Escape Lines

During the occupation of mainland Europe, dozens of clandestine lines shepherded Allied airmen, sailors and soldiers through farmsteads, city apartments and mountain passes. Start with the regional boxes below, then follow the local stories, research links and photo archives embedded in each page.

Regional Networks

• Norway, Denmark, Netherlands & Poland

  Northern Europe

  Routes that moved evaders through coastal crossings, inland waterways, resistance safe houses and partisan networks.

• BCRA, Comète, Marie Claire, Pat O’Leary & Shelburn

  Belgium & France

  Belgian and French lines linking occupied territory to Spain, the Basque Pyrenees, Marseille and sea extractions.

• French, Basque and Andorran crossings

  The Pyrenees & Spain

  French, Basque and Andorran routes carried evaders over high passes and into neutral Spain.

• Partisans, contadini & Allied missions

  Italy

  Stories of POW escapes after the armistice, mountain shelter, partisan aid and routes toward advancing Allied lines.

• Aegean islands and mainland routes

  Crete & Greece

  Royal Naval extraction beaches and escapes to Egypt.

• Desert, coastal and sea routes

  North Africa & Mediterranean

  Routes linking Malta, Gibraltar and clandestine landings across Vichy territories and the wider Mediterranean.

• Balkan partisan corridors

  Yugoslavia

  Partisan columns, RAF extraction strips and Adriatic evacuations supporting Balkan escape lines.

• Burma, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong & Papua New Guinea

  The Far East & Pacific

  Stories of escapes from Burma, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.