935: Ben Macintyre | Escaping from a Nazi Fortress Prison

Tunneling

The ingenuity of Colditz prisoners in their escape attempts is nothing short of remarkable. Ben Macintyre describes the French prisoners' creation of a 150-meter tunnel, dubbed "Lometro," complete with a makeshift air conditioning system and a telephone for warnings against approaching guards 1. This tunnel took nine months to construct, starting from the clock tower and extending through solid rock, showcasing the prisoners' determination and resourcefulness 2.

Astonishingly, it even had a telephone inside it. They rigged up a telephone as a sort of early warning system.

--- Ben Macintyre

Despite the elaborate efforts, many escape attempts failed, leading to severe mental health challenges among the prisoners 2.

   

Disguises

Creative disguises played a crucial role in the escape attempts from Colditz. Ben Macintyre recounts the story of a French officer who dressed as a woman, complete with a homemade wig and skirt, only to be discovered by a British officer who accidentally exposed the disguise 3. Another daring attempt involved a prisoner impersonating a German officer, complete with a fake mustache made from shaving brushes, which nearly succeeded in orchestrating a mass escape 4.

The entire uniform and the uniform of his two accomplices had been fabricated out of different bits of material that they managed to obtain over the course of the time inside.

--- Ben Macintyre

These stories highlight the prisoners' creativity and the constant tension between hope and despair 5.

   

Successes

Despite the odds, some prisoners managed to escape Colditz, showcasing incredible perseverance and luck. Ben Macintyre shares the story of a glider built from bedposts and mattress covers, intended to catapult off the roof for a daring escape 6. The cultural exchanges and tensions among prisoners, such as the British and French, added layers of complexity to their interactions and escape plans 7.

Only 16 people actually managed to get, and think of it, that an escape is taking place once every three days.

--- Ben Macintyre

These escapes, though few, became legendary, inspiring post-war cultural narratives about prison escapes 8.