Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
The true story of one of the most heroic feats of World War II...the daring prison camp breakout that inspired the classic film The Great Escape.
Stalag Luft III was one of the Germans' "escape-proof" prison camps, specially built by Hermann Göring to hold Allied troops. But on March 24, 1944, in a courageous attempt by two hundred prisoners to break out through a series of tunnels, seventy-six Allied officers managed to evade capture -- and create havoc behind enemy lines in the months before the Normandy Invasion.
This is the incredible story of these brave men who broke free from the supposedly impenetrable barbed wire and watchtowers of Stalag Luft III -- and who played an important role in Allied intelligence operations within occupied Europe. The prisoners developed an intricate espionage network, relaying details of military deployment, bombings, and raids. Some of them were involved in other daring escape attempts, including the famous Wooden Horse episode, also turned into a classic film, and the little-known Sachsenhausen breakout, engineered by five Great Escapers sent to die in the notorious concentration camp on Hitler's personal orders. Tragically, fifty of those involved in the Great Escape were murdered by the Gestapo. Others were recaptured; only a few made it all the way to freedom. This dramatic account of personal heroism is a testament to their ingenuity and achievement -- a stirring tribute to the men who never gave up fighting.
Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
Previews available in: English
Book Details
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Originally published: The great escapers. Edinburgh : Mainstream Pub., 2004.
Classifications
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Community Reviews (0)
History
- Created April 1, 2008
- 11 revisions
Wikipedia citation
×CloseCopy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Need help?
May 25, 2022 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
December 11, 2020 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
November 9, 2019 | Edited by Chiara Colombo | Edited without comment. |
May 5, 2017 | Edited by ImportBot | import new book |
April 1, 2008 | Created by an anonymous user | Imported from Scriblio MARC record |