completing his studies, he stayed on in France as an English teacher. When German forces invaded after the declaration of war, Bruce joined the British Army but was soon taken prisoner along with most of his unit. He escaped captivity during a transfer between prisoner of war camps and found his way to his life’s great purpose, joining the French Resistance.
He spent the next year in great danger, running a rat line which helped downed pilots escape through the Pyrenees mountains and back to England to rejoin the fight. Hundreds of lives were saved through the actions of Bruce and his compatriots.
Although he saved others, Bruce could not save himself. He was betrayed to the Gestapo by an ousted member of the Resistance, and he and many other members of his circuit went to their demise. For many years afterwards, his family back in Australia sought answers about his actions during the war and his final whereabouts.
For episode 123 of the Spycraft 101 podcast I spoke with Peter Dowding, author of Secret Agent: Unsung Hero, and Bruce’s nephew whom he never met. We discussed Bruce’s short life but great impact on the outcome of the war.
Get Peter's book here: amzn.to/3VfNjD3
Support this podcast on Patreon: / spycraft101
Spycraft101 on Instagram: / spycraft101
The Ultimate Spycraft and Espionage Reading List: amzn.to/3XkWRNh
Find the Spycraft 101 book series here: shop.spycraft101.com/products...
Website: www.spycraft101.com
Негізгі бет Podcast Episode
Пікірлер