by Neal Bascomb
and cover story (asylum-patient scenario), 126–28, 132–33, 137–38, 181–84, 189
crash landing of, 29–31
death of, 226–27
demands for better conditions, 41–42
determination of, 109, 149, 203
digging the tunnel, 8, 9, 102–3, 106, 109, 121, 124
escape attempt from Crefeld, 50–53
escape plans at Osnabrück, 40–44, 45
escape through Holzminden tunnel, 163–67
escape to Holland, 171–73, 180–84, 187–89, 196–98, 202–8, 209, 217
and German fluency, 25, 31–32, 40, 127
incident with German attendant, 143–44
and internment transfers, 119–20
and Jagdstaffel squadron attack, 29–30
and King George V, 211, 214
malnourishment of, 197, 208
and MI9, 228
military experience of, 24–26
and Niemeyer’s command of Holzminden, 80
and organization of breakout, 152–53, 156
reconnaissance missions of, 21
recruited to tunneling cabal, 93
return to London, 211
return to war, 216
and reunion of escapees after war, 223
taken prisoner, 31–32
and theater production, 150
transfer to Crefeld camp, 44
transfer to/from Holzminden camp, 77, 96, 100
transfer to Osnabrück, 38
and work clothes for digging, 103
and “Zero Hour,” 157, 158, 162
Grieve, Louis “Swaggy,” 154, 169, 174
Griffiths, Charles
plane downed, 16, 19
reconnaissance mission of, 10–11, 13, 15–16
taken prisoner, 20
Gütersloh prisoner of war camp, 6, 37
Habrecht (German colonel)
and arrival of prisoners, 65
and disorganization at Holzminden, 67
and escape of prisoners, 73
and Hänisch, 75–76
Hague Conventions
about, 3–4
and Germany, 5, 7, 37, 85
and Römer’s inspection of Holzminden, 96–98
Hänisch, Karl von, 75
assassination of, 220
assignment of escape artists to Holzminden, 120
and conditions in prison camps, 76, 98
and Niemeyer’s command of Holzminden, 66, 76, 194
notified of prisoners’ escapes, 176
visit to Holzminden, 74–76
Hartigan, Marcus, 174, 175–76
Harvey, William, 85
Helder, Leonard
and attack of Jagdstaffel squadron, 29–30
bomber escort mission of, 26–30
crash landing of, 31
reconnaissance missions of, 21
taken prisoner, 31–32
Holzminden (town), 166, 173, 220, 222
Holzminden prisoner of war camp, 62–63, 81, 82, 87, 89, 161
Christmas holidays in, 106
commandant of (see Niemeyer, Karl)
conditions at, 63, 65, 76, 83, 97–98, 100
disorganization at, 67
diversity of population in, 115
emotional strain of prisoners, 85
escape attempts, failed, 76, 77, 79, 85–86, 141–42, 218
escape attempts of Medlicott/Walter, 116–18
escape attempts rivaling the tunnel, 151–52
escape from (see escape from Holzminden)
escape route through attic hatch, 68–69, 72–74, 86, 91
and internment transfers, 99, 108, 119
layout of, 67–68, 69, 70–71
and liberties of prisoners, 107, 113–15, 114, 115, 149–50, 151
location of, 6
malnourishment of prisoners, 100, 101, 131, 197
officers’ room at, 83
and parole walks, 149, 150
rebellious acts of prisoners, 194–95
and recapture of escapees, 192–94
roll calls in, 102, 133–34, 175, 194–95, 219
Römer’s inspection of, 96–98
security at, 67–68, 69, 86
solitary confinement in, 84, 97, 143, 144, 193
theft at, 84
transfers of officers to/from, 59, 60, 65, 67, 77, 96
treatment of POWs at, 65, 76–79, 80–83, 84, 97–98
tunnel constructed at (see Holzminden tunnel)
See also orderlies
Holzminden tunnel, 122–23, 154
access to, 91–92, 134, 135–36, 145
air supply issues, 8, 109, 120, 121, 125, 174
braced with wooden struts, 102, 103, 110, 111, 112, 132
candles used in, 121
cave-in threats, 9, 109, 112, 120–21
common knowledge of, 150–51
completion of, 159–61
depth of, 103
deterioration/collapse of, 168, 170, 173–75
difficulties of digging, 119, 145, 147, 148–49
digging the tunnel, 8–9, 95, 109–10, 112, 120–21
dirt excavated from, 8–9, 94, 104–5, 106, 110, 147, 148, 160
discovered by Germans, 176, 177, 178
entrance of, 104–5, 106, 121, 164, 184
escape of prisoners through, 163–70, 174, 178 (see also escape from Holzminden)
evacuation of ruck from, 173–75
exit point of, 147–48, 149, 154, 161, 185
and German guards, 108–9, 134, 154, 158, 161, 165, 184
hidden door to, 92–93, 94–95, 105
initiation of, 91
lamps used in, 103
length and size of, 108–10, 147
men involved in, 96, 119–20
and orderly disguises of officers, 92, 94, 101–2, 136
and organization of breakout, 152–55
risk of exposure, 132
and rival schemes, 151–52
and roll calls, 133–34, 136
round-the-clock work on, 136, 145, 148
secrecy surrounding, 108
and shifts of digging teams, 9, 121, 124
sulfuric acid used to remove iron barrier in, 95–96, 103
supplies and tools required for, 93–94, 132
hospitals, German, 5
Indian Royal Flying Corps, 25–26
internment of prisoners in neutral countries, 85, 99, 108, 119
invisible ink, milk used as, 40
Jagdstaffel squadron, 23, 29–30, 32
Kennard, Caspar, 36, 212–13
and asylum-patient scenario, 180–84, 189
background of, 35
claustrophobia of, 9, 109, 112, 124, 165
and cover story (asylum-patient scenario), 126–28, 132–33, 137–38, 157, 172
crash landing of, 33–35
death of, 225
determination of, 203
digging the tunnel, 8–9, 109–10, 112, 120, 121, 124
escape attempts at Clausthal, 55, 57
escape attempts at Holzminden, previous, 85–86
escape attempts at Osnabrück, 39–44, 45–46
escape through Holzminden tunnel, 163–67
escape to Holland, 171–73, 180–84, 187–89, 196–98, 202–8, 209, 217
and German language, 127
and Gray’s time in solitary, 144
and King George V, 211, 214
malnourishment of, 101, 197, 208
and MI9, 228
return to war, 216
revenge attack on Allouche, 46, 47, 48–49, 54
in solitary confinement, 54–55
taken prisoner, 35, 37
telegrams to family of, 38, 210
transfer to/from Clausthal camp, 46, 47–48, 58
transfer to Holzminden camp, 77
and “Zero Hour,” 157, 158, 162
Langran, William, 160
Laurence, Colin, 180
Leggatt, Edward, 212–13
escape kit of, 129�
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and MI9, 228
and organization of breakout, 153
reunited with fellow escapees in Holland, 208
Luscombe, Bernard, 192–93
Lyon, Peter, 130–31, 153
Mackay (corporal), 169
malnourishment of prisoners, 100, 101, 131, 197, 208
Mandelbrat, Lieutenant, 176, 178
manhunt for escaped prisoners
civilians’ assistance with, 184, 186, 193
escapees’ expectations for, 140, 181
initiation of, 176
intensification of, 179
news of, 183
and recapture of escapees, 193
reward offered, 186, 193
maps, 130, 131, 140, 141, 142
Mardock, Frederick, 120, 180
Maubeuge, reconnaissance missions of, 11, 15
Medlicott, Harold, 70–71, 116–18, 135, 228
MI9, 227, 228
Morris, Lionel, 27, 30, 31,
Morrogh, Jack, 169–70, 174, 180, 195
Moysey, Frank, 93, 94–95, 119
Newton, Lord, 98, 99
Niemeyer, Karl, 64, 78
arrival of prisoners at Holzminden, 62–63
and conditions at Holzminden, 97
confessions sought by, 194
disappearance of, 220, 226
end-of-war change in persona, 219
and escapes of prisoners, 73–74, 76, 79, 86, 116–18, 218
and Hänisch, 66, 75–76, 194
and internment transfers, 108
liberties allowed by, 113–14, 149–50
and manhunt for escaped prisoners, 176, 181, 183, 184, 186
and orderlies, 90, 133
and parole walks, 149
prisoners’ hatred of, 65–66, 203–4
prisoners’ rebellious acts against, 100, 194–95
promotion of, 76
and recapture of escapees, 192–94
and roll calls, 133–34
spies of, 133
and theater productions, 150
treatment of German staff, 128, 130
treatment of POWs, 76–79, 80–85, 100, 135, 142–43
treatment of recaptured escapees, 193, 194, 218
tunnel discovered by, 176, 178
wine sales banned by, 106
orderlies, 86–90
assisting with escape attempts, 90, 92, 94, 96, 131
assisting with tunneling efforts, 96, 101, 102
cellars under quarters of, 91–92
German guards posted at barracks of, 134
loyalty to escapees, 194
officers’ access to quarters of, 92
officers disguised as, 92, 94, 101–2, 136
option to join breakout, 153–54
as spies for Niemeyer, 133
Osnabrück prisoner of war camp, 42
British prisoners removed from, 46
Kennard’s transfer to, 37–39
location of, 6
plans to escape from, 39–44, 45
revenge attack on Allouche, 46–49
prisoners of war (POWs), 57
conditions of prisons, 20, 32, 41–42
correspondence/parcels of, 39, 40–41, 55, 86
death rates of, 5
and disgrace of capture, 31
estimated numbers of, 228
and German propaganda, 220–21, 221
Germany’s treatment of, 4–7, 37, 50–51, 85
Hague Conventions on, 3–4
historical treatment of, 2–4
officers vs. enlisted men, 5–6 (see also orderlies)
waiting endured by, 81–82
Purves, Stanley, 153, 208, 212–13
Rathborne, Charles, 61
background of, 59–60
and conditions at Holzminden, 65
escape through Holzminden tunnel, 167–68
escape to Holland, 186–87, 190–92, 195, 217
informed of escape plan, 132
and MI9, 228
and organization of breakout, 153
preparations for escape, 140
and reunion of escapees after war, 223
and rival schemes, 151–52, 155
transfer to/from Holzminden camp, 59, 60, 96
and “Zero Hour,” 158
reunion of escapees, 223, 223, 224, 226
Richthofen, Manfred von (the Red Baron), 23, 29–30, 31
Robinson, William Leefe, 142–43, 226
Rogers, Joseph, 93, 94–95, 119
Römer, Rudolf, 96–98
Royal Air Force (RAF), 16–17
Royal Flying Corps (RFC)
airplanes of, 16, 17, 19
and Archies (shells), 13–15
danger associated with service in, 19, 23
dogfights with Germans, 14, 29–30, 30
flight training of, 18–19, 26
founding of, 16
reconnaissance missions of, 10–11, 13, 15, 21
recruitment of pilots for, 17, 18
and Somme offensives, 21
and “stunting” after wins, 34
troop movements tracked by, 17
weapons of, 17
Russia, treatment of POWs, 4
Sharpe, Frank, 192–93
Smith, Philip “Murphy,” 179–80
solitary confinement
Blain in, 45–46, 49, 54, 57–58
difficulties of, 7, 54, 58
and end-of-war releases, 220
in Holzminden camp, 84, 97, 143, 144, 193
Kennard in, 37, 45–46, 49, 54, 57–58
Somme offensives, 13, 19, 21, 24
Stokes-Roberts, Arthur, 194, 219, 221
Ströhen camp, 77, 100
surrendering soldiers, 5, 31, 51
Sutcliffe, Cuthbert “Fluffy,” 141–42
Thorn, John
escape attempts at Holzminden, 68–69, 72–74, 79
transfer to Holzminden camp, 68
Trenchard, Hugh “Boom,” 17, 21
trench warfare, xii, 13, 21
Tullis, John, 153, 208, 212–13
tunneling
at Clausthal camp, 55–56
at Crefeld camp, 51–52
at Holzminden (see Holzminden tunnel)
Walter, Joseph, 70–71, 116–18, 135
Whale, James, 114–15
Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany, 1, 219
Wilkins, Wally
escape attempts at Holzminden, 68–69, 72, 74, 79
transfer to Holzminden camp, 68, 72
Wolfe (German commandant), 54, 56, 57, 58
World War I
trench warfare of, xii, 13, 21
trigger of, 1
Wright, Orville, 16
Wyndham, John
informed of escape plan, 132
negotiations with Hänisch, 76
Niemeyer’s refusal to meet with, 85
transfer from Holzminden camp, 96
Read on for a sneak peek at another thrilling—and true!—story from Neal Bascomb …
In the dark early hours of April 9, 1940, a fierce wind swept across the decks of the German cruiser Hipper and the four destroyers at its stern as they cut into the fjord toward Trondheim, Norway. The ships approached the three forts guarding the entrance to the city, all crews at the ready. A Norwegian patrol signaled for the boats to identify themselves. In English, the Hipper’s captain returned that they were a British ship with orders to “go towards Trondheim. No unfriendly intentions.” As the patrol shone a spotlight across the water, it was blinded by searchlights from the Hipper, which suddenly sped up and blew smoke to hide its whereabouts.
Signals and warning rockets lit up the night. Inside the Norwegian forts, alarms rang and orders were given to fire on the invading ships. But the inexperienced Norwegian soldiers struggled to shoot their guns. By the time they were prepared, the Hipper was already steaming past the first fort. At the second fort, the bugler who should have sounded the alarm had fallen asleep at his post. The moment the gunners there opened fir
e, their searchlights malfunctioned, so they could not see their targets.
At 4:25 A.M., the German force set anchor in Trondheim’s harbor. Cutters began bringing hundreds of soldiers from the warships to the shore. The soldiers spread out from the port into the defenseless streets. The Nazi invasion of Norway had begun.
In a large hall at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), twenty minutes away from Trondheim’s harbor, Leif Tronstad gathered his fellow teachers, their students, and a handful of others. Word of the invasion had reached him before the break of day, and while his wife and children slept, he had rushed to the Institute. From the few reports he and others had received, all of Norway looked to be under attack. Most major cities had fallen alongside Trondheim, but the capital, Oslo, was rumored to be holding out.
The group debated what they should do. One among them, a firebrand named Knut Haukelid, who was visiting friends in the city, wanted to fight with whatever weapons they could find. The Germans were invading their country, and they must resist. Others preached caution. They did not know exactly what Hitler intended for Norway, and their small country, with its limited military, stood little chance against German might.
When Tronstad spoke, he held everyone’s attention. At thirty-seven years of age, he was the university’s youngest full professor, and a favorite in its classrooms. Of medium height, he had blue eyes and ash-blond hair parted neatly on the side, with a light dance of crow’s feet around his eyes.
He told those assembled that he would travel to Oslo, where, as a reserve officer in the Army, he had standing orders to go once war broke out. He suggested those with military experience should do the same. As for the others, he said, each man needed to follow his own conscience on what action he should take, but all must remember their country was in desperate need. “Whatever you do,” he said, “your actions will be history in a hundred years.” With that, he said his goodbyes.
Tronstad had feared this would happen — that Norway would be attacked and its “sleeping government” would leave the country unprepared to mount a defense. Since the day Adolf Hitler had invaded Poland in September 1939, and Britain’s soon-to-be prime minister Winston Churchill had announced, “We are fighting to save the whole world from the pestilence of Nazi tyranny,” it was clear to Tronstad that Norway would not be allowed to maintain the neutral stand it had held in the First World War. The fight between the Allies and the Nazis in mainland Europe had stalled, and the two sides had circled around Norway for months. With its rich natural resources and strategic position in the North Sea, Tronstad’s homeland was too good a prize to leave unclaimed.
As Tronstad hurried home, German soldiers occupied the city around him, marching in columns through the streets. They established machine-gun nests and mortar positions at key spots throughout the city, and called out warnings in German not to resist. Tronstad ignored them. When he reached his two-story house on the city’s outskirts, he told his wife, Bassa, that they were not safe in Trondheim. He would take her and the children to a mountain tourist lodge 100 miles to the south, then he would go to Oslo to join the Army.
