"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because tough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf" - George Orwell
Untouched for almost seven decades, the tunnel used in the Great Escape from World War II POW camp in Poland has finally been unearthed.
The 111-yard passage nicknamed Harry by Allied prisoners was sealed by the Germans after the audacious break-out from the Stalag Luft III in western Poland.
Despite huge interest in the subject encouraged by the Hollywood movie, The Great Escape, which starred Steve McQueen, the tunnel remained undisturbed over the decades because it was then behind the Iron Curtain and the Soviet 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 30 feet 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. The tunnels were nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry, and were just 2 feet 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 wore fake German uniforms and civilian outfits and carried false identity papers), who were meant to slip away, managed to leave before the alarm was raised when escapee Number 77 was spotted by a German guard.
Only three made it back to Britain. Another 50 were executed by firing squad on the orders of Adolf Hitler, who was furious after learning of the breach of security.
In all, 90 boards from bunk beds, 62 tables, 34 chairs and 76 benches, as well as thousands of items including knives, spoons, forks, towels and blankets, were squirrelled away by the Allied prisoners to aid the escape plan under the noses of their captors.
Although the Hollywood movie suggested otherwise, no Americans were involved in the operation. Most were British and the others were from Australia, Canada (all the tunneler's were Canadian mining personnel), New Zealand, Poland, and South Africa (as was "Big X", the leader).
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."
Author Unknown
Untouched for almost seven decades, the tunnel used in the Great Escape from World War II POW camp in Poland has finally been unearthed.
The 111-yard passage nicknamed Harry by Allied prisoners was sealed by the Germans after the audacious break-out from the Stalag Luft III in western Poland.
Despite huge interest in the subject encouraged by the Hollywood movie, The Great Escape, which starred Steve McQueen, the tunnel remained undisturbed over the decades because it was then behind the Iron Curtain and the Soviet 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 30 feet 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. The tunnels were nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry, and were just 2 feet 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 wore fake German uniforms and civilian outfits and carried false identity papers), who were meant to slip away, managed to leave before the alarm was raised when escapee Number 77 was spotted by a German guard.
Only three made it back to Britain. Another 50 were executed by firing squad on the orders of Adolf Hitler, who was furious after learning of the breach of security.
In all, 90 boards from bunk beds, 62 tables, 34 chairs and 76 benches, as well as thousands of items including knives, spoons, forks, towels and blankets, were squirrelled away by the Allied prisoners to aid the escape plan under the noses of their captors.
Although the Hollywood movie suggested otherwise, no Americans were involved in the operation. Most were British and the others were from Australia, Canada (all the tunneler's were Canadian mining personnel), New Zealand, Poland, and South Africa (as was "Big X", the leader).
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."
Author Unknown
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