HOSTAGES OF COLDITZ ( Allied POW's in Germany)


 Romilly/Alexander ,


246  pages,  ILLUS

The Medieval castle of Colditz was the site of the Oflag IV-C officers p.o.w. Camp during WWII. Although thought to be impassable by the German's guarding it, the castle walls were the site of many of the most dramatic escapes of the war. Inside Oflag IV-C were concentrated all of the highest profile prisoners of the war. Among these "Prominente" (celebrities) were ace pilot Douglas Bader, author Patrick Reid, polemicist Micky Burn and several prominent soldiers and members of the royal family. 

These are the stories of many of the gallant attempts to gain freedom, and how the remaining Prominente narrowly avoided death at the hands of their captors during the waning days of the war. Michael Alexander was a British Commando who was captured in North Africa and had his life spared personally by Erwin Rommel, who ordered him sent to Colditz. Giles Romilly was a civilian journalist captured in Norway. Because of his personal connections to important British political figures, Hitler personally gave orders for him to be sent to Colditz and to be treated amicably. He became known there for his flamboyant behavior in face of his captors and his unusual requests. 

It's said that a red carpet was issued outside of his cell door because he often complained of the noise of the guard's boots preventing him from sleeping. He escaped with a Dutch Officer by abseiling down the castle walls. Although over 3000 men were searching for them, with the aid of falsified identification papers the pair were able to avoid detection and reach the allied lines


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