Tales from Colditz Castle by Thomas Schädlich

Author:Thomas Schädlich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Colditz Castle, Oflag IV C, Prisoner of War camp Colditz, The camp for the "naughty boys"; diary from German guard Martin Schädlich
ISBN: 9783958497061
Publisher: Verlag Schädlich
Published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

There was a hole in the floor and wall of our storeroom, which was double-locked, leading to the prisoners store. Nothing could be seen from the outside, as the floorboards had all been nailed down again and the wall had been bricked up and rendered, also covered by a carton p1aced in front of it. Only by tapping was it possible for us to spot a weakness in the wall.

The observations of a guard leader then gave us further clues. He said that at 7.20 am he saw a 2 nd Lieutenant whom he did not recognise together with a corporal and four orderlies who were carrying cases, walking in the direction of the park. He did not attach any importance to this. Also Lance Corporal Richter reported that he let these six men pass through the rear gate by the park as he assumed that they had been treated in the castle sickbay and were now leaving the castle.

We therefore assume that this extremely lucky escape happened like this. The escapers were in the clothing store and took two cases in which they hid their civilian clothing. They then opened two doors with false keys and stepped outside, under the eyes of the sentry. They then marched down the stairs, past sentries 5 and 6, locked the inner gate themselves with the key hanging there and marched on in the direction of the “Sektionshaus”

The 2 nd Lt. in disguise was not only saluted by the sentries, but also by a Sergeant who was coming from the apposite direction. The six marched to the park gate and waited there, some of them were sitting on their cases. This gate must normally not be used by anybody, not even a German Officer. The only person who can let people through this gate and has a key to it, is L. Cpl. Richter, who has to repair the water pipes outside the camp. This Lance Corporal now appears on the scene, salutes correctly and asks: “You probably want to get out through here?” which was affirmed by the six with great pleasure! He opens the gate and lets them pass, although he knows neither the Officer or the Corporal and takes note of the unusual time of day.

It is unbelievable how lucky these escapers were, as the sentries were completely taken in by the “German Officer” and even saluted him. Later we found in the park the two cases. During the morning two of the escapers, one English and the other Dutch, were caught in Commichau, and later in the day two more were caught in Doebeln.

The escapers were the English Lt. Fowler, Capt. Lawton and Lt. Wardle, the Dutch Lts. Doorninck, Donker and Beets. Four of them - Lawton, Donkers, Beets and Wardle - were caught the same day, but the other two made it home.

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