ISBN |
9781925475326 |
Dewey |
940.54 |
Author |
Letts, Elizabeth author. |
Title |
The perfect horse : the daring mission to rescue priceless stallions from the Nazis / Elizabeth Letts. |
Published |
South Melbourne : Affirm Press, 2016. |
Physical description |
xix, 369 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm. |
Note |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-350) and index. |
Summary |
In the chaotic last days of World War II, a small troop of American soldiers captures a German spy and learns that on a secret farm behind enemy lines, Hitler has stockpiled the world's finest purebred horses in order to breed the perfect military machine--an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in imminent danger of being slaughtered for food. With only hours to spare, one of the U.S. Army's last great cavalrymen, Colonel Hank Reed, makes a bold decision--with General George Patton's blessing--to mount a covert rescue operation. Racing against time, Reed's small but determined force of soldiers, aided by several turncoat Germans, steals across enemy lines in a last-ditch effort to save the horses. Pulling together this multistranded story, Elizabeth Letts introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters: Alois Podhajsky, director of the famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, a former Olympic medallist forced to flee the bomb-ravaged Austrian capital with his entire stable in tow; Gustav Rau, Hitler's imperious chief of horse breeding, a proponent of eugenics who dreams of genetically engineering the perfect warhorse for Germany; and Tom Stewart, a senator's son who makes a daring moonlight ride on a white stallion to secure the farm's surrender. Elizabeth Letts's exhilarating tale of behind-enemy-lines adventure, courage, and sacrifice brings to life for the first time one of the most inspiring chapters in the annals of human valour.--Adapted from dust jacket. |
Subject |
Podhajsky, Alois |
Reed, Charles Hancock, -- 1900-1980 |
Spanische Reitschule (Vienna, Austria) -- History -- 20th century |
United States. -- Army. -- Cavalry Regiment, Mechanized, 2nd -- History. |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Confiscations and contributions -- United States |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Commando operations -- Czech Republic -- Hostouň |
Lipizzaner horse -- Austria -- History -- 20th century |
Arabian horse -- Poland -- History -- 20th century |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Confiscations and contributions -- Germany |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Austria |