Defiant Courage cover art

Defiant Courage

A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance

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Defiant Courage

By: Astrid Karlson Scott, Tore Haug
Narrated by: Peter Altschuler
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About this listen

In late March of 1943, four commandos arrive in northern Norway with a mission of establishing a base for sabotage operations. Before they can unload their cutter, they are betrayed, as a German Schnell boat arrives and turns the quiet fjord into a battle zone. Only one man, Jan Baalsrud, surrvives the attack. This is the story of his perilous journey to freedom.

Wounded, the dauntless soldier swims icy fjord waters, climbs snow-laden granite peaks, endures violent snowstorms and is hurled off a mountain by an avalanche. Fleeing the Gestapo and battling the harsh Arctic cold, Jan suffers snowblindness and frostbite. Though he possesses raw courage and an iron will, they are not enough to deliver him all the way to neutral Sweden and safety.

The people of northern Norway's Troms district step forward to assist Jan. Selflessly defying Nazi dictates, more than 60 people risk their lives to help the fugitive commando.

©2010 Astrid Karlsen Scott and Dr. Tore Haug (P)2012 Audible, Inc. 21st Century Americas Europe Military Modern Scandinavia United States War

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Editor reviews

Some listeners might already be familiar with this amazing true story of survival during World War II. But even armed with the general knowledge of Jan Baalsrud’s escape from the Nazis into Arctic Norway after a failed sabotage operation, nothing compares to listening to this incredible tale as it unfolds moment by moment.

Peter Altshuler performs the diligently researched Defiant Courage with a keen ear not only for Norwegian names but also for texturizing and adding life to a story. Not that the story needs much embellishment. At one point in his escape, Baalsrud had been buried under an avalanche, had amputated nine of his toes, and was snow blind. His unlikely survival remains one of the great stories of World War II.
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a true story told as if you were there. very well written and absolutely captivating.

superb and uplifting

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Well this is an astounding account of a group of brave wonderful people. Norway must be a marvellous place and it's people full of courage. God bless those dear people

astonishing

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This is a heartwarming read men of great courage endurance bravery and hope unbelievable success

Fantastic

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The life of this norwegian man is gripping from beginning to end, I was on tenterhooks the entire time. The will to survive and life changing decisions he had to make together with ordinary norwegians who helped him along the way is awe inspiring. Harrowing and heartbreaking its extraordinary he stayed alive in those conditions-solely because he is extraordinary. Amazing!

Gripping struggle for life

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A Truly moving story, of not just one man, but of a community, who's sheer courage and determination triumphed over such overwhelming odds.
Well done to the author's for bringing this story to light, so that many people like myself can learn of the stories of the war.
Beautifully narrated by Peter Altscheuler.

COURAGE BEYOND BELIEF

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A tale of incredible bravery and determination to survive and escape after an operation goes wrong, in occupied Norway during the Second World War.

The story brings to life the terror of living under Nazi occupation; particularly if you, or your family, helped or supported anyone who was involved fighting against the occupation.

The risks Norwegians, both men and women, were prepared to undertake knowing their whole family could be killed in order to help their compatriots is humbling!

This book offers a glimpse into real bravery.



A Truly Remarkable Story of Real Heroes

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This true story of real courage was gripping but for me I’m afraid spoilt by the narration. The narrator has a strange and annoying way of emphasising certain words and syllables that take away from the text. His Norwegian pronunciation was good but it would have got 5 stars if it had been better read

An amazing true story of real courage

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Bravery at its finest from the people who helped this soldier escape to tell his story of betrayal and his miracle of survival.

A miracle of endurance

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Am sorry, really, what is it about Americans and narration!!.... Cant string proper sentences together, fail to observe comas or full stops. Your left trying to put the story together as the person rants on and literally destroys perfectly good story. I failed to get past chapter 12. I would rather buy the actual book and read rather than listen to this botched attempt.

Bloody awful narration!!!

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