The Château of Colditz is located in the locality of Colditz, close to Leipzig and Dresden. Used as psychiatric hospital during more than one century, it became famous while being transformed into prison camp reserved to the officers combined during the Second world war, becoming Oflag IV-C. Considered as a fortress from where one does not escape, safety was ensured by guards more than the prisoners. In spite of that, 31 officers (11 French, 10 British, 7 Netherlanders, 1 Pole, 1 Canadian and 1 Indian) managed to escape from Colditz. These authentic exploits inspired the télévisiée series Colditz in the Années 1970.

The first interned prisoners with Colditz were 140 Polish officers in October 1940. With the end of the year 1940, 60 Polish officers, 12 Belgians, 50 French and 30 British are interned there. In February 1941 are brought 200 French officers, joined later by 68 Dutch officers on July 24th, 1941. End July 1941, one counts 250 French prisoners, 150 Poles, 50 British or members of the Commonwealth, 68 Netherlanders and 2 Yugoslavians. In May 1943, the high command of the Wehrmacht decides to hold Colditz with the British prisoners firstly. The French, Polish and Dutch officers are transferred in other camps and fine July 1943, it remains only one handle of French officers for 228 British officers or members of the Commonwealth. August 23rd, 1944, the first American prisoner arrives at Colditz, joined on January 19th, 1945 by six French generals. In March 1945, 1200 French prisoners are interned in Colditz.

Among the escapes having failed, it is advisable to announce the escape bid in mass by the " tunnel français" , discovered by the Germans approximately three weeks before his completion. This tunnel was dug in addition to one year (1940-1942) and the Germans knew that a tunnel was in building site because of suspect noises when the French dug. The Germans required that the French officers pay 12.000 marks in order to repair the damage caused by the digging of this tunnel!

Successful escapes

From the interior of the Castle

  1. the French lieutenant Alain Ray escapes the April 11th 1941. It benefits from a match of Football in the court to escape. He manages to join the Suisse then France. First escaped prisoner of Colditz, he will be then the first military chief of the Maquis of Vercors.
  2. the French lieutenant Rene Collin escapes the May 31st 1941. It joined France.
  3. the French lieutenant Pierre Mairesse Lebrun escapes the July 2nd 1941. It joined Switzerland after eight days of bicycle.
  4. the Dutch lieutenant Francis Steinmetz escapes the August 15th 1941. It joined Switzerland by the train in three days.
  5. the Dutch lieutenant E. Hans Larive escapes the August 15th 1941 with Steinmetz
  6. the Dutch major C. Giebel escapes the September 20th 1941.
  7. the Dutch lieutenant O.L. Drijber escapes the September 20th 1941 with Giebel.
  8. the British lieutenant Airey Mr. S. Neave escapes the January 5th 1942. Disguised as a German officer, it joined Switzerland in two days.
  9. the Dutch lieutenant Anthony P. Luteyn escapes the January 5th 1942 with Neave.
  10. the British lieutenant H. NR. Fowler escapes the September 9th 1942. Disguised as a German officer, it joined Switzerland.
  11. the Dutch lieutenant Damiaen Joan van Doorninck escapes the September 9th 1942 with Fowler.
  12. the British captain Patrick R. Reid escapes the October 14th 1942. It joined Switzerland in four days.
  13. the Canadian lieutenant Howard D. Wardle escapes the October 14th 1942 with Reid.
  14. the British major Ronald B. Littledale escapes the October 14th 1942. It joined Switzerland in five days.
  15. the British lieutenant William E. Stephens escapes the October 14th 1942 with Littledale.
  16. the British lieutenant William Millar escapes in January 1944, but does not manage to gain Switzerland. It is probably carried out by the Germans.

Since the outside of the Castle

  1. French lieutenant J. Durand-Hornus escapes the December 17th 1941. It benefits from a visit in the dentist downtown.
  2. French lieutenant G. of Frondeville escapes the December 17th 1941 with Durand-Hornus.
  3. French lieutenant J. Prot escapes the December 17th 1941 with Durand-Hornus.
  4. Polish lieutenant Kroner escapes while jumping by the window from a hospital.
  5. French lieutenant Boucheron escapes from the hospital from Zeitz. Begun again, he escapes again from a prison in Düsseldorf.
  6. French lieutenant Odry escapes from the hospital from Ehterhorst.
  7. French lieutenant Navelet escapes from the hospital from Ehterhorst.
  8. the British captain Louis Rémy escapes from the hospital from Gnaschwitz.
  9. the British chief of flotilla Brian Paddon joined Sweden.
  10. the French lieutenant Raymond Bouillez escapes from a hospital.
  11. Dutch lieutenant J. van Lynden escapes during the transfer of the Dutch prisoners to the camp of Stanislau.
  12. French lieutenant A. Darthenay escapes from the hospital from Hohnstein-Ernsttal. It joined Resistance and is killed by Gestapo the April 7th 1944 on the Plateau of Glières.
  13. the Indian lieutenant Birendra Nath Mazumdar was only the Indian prisoner with Colditz. It made an hunger strike to be transferred in a camp including/understanding only Indian prisoners. During this transfer, he escaped and gained Switzerland before joining the French Résistance.
  14. the British sailor W. Hammond required its alleging transfer that he was not officer. He escapes during the transfer.
  15. British sailor D. Lister escapes with Hammond.

Other prisoners of the Castle of Colditz

  1. Georges Mayer, French officer, doctor, professor of medicine
  2. Tony Rolt, lieutenant with the Riffle Brigade, British, racing driver

Fimography

  • Colditz : Televised series diffused in the Seventies, which recalls some of the escapes.
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