For those who found sidevalve's posts on the Comete Line interesting, Channel 4 had an episode of the WWII Great Escapes series last night that featured the "Pat O'Leary Line". The Pyrenees were the route to freedom of some 33,000 in total according to the programme presenter Monty Halls, of which some 3,500 served. The majority of the civilians were Jews fleeing the Nazi and Vichy regimes (albeit to yet another Fascist regime in Spain!).
In retracing the highest and most challenging route, after easier routes had been compromised by betrayal and counter intelligence, Halls shows us the demanding terrain involved. He and his crew wore modern climbing gear and travel in the summer by day, whereas many had to cross by night and in the winter, and in the clothing and footwear that they happened to have been wearing as they evaded. Many perished in the course of the crossing of course:-
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/w...mand/65446-004
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