Abducting a General: The Kreipe Operation and SOE in Crete

A book of two parts - the first being Patrick Leigh Fermor's telling of the abduction of (the German) General Kreipe on Crete in 1944 by Paddy and his SOE (Special Operations Executive) companions and Cretan guerillas or resistant rebels.

By way of background Crete was under Axis control - Germany with some Italian forces until their surrender, with most eligible Cretans in the Greek forces, leaving older men and younger men, along with women, to oppose the Germans. The British SOE were few in numbers, and were tasked with reconnaissance, encouraging resistance, carrying out sabotage and generally just to irritate the German forces.

Fermor's ability to speak fluent Greek, his ability to blend in, disguised as a shepherd or villager made him an ideal SOE operative, and as a Major he was leader on Crete at the time.

So the first part of the book explains in Fermor's style the capturing of General Kreipe, of moving him all around the mountains of Crete from hideout to hideout and eventual rendezvous with a British ship to take him to British command in Egypt. The whole process is well described, with Fermor lavishing praise of the Cretan's who are assisting them, constantly reinforcing the fact they are volunteers who generally refuse all form of payment, and take huge risk to their families and homes to actively resist the occupying forces.

The second part of the book is a copy of the nine reports he wrote for the SOE. They are edited to reduce by about two thirds, omitting what is described as ‘long lists of German dispositions, together with complex accounts of local politics and guerilla machinations'. What remains describe various things such as morale (Enemy and Cretan), propaganda, working plans and updates of progress. In spite of using pseudonyms for the people involved (there is a glossary, and the first time they are mentioned they are defined) they are readable and interesting. The reports differ in detail depending on whether they were written at rest or in a rush for a rendezvous, and show the progress of the SOE but also the Germans on Crete for the period June 1942 to December 1944.

Rounding out this book is a 10 page Guide to the Abduction Route by Chris and Peter White, which as can be expected from the title describes the route taken by car and then foot with the General in hand. This is somewhat gimmicky as unless you intend to visit Crete and reenact the journey is means little to the reader. Mostly it is described by GPS coordinates, as the majority of the action takes place out of the villages etc.

Nevertheless, a reasonably quick and enjoyable read.
3.5 stars, rounded up.

Patrick Leigh Fermor is such a great writer that he makes this a seamless story. The abduction is fairly well known having had previous books written about and a film made. Anyone that has an interest in the Cretan events of WW2 will find this a more than useful addiction to their reading. Though the main story is short, only 91 pages in my copy, there is plenty more that the publishers have added to keep interest. Nine of the authors wartime reports make fascinating reading and there is a very good guide to the abduction route that has to be more than useful for anyone who would like to take that in while visiting Crete. Very good.