Definition

An established escape and evasion route used to smuggle people or materials out of hostile territory, named after the routes rats use through buildings. After WWII, it gained infamy as the routes used by fleeing Nazi war criminals.

Example Usage

Intelligence identified a rat line moving weapons and fighters across the border through mountain passes.

Origin

Originally nautical slang for rope ladders, repurposed for clandestine escape routes during WWII

Fun Fact

The Vatican Rat Line helped numerous Nazi officials escape to South America after WWII, turning a military term into a historical scandal.

Source: Covert operations and intelligence terminology

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