The Great Escape was a remarkable feat of courage and resourcefulness by 76 Allied officers. They courageously waged war against captivity and escape from Stalag Luft III, a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp. Paul Brickhill originally told the audacious escape plan in his 1950 book, “The Great Escape.” Later, director John Sturges would go on to make a classic 1963 film of the same name, drawing international attention to the remarkable story. The film featured popular stars such as Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, and James Garner. With their performances, they introduced a bigger public to the electric story. Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, one of the main organizers, planned this massive operation. He planned an elaborate escape plan that included the simultaneous digging of three tunnels – Tom, Dick, and Harry.
Bushell’s plan would free 200 white men held prisoner. The extraordinary planning for this elaborate operation started even before they constructed Stalag Luft III. Inmates at the Southampton jail were very keen to volunteer for its construction. The escapees faced numerous obstacles. They had to fake thousands of pieces of documentation, produce false records, and whip up homemade military garb.
"We made a printing press, for one thing, and each letter had to be hand-carved out of rubber which we got from the cobbler – rubber heels – or bits of wood cut with razor blades," said Kenyon, highlighting the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the forgers.
Despite these efforts that would make Hercules himself envious, only 76 men were able to find freedom through this tunnel dubbed Harry. Sadly, the breakout was soon cut short when German guards found Tom, another of the tunnels, just before it was finished.
"Something like 7 or 8,000 pieces of paper were produced," added Kenyon, emphasizing the scale of the forgery operation.
This escape did not go according to plan. Hitler, upset by the mass escape, responded by ordering all recaptured prisoners to be executed on sight. Eventually, he settled on 50 of them to carry out. This cruel act of violence filled the people of the United Kingdom with horror and anger.
"His Majesty's Government must, therefore, record their solemn protest against these cold-blooded acts of butchery. They will never cease in their efforts to collect the evidence to identify all those responsible. They are firmly resolved that these foul criminals shall be tracked down to the last man wherever they may take refuge. When the war is over they will be brought to exemplary justice," declared Anthony Eden in a parliamentary speech condemning the executions.
Among those who were fortunate enough to escape the gallows were the examples of Jimmy James and Sydney Dowse. Two of the escapees found their way to Sweden, one to Spain.
"You rather wonder why the hell you yourself weren't shot. That's what Jimmy and I felt, anyway. Why we weren't shot. It was just luck. And… pretty terrible," reflected Sydney Dowse on surviving the ordeal.
The gripping facts behind the true story told in The Great Escape live on in impressive fashion. While the 1963 film adaptation captured the excitement and tension of the escape, some aspects of the prisoners' experiences were inevitably left out.
"It was good entertainment, but it certainly didn't express the real horror of being a prisoner of war, the horror being, of course, in one's personal feelings about being behind barbed wire – the boredom, the hunger. The hunger was pretty grim," noted Ley Kenyon.
Yet, contrary to all logic, the film remains an iconic touchstone. It’s a gripping and powerful story of courage and determination against all odds.
"Even after all these years, I've always thought what a remarkable film it was," remarked Charles Clarke.
The enduring legacy of The Great Escape is proof of the remarkable determination of its survivors. It underscores their incredible creative genius in working around the odds. Their story, and their legacy, continues to inspire new generations. It serves as a powerful tribute to the indomitable spirit of all who fought for freedom throughout one of history’s darkest hours.
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