The Secret War in the Balkans: A WWII Memoir

Richard H. Kraemer

Author House, Jul 27, 2010 - History - 260 pages

World War II was the most important event of the twentieth century. Sixty three nations took part, engaging more than 100 million soldiers, sailors, and airmen. All of the major campaigns of that war have been thoroughly covered in print and film with one exception, the secret war in the Balkans. While raids by bombers and fighter attacks were routinely reported by both military and civilian news media, the nocturnal activities of the 60th Troop Carrier Group supplying the Balkan guerrillas remained “Top Secret.”

Beginning in March 1944, the 60th carried 7,000 tons of weapons and equipment to secret drop and landing zones in Axis-held territory in the Balkans. With this equipment, the guerrillas tied down half a million Axis troops prior to the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

What if the 60th Troop Carrier Group or the guerrillas had not done their job? Adolf Hitler would have been able to move eight or ten divisions to western France prior to D-Day. No on can say with certainty, but this writer’s judgment is that the landings may well have failed. At the very least, the war would have been much longer and much more destructive. The importance of the Balkan supply drops to Allied victory in Europe has never been adequately recognized. The Secret War in the Balkans provides this heretofore missing chapter in the story of World War II.

Contents

• HEADING OVERSEAS: 25
• OH TO BE IN ENGLAND: 31
• THE INVASION OF SICILY: 67
• THE SECRET WAR IN: 93
• CATCH 22 AND THE WAR IN: 103
• YUGOSLAVIA AND THE BALKANS: 111
• WHO WAS CALLING THE SHOTS?: 127
• TIGERS PUSSY CATS AND WIND SHEAR: 159
• TITO AT WAR: 169
• CAPRI BRITISH SOVEREIGNS AND PHE: 183
• SUMMING: 191
• GOIN HOME: 209
• HOUSTON HOUSTON: 215

About the author

Richard H. Kraemer has had two careers. His first was as an officer in the U. S. Army Air Forces and U. S. Air Force from 1942 to 1962. He completed almost three full combat tours in North Africa and Europe in World War II, and flew 41 missions of a 50-mission tour in Korea before the armistice was signed in 1953. In all, he logged 1,600 hours flying time in the combat zones, possibly a record for American airmen.Upon retirement, he entered the doctoral program in political science at the University of Texas. Three years later, he was granted an Assistant Professorship in his own department. He was the lead author of 24 books on American and Texas government and politics. The latter were the standard in the field for 30 years. More important to him, he was the recipient of two major teaching awards and nominated for four others. He continued teaching part time until his 90th birthday.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Secret War in the Balkans: A WWII Memoir
• Author: Richard H. Kraemer
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Author House, 2010
• ISBN: 1452036241, 9781452036243
• Length: 260 pages
• Subjects: History / Military / General