Paddy Ashdown: The Cruel Victory

Paddy Ashdown discusses his new book, The Cruel Victory, which
tells the long-neglected D-Day story of the Resistance uprising
and subsequent massacre on the Vercors massif - the largest
action by the French Resistance during the Second World War.


Overlooked by English language histories, Ashdown sets the story
in the context of D-Day, the muddle of politics and the many
misjudgements of D-Day planners in both London and Algiers. Most
importantly it also gives voice to the many fighters who fought
to gain a stake in their country's future.


Lord Paddy Ashdown served as a Royal Marine and as an
intelligence officer for the UK security services before becoming
a Member of Parliament for Yeovil from 1983 to 2001, and leader
of the Liberal Democrats from 1988 until 1999. He was the
international High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from
2002 to 2006 and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most
Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2006.