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Nazi Prison Escape

Lavatory
Ten POWs came through this hole before the Germans revealed themselves.
Escaping Colditz
10: July 31, 1941

One night, a German guard went to the lavatory in the northeast end of the Kommandantur, or German headquarters building. While in the bathroom, which backed onto one of the British prisoners' rooms, the guard heard a scratching noise. Informed, Colditz security personnel lay in wait. This night, two British officers dressed as civilians suddenly broke through the wall behind the john and walked out of the bathroom. "This way, please, gentlemen!" their welcoming committee announced. In all, ten prisoners came through the hole before the Germans decided to end the sport.

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  1. First escape
    April 12, 1941


  2. Straw mattresses
    May 8, 1941


  3. Locked cells
    Mid-May 1941


  4. Canteen tunnel
    May 1941


  5. German woman
    June 1941


  6. Air-raid shelter
    June 1941


  7. Hacksaw
    June 1941


  8. Over the wall
    July 2, 1941


  9. Air shaft
    July 28, 1941


  1. Lavatory
    July 31, 1941


  2. Manhole
    Late summer, 1941


  3. Dummies
    December 1941


  4. German officers
    December 1941


  5. Main gate
    January 6, 1942


  6. Town dump
    March 1942


  7. Wooden crate
    September 7, 1942


  8. Mussolini's office
    September 9, 1942


  9. Headquarters building
    October 15, 1942


  1. Willi the electrician
    December 1942


  2. "Maddest attempt"
    May 11, 1943


  3. Franz Josef
    September 2, 1943


  4. Cellar house
    January 19, 1944


  5. Rubbish heap
    May 2, 1944


  6. Greatest escaper
    September 25, 1944


  7. Glider
    April 1945



Escaping Colditz | The Jailor's Story | Great Escapes | The Colditz Glider
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