This is a repost of a previous post. I try to do this every year on the 24th, and sometimes I even get it done. I will be raising a toast to them this evening.
Today, I take the time to remember the 50. On this night, in 1944, prisoners of war staged a daring large-scale escape from Stalag Luft III. The movie is good, but isn’t accurate since it was a Royal Air Force show. All but three of the prisoners who escaped were recaptured, and of those, Adolph Hitler personally ordered the deaths of 50 of them. Today, I raise a glass to them, and to all who dared and risked all to do so.
It was interesting to read that some German prisoners escaped from POW camps in UK and the US. How they expected to cross the Channel or the Atlantic is unknown. But the Home Guard in UK and the State Guard in the US got some excitement.
there are some interesting tales of Germans escaping from POW camps in the Southwestern US. they had maps but no good knowledge of the environment there, and were shocked at the difficulties of the Sonoran desert – some willingly gave themselves up not longer after their escape
I’ve read of a few escapes, and seem to remember they did not end well. There were rumors at one point I seem to recall that they hoped to signal U-boats off the coast for pickup. Also read of a number of Germans who actually worked on farms and such around the camps on parole, and elected to stay in the U.S. after the war.
Oddly enough, where AEDC (USAF) is today was first a training camp then a POW camp for Germans. It was interesting working there, esp. as my Dad was helped build the training camp before going back into the Marines.
None of the links work. I am interested as my dad ended the war there.
It is a repost from several years back, will check and if needed put up new links. May be tomorrow, but will let you know when it is done. Hope maybe you can get some info relating to your dad.