K-State history department presents speech by author of 'Gauntlet'

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Friday, January 26, 2007

K-STATE HISTORY DEPARTMENT PRESENTS SPEECH BY AUTHOR OF 'GAUNTLET'

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's department of history and Institute for Military History and 20th Century Studies will present a lecture by Barbara Masin, author of "Gauntlet."

Masin will speak on "Escaping Communist Czechoslovakia: Five Friends, 20,000 Enemy Troops, and the Secret That Could Have Changed the Course of the Cold War" at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the Big 12 Room of the K-State Student Union.

"Gauntlet" is the story of five young men who, in 1953, crossed the border from Czechoslovakia into East Germany. Their mission was to deliver a secret message from a Czech general to U.S. authorities at all costs. Their ultimate objective was to join the U.S. Army Special Forces, then return to liberate their country. What ensued was the largest manhunt of the Cold War as thousands of East German and Soviet troops pursued them for 31 days. Three of the young men reached West Berlin.

Masin's father and uncle were part of the group, which was inspired by her grandfather, Josef Masin, a World War II resistance leader.

The thriller is a tale of courage and American ideals of freedom. "Gauntlet" also explores the present-day controversy surrounding the group's actions.

Masin was born in New York and grew up in Germany before returning to the United States with her family. She graduated from Yale College in 1989 and has since pursued a career in technology. "Gauntlet" is her first book.