Escape from Colditz: Daring Breakouts from Nazi Captivity

High above the medieval town of Colditz in Saxony, perched on a rocky outcrop that commanded the surrounding countryside, stood Oflag IV-C, the German prisoner-of-war camp that would become synonymous with the most audacious escape attempts of World War II. The imposing castle, with its thick stone walls, narrow windows, and commanding position, had been selected by the German High Command as the perfect prison for their most troublesome captives - the Allied officers who had already proven their determination to escape from other camps. What the Germans created in their attempt to build an escape-proof fortress was instead a pressure cooker of ingenuity, determination, and international cooperation that would produce some of the most remarkable escape attempts in military history.

The selection of Colditz Castle as a high-security prisoner-of-war camp reflected both its natural advantages as a fortress and its symbolic value as a demonstration of German power and efficiency. Built in the 11th century and extensively modified over the centuries, the castle presented formidable obstacles to any would-be escapers: walls that were in some places more than seven feet thick, a position that allowed guards to observe the surrounding countryside for miles in every direction, and a single access road that could be easily monitored and controlled. The German commandant and his staff believed they had created the ultimate prison, a place from which escape was not merely difficult but virtually impossible.