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A rediscovered classic of military history back in print for the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of World War II
When William B. Dreux parachuted into France in 1944, the OSS infantry officer had cinematic visions of blood-and-guts heroics, of leading the French Maquis resistance forces in daring missions to blow up key bridges and delay the German advance.
This isn’t the glamorized screen-ready account he expected; this is the real story. Dreux’s three-man OSS team landed behind enemy lines in France, in uniform, far from the targeted bridges. No Bridges Blown is a story of mistakes, failures, and survival, a story of volunteers and countrymen working together in the French countryside. The only book written by one of the Jedburghs about his wartime experiences, Dreux brings the history of World War II to life with stories of real people amidst a small section of the fighting in France. These people had reckless courage, little training, and faced impossible odds. This story will resonate with veterans and everyday citizens alike and it brings to life the realities of war on the ground in Nazi-occupied France.
“In the summer of 1944, as the Allies made brutally slow headway in liberating France, teams of paratroopers—including French officers—were dropped behind enemy lines to coordinate guerrilla operations with resistance leaders. . . . In No Bridges Blown, United States infantry officer William Dreux memorializes his riveting experiences on one of those teams in Brittany . . . Dreux’s beautifully rendered depiction . . . is unique and revelatory.” —Foreword Reviews
“The men and women of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) were some of the most dynamic and pioneering in American history. Jedburgh captain William Dreux's compelling prose captures not only the gristle but also the meat of these important contributions in his World War II memoir No Bridges Blown. What's old is new—the tenets and principles developed by the OSS continue to ring true in today's conflicts.” —Patrick K. O'Donnell, best-selling author of The Unknowns and First SEALS
"Quietly written yet intensely interesting." —Publishers Weekly
“No Bridges Blown is one of the most authentic accounts of life behind-the-lines in Occupied France that I've ever read.” —Colin Beavan, author of Operation Jedburgh
“William Dreux’s account of his time with the Office of Strategic Services' (OSS) elite Jedburgh teams is the rare war story offering a glimpse into the vital work that took place behind the lines of battle. No Bridges Blown is a compelling, illuminating memoir of his time working with the French Resistance, a valuable companion to tales of combat.” —Gregory A. Freeman, author of The Forgotten 500
"A readable and interesting reconstruction of the past!" —Library Journal
“I recommend No Bridges Blown as a book that ought to be a classic of wartime literature. I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the personal implications of war, the stress of life in occupied territory, some of the roots of American special operations forces, or just wants a fascinating and beautifully written explanation of a tiny piece of the fight in France.” —Russell Worth Parker, Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps
William B. Dreux (1911–1983) graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned a law degree at Tulane University. After serving in WWII as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), he co-founded the Jones Walker law firm in New Orleans.