Was the great escape true and how many escaped?

Answer 1

Yes it did the films (The Great Escape 1963 and The Wooden Horse 1950) were based on books written by former prisoners. The camp was Stalag Lufte III Permanent Camp for Airman No 3) and was located in modern day Poland. Despite the escapes the camp was actually designed to make tunneling difficult. The accommodation was raised off the ground to make it easier for the guards to see. The soil it was built on was very sandy making tunneling a dangerous occupation as the soil would need supporting and also the colour of soil would easily show up. In addition seismic devices were planted in the ground to detect tunneling. The first escape in October 1942 was done using a version of the Trojan horse theory taking 3 months to complete with little shoring up and the use of the Wooden Vaulting horse disguising the sound of tunneling. Air holes were poked through the soil to provide air. The horse took the men, materials and soil backward and forward each day. The 3 men all escaped and made it back to the Britain. The Great Escape shown in the film happened in March 1944 having been planned first in January 1943. It consisted as per the film of 3 tunnels Tom Dick and Harry, Tom being discovered by the Gestapo. The tunnel (Harry) finally used was short and had a frozen cover. 76 escaped before the 77th was spotted. The coldest March on record for 30 years proved problematical for the escapees who missed trains and were forced onto the roads. 73 were recaptured 23 being returned to camps and 50 executed on the orders of Hitler. Only 3 made it to safety

Answer 2

My father was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III were the great escape occurred. The prison camp was locate near a polish town named Zagan or sometimes spelled Sagan. This camp was considered to be inescapable and housed British officers that were airmen. Many of the crew members from a plane that was shot down were split up as most officers were the pilots, copilots navigators and engineers. Typically the Bombadiers and others on the crew were split up and sent to different, less desirable camps. In March 24, 1944 over 200 prisoners attempted to escape via one of three tunnels that were constructed, one that was discovered before the great escape happened. Due to the large number of prisoners that were attempting the escape and the sad fact that the tunnel was made 10 feet to short of the woods and directly under a prison watch tower, the escape was uncovered during the attempt. Of the 76 that escaped, 23 were captured and sent to prison, 50 were executed and 3 made it back to the UK. My father was imprisoned after this occurred but told me the story and many more about his life in this camp. I was lucky enough to go back after 50 years with him and many of his fellow prisoners and actually sat on the ground in his barracks, which was only found and recognized by his great memory. I have bricks from the barracks and many memories of this great man, whom I lost several years ago.