Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle

We first meet the POWs of Colditz as they try their hand at an escape attempt they have been cooking up for several months. The false German uniform had been made, the travel passes had been created, and photographic passports had been produced by clever means. All that was left to do was complete the plan and walk through the gates of one of the most daunting prison camps in the world.

Author Ben Macintyre writes this heavily laden prisoner escape book with great detail, putting you in the mind of the POW's, their captors, and those trying to help from the outside. This book is packed to the brim with escape attempts, so I thought I would just list some clever things to look out for if you were curious about reading it.

❖ Most of the POW's had skills to contribute to the daily escape attempts. There were magicians, card sharks, pole vaulters, theater actors, famous ace pilots, electricians, rugby players, charmers, and more.
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❖ Some clever bits include stealing a key, pressing into a bar of soap, and melting tin gathered from the roof to fashion keys to help them in their escape attempts.
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❖ The French had the first few successful attempts. Some vaulted over the wire and climbed the walls, while others dressed up and walked out during a large sporting match.
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❖ It was quite obvious at first that the flaw of Colditz was not in the architecture but in the humans that occupied it.
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❖ As attempts mounted, so did the security. Roll call was confirmed more frequently to stimy tunnel digging, extra lights were added, and gun placements were moved to areas of high activity.
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❖ Since mail was allowed, there was a marriage that took place using photos and vows sent over the wire.
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❖ The prisoners started to devise new ways of combating the constant stifling of their escape attempts by attacking the guard's psychology. They would roam around the grounds, acting like they were walking dogs or pushing around rocks using their noses. The captors thought they were a bit contrived, but even a slight bit of misdirection would help conceal an attempt in another area.
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❖ A radio was produced so they could keep up-to-date with what was happening on the outside. Magazines of the front were pilfered from guards. This gave the POWs ideas on how others were trying to escape from their respective prisons.
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Food was used as a bartering chip, and they used some of the rations to make drinks. Alcohol production was made using the strangest of ingredients. One of them was a batch flavored with aftershave. It was said to have eaten a hole in the bottom of the plastic container it sat in overnight. Most officers could stomach this variety, but they succumbed to cataclysmic headaches, blurred vision, discolored teeth, and so on. It was not discouraged because it kept morale up, and any prisoner who was inebriated was easier to manage.

|| “Our cross is the curse of waiting.” ||

Some chapters are short and filled with details on attempts of varying degrees, while others dig deep into those who had a great impact on their success in escaping. One of those heroic people was Mrs. Markowska.

Mrs. Markowska, also known as Jane Walker, was an agent of British intelligence and a lead associate in the Polish underground. She would shelter escaped British POWs and help smuggle them to safety. She was extremely intelligent and a supreme asset because she spoke German, French, and Polish. Her intolerant and sympathetic behavior was endearing to the escapees, and she treated each one like her own children. She was known for giving the POW's pep talks, medical treatments, and formal dinners. The POW's adored her and often times said they loved her.

Another was Douglas Bader, a double-amputee flying ace who inspired the RAF and was deemed by the Daily Mirror as “The Greatest Hero of Them All.” He was courageous and famous, and he became a poster boy for inflight antics. It shined a beacon of light on what is possible and how one can help with the war effort, even if they have a disability. On an offensive, Bader's plane was hit, and the fuselage tore away from the back. As the plane careened toward the Earth, he removed the Spitfires canopy, but he was not able to get out because his prosthetic leg was caught on the controls. Right before he lost consciousness, he ripped the parachute, and the force disconnected his leg. He floated to the ground with only a few broken ribs. The German captors were so enamored with his condition that they asked the RAF to send them a new leg so he could walk again. After approval from the higher-ups, they named it “Operation Leg.” Now with functioning legs, Bader tried to escape multiple times but always had issues with his leg. He would then find himself in Colditz, where his disregard and insolence for authority kept on.

I would recommend this book to history buffs and WW readers alike. It tells quite a few enduring and humbling stories about those poor, brave souls who had to endure the camps for years.

|| “The day of freedom is not set by judge or jury, but by events in a distant theater of conflict.” ||