Abducting a General: The Kreipe Operation and SOE in Crete

Patrick Leigh Fermor has been described as one of our nation’s finest travel writers, and I would agree with that. His walk across Europe from Holland to Istanbul before World War II is well worth reading. After the war he then wrote about Greece and the Caribbean, but up until recently there was very little about his exploits during the war.

This book changes that. His illustrious military career started with the Irish guards, but with his language skills he was soon seconded into the Special Operations Executive (SOE) where he was despatched to Crete and mainland Greece several times to work behind German lines and help with the local resistance. The pinnacle of his success there though was the moment that he and his team succeeded show more in kidnapping General Kreipe, the German commander in Crete. This audacious plan was developed between him and Captain Billy Moss, and took place on the 26th April 1944. Not only did they abduct him with almost no violence, they took the General through 22 German checkpoints with out being stopped before dumping the car and taking Kreipe into hiding. The SBS then collected Fermor and the General from a beach in the south of the island around two weeks later.

This book is Fermors own account of his exploits in Crete and the details behind the abduction. Written in his distinctive style, also include are the secret reports that he sent to his commanders in Egypt, bringing the actual events of that time vividly alive. It is not a long book as it is mostly about that event, but it conveys just how dangerous it was to be behind enemy lines and the number of close calls that he had, for example being in the cellar of a house with German soldiers just above him or being asked for papers and managing to convince the soldier that he was a native. Thankfully his papers were declassified after his death otherwise we would not have this firsthand account. It is not his best piece of writing, but you have to remember that this was written whilst under cover or in challenging circumstances, and allowances should be made. It is a must read for any fans of Fermor, and for fans of World War II books. show less

Three books in one - Patrick Leigh Fermor's retelling of the abduction in 1944 of the German General Kreipe by British operatives and Cretan patriots, nine of PLF's reports from his three missions to Crete and a guide for those wishing to retrace the steps taken by the abduction party. The retelling fleshes out the bare bones of the reports (with tales of wine, poetry and song as the abduction party is hidden by the Cretans). Primarily for those with an interest in World War II history, and for those (like myself) with an interest in Patrick Leigh Fermor.