Stalag Luft 111
by Published on 4th October 2018 10:09 PM
With thanks to our lovely Jean Collins xxx
The111-yard passage nicknamed 'Harry' by Allied prisoners was sealed by theGermans after the
audaciousbreak-out from the POW camp Stalag Luft III in western Poland.
Despite huge interest inthe subjegct, encouraged by the film starringSteve McQueen, the tunnel
remained undisturbed over the decades because it was behind the Iron Curtain andthe Sovietm
authorities had no interest in its significance
But at last British archaeologists have excavated it, and discovered its remarkable secrets.
Many of the bed boards which had been joined together to stop it collapsing were still in position.
And the ventilation shaft, ingeniously crafted from used powdered milk containers known as Klim
Tins, remained in working order.
Scattered throughout the tunnel, which is 30ft below ground, were bits of old metal buckets,
hammers and crowbars which were used to hollow out the route.
A total of 600 prisoners worked on three tunnels at the same time. They were nicknamed Tom,
Dick and Harry and were just 2 ft. square for most of their length.
It was on the night of March 24 and 25, 1944, that 76 Allied airmen escaped through Harry.
Barely a third of the 200 prisoners many in fake German uniforms and civilian outfits and carrying
false identity papers, who were meant to slip away managed to leave before the alarm was raised
when escapee number 77 was spotted.
Tunnel vision:
A tunnel reconstruction showing the trolley system.
Onlythree made it back to Britain.
Another50 were executed by firing squad on the orders of Adolf Hitler,
who was furious afterlearning of the breach of security. In all, 90 boards
from bunk beds, 62tables, 34 chairs and 76 benches, as well as thousands
of items includingknives, spoons, forks, towels and blankets, were squirreled
away by the Alliedprisoners to aid the escape plan under the noses of their captors.
Althoughthe Hollywood movie suggested otherwise, NO Americans were involved
in theoperation.
Most wereBritish, and the others were from Canada, (all the tunnelers were
Canadian personnelwith backgrounds in mining) Poland, New Zealand,
Australia,and South Africa.
The latest dig, over three weeks in August, located the entrance to Harry, which was originally
concealed under a stove in Hut 104.
The team also found another tunnel, called George, whose exact position had not been charted.
It was never used as the 2,000 prisoners were forced to march to other camps as the Red Army
approached in January 1945.
Watching the excavation was Gordie King, 91, an RAF radio operator, who was 140th in line to
use Harry and therefore missed out. 'This brings back such bitter-sweet memories,' he said as
he wiped away tears. 'I'm amazed by what they've found.'
With thanks
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 4th October 2018 at 10:25 PM.
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