Women Heroes of World War II by Kathryn J. Atwood

Author:Kathryn J. Atwood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 2011-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

After the trial run that had taken her back and forth across the cold waters of the Somme River, Andrée was determined to try again. She and Arnold Depée, the man who had helped her in the trial run, couldn’t agree on the relative safety of the main route, so they split up, intending to meet just south of the Belgian-French border. Andrée waited and waited at the appointed meeting place, but Arnold didn’t come. Andrée felt she had to continue on with her “parcels,” as she called the servicemen.

Andrée soon discovered that all of the people in the Comet Line’s trial run had been arrested shortly after crossing the Spanish-French border. She realized that for the escape line to be effective, she would need direct contact with the authorities at the British consulate in Spain: they would certainly ensure the Allied servicemen’s safety.

But there was one problem: the mountain guide who had been hired to escort Andrée and the soldiers across the Pyrenees on this second trip did not want to take Andrée with him. He didn’t think that a slim, petite young woman would be able to keep up with him, an experienced hiker, on the two 10-hour treks necessary to cross the Pyrenees. But Andrée refused to be denied, and the mountain guide reluctantly set out with his travelers across the Pyrenees.

Several days later, Andrée appeared in the offices of the British consulate in Balboa, Spain, telling the British official there who she was and why she was there.

“I am a Belgian, and have come all the way from Brussels. I have brought you two Belgians who want to fight for the Allies, and a Scottish soldier. We left Brussels last week and crossed the Pyrenees two nights ago.”

The British vice consul looked at tiny Andrée, neatly dressed in a blouse and skirt. He didn’t believe her story, especially about her having crossed the rough Pyrenees Mountains. He was convinced that she was a German spy. He asked her how she had gotten over the Pyrenees.

She explained that she had hired a mountain guide, and then she continued: “There are many British soldiers and airmen hidden in Brussels, most of them survivors from Dunkirk [the final point of the Allied retreat during the Battle of France]. I can bring them through to you if you will let me. With money, we can find guides to cross the mountains.” Andrée wanted no pay except to be reimbursed for the mountain guide fee and for the food the men had eaten.

The vice consul was still incredulous. “But you—you are a young girl. You are not going to cross the Pyrenees again?”

Andrée patiently explained that she was as strong as a man and, besides, girls attracted less attention from police in that area, given that no one would believe that females could possibly be part of an escape line. She continued: “With your help I can bring through more Englishmen. I beg of you to let me.”

The British official eventually agreed.

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