12th Man: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance - Softcover

Haug, Tore; Scott, Astrid Karlsen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 151071863X ISBN 13: 9781510718630

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

A stunning story of heroism and survival during World War II. The book that inspired the international film of the same name. “A must-read .... Intrigue, suspense, and adventure."—The Norwegian American

"I remember reading We Die Alone in 1970 and I could never forget it. Then when we went to Norway to do a docudrama, people told us again and again that certain parts were pure fiction. Since I was a Norwegian that was not good enough; I had to find the truth. I sincerely believe we did,” writes author Astrid Karlsen Scott.

The 12th Man is the true story of Jan Baalsrud, whose struggle to escape the Gestapo and survive in Nazi-occupied Norway has inspired the international film of the same name. In late March 1943, in the midst of WWII, four Norwegian saboteurs arrived in northern Norway on a fishing cutter and set anchor in Toftefjord to establish a base for their operations. However, they were betrayed, and a German boat attacked the cutter, creating a battlefield and spiraling Jan Baalsrud into the adventure of his life.

The only survivor and wounded, Baalsrud begins a perilous journey to freedom, swimming icy fjords, climbing snow-covered peaks, enduring snowstorms, and getting caught in a monstrous avalanche. Suffering from snow blindness and frostbite, more than sixty people of the Troms District risk their lives to help Baalsrud to freedom. Meticulously researched for more than five years,

Karlsen Scott and Haug bring forth the truth behind this captivating, edge-of-your-seat, real-life survival story.

About this title

From the Author:

Astrid Karlsen Scott first became acquainted with Jan Baalsrud’s story in 1970. In 1997, she began serious investigation of the details of the story. Scott has returned to Norway eight times in a period of three years in her efforts to find the truth. She met Dr. Tore Haug in 1997; they decided to combine their work and made many joint and separate trips to the Troms District to research this book. To gain a complete understanding of this magnificent drama, the coauthors explored the sites where the events took place, hiking up mountains and examining landmarks. Scott and Dr. Haug also met and interviewed all the survivors who helped Jan or who were indirectly involved and had knowledge of his story. Astrid, a native of Norway, is internationally known for her books on Norwegian culture. Her award-winning video, Christmas in Norway, has been shown on television in the United States and in Europe. She is also president of Nordic Adventure, a company dedicated to the promotion of Norwegian culture. She and her husband, Melvin McCabe Scott, Jr., live in Olympia, Washington. They have three children and thirteen grandchildren.

Dr. Tore Haug is a second cousin of Jan Baalsrud. He has been fascinated with Baalsrud's escape story since meeting Jan once as a boy in 1956. In 1995, after much research, he traveled with his family to the Troms District in northern Norway to further investigate Jan’s story. He found many people whose efforts on Jan’s behalf had not been acknowledged in previous accounts. Dr. Haug wanted to accurately tell the entire story of Jan and his incredible escape from the Gestapo, and of the undaunted courage of his many benefactors. Today, he is the person who knows the story better than anyone else in Norway. Haug is an M.D., a specialized general practitioner with a private practice in Norway. He studied and received his medical degree from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. He has practiced medicine in Germany and Norway, and is fluent in German, Norwegian, and English. In 1976, Dr. Haug obtained his professional pilot’s license in the United States and Norway and flew as an executive pilot for five years. He and his wife, Wenche, live in Jessheim, Norway, with their daughter, Carolin.

Review:

“This story is a natural treasure for Norway. It’s a great survival story; it sheds light on all the people who helped Baalsrud. They were the people in the country, fishermen and grandmothers who proved to be heroes themselves."—Director Harald Zwart

"This is a must-read book for anyone who enjoys reading true historical, well-researched stories of intrigue, suspense, and adventure." The Norwegian American

"My colleagues and I have read [The 12th Man] with great interest...we have been impressed with the way [the authors] make this truly remarkable story come alive, focusing not only on Jan Baalsrud, but showing the quiet courage and determination of his many helpers." Jan Gerhard Lassen, Norwegian Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs

"A welcome and much appreciated contribution to the growing library of World War II memoirs and eye-witness accounts. [The 12th Man] is a compelling story of courage and triumph against incredible odds, and set against the backdrop of the war that was to forever change the world." The Midwest Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 151071863X
• ISBN 13: 9781510718630
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 372