WW2 Escape Lines Memorial Eden Camp Museum |
The German Blitzkrieg of 1940 quickly overwhelmed British and French Allied forces and as they withdrew many men were taken prisoner. Those unable to be evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk, and many left at St Valet were taken also prisoner. Later many POW's were taken by the Germans and Italians in North Africa.
British Prisoners of War Dunkirk Source: Third Reich Color Pictures |
For some in POW camps there was a desire to escape, and many ingenious and audacious methods occurred.
For both evaders and escapees, avoiding capture was helped by members of the Resistance, as well as ordinary people and lead to the development of escape lines. To aid escapes MI9 supplied various escape aids which were sent to POW's hidden in parcels, as well as coded messages in letters.
WW2 Escape Lines |
WW2 Escape Lines Memorial Eden Camp Museum |
One of the most famous escapes in WW2 was a mass escape from Stalag Luft III - the Great Escape. Eden Camp Museum contains a vignette of the events around the Escape.
Stalag Luft III POW Camp |
In the Spring of 1943 a plan was conceived by Squadron Leader Roger Bushell RAF for a mass escape of 200 POW's from Stalag Luft III. His idea was to construct 3 tunnels, should one be discovered the Germans would hardly think another two would also be in progress. The tunnels were nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry. There would also be an emergency tunnel, George,
The expansion of the Camp covered the planned exit of Dick. It was decided to stop work on that tunnel , and to start filling it in the tunnel with soil from the other two. Dick was also used to store escape material, clothing, forged papers and maps. Tom was discovered in September 1943 and work was suspended on Harry, resuming again in January 1944.
On the night of the 26th March 1944 the Great Escape began.....
The entrance to Harry was located underneath a stove which was moved to let the men to start entering the tunnel......
Prisoner enters Harry Eden Camp Museum |
Moving through Harry towards the entrance. |
German Guard Dogs on Patrol |
Emerging from Harry |
Assisting those emerging from the tunnel |
At 04:55 the 77th man to emerge from the tunnel, Squadron Leader Leonard Henry Trent VC was spotted, and the Great Escape was over.
Of the 76 men who escaped, 73 were recaptured. On the orders of Hitler, 50 of those recaptured were executed.
Allied airmen from the Great Escape