- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New edition edition (8 Feb 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0304358126
- ISBN-13: 978-0304358120
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
181,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #49 in Books > History > Military History > Prisoners of War
- #79 in Books > History > World History > World War II 1939-1945 > Prisoners of War
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Product Description
Book Description
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Product Description
Colditz was the last stop for prisoners of war in the Second World War. It was to this impregnable fortress that the Germans sent all those prisoners who persisted in escaping from other camps, such as Stalag Luft III (of THE GREAT ESCAPE FAME). Once within the walls of Colditz, the Germans reasoned, escape was impossible. And yet during the four-year period when the castle was used as a prison over 300 men escaped, 31 of whom managed to complete the hazardous journey home through Germany. Prisoners from 10 different countries formed a truly international escape academy. Skeleton keys were made, German passes forged, maps drafted, and all manner of tools and machinery constructed out of whatever the prisoners had to hand. The ingenuity of the escape artists knew no bounds: the tried everything from tunnelling, to hiding in rubbish sacks, disguising themselves as German officers, and leaping acrobatically from the castle walls.
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First Sentence
IT was June 5th, 1940. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
IT was June 5th, 1940. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book on my father's bookshelf, the edition he has was published in 1972 and he had read and enjoyed it at this time, so I decided to see what it was all about. From the very beginning I was gripped by the amusing anecdotes and amazing escape attempts and several times I had to remind myself that these events had actually occurred in a real place to real people.
The ability of a prisoner at this time to recall and record all these happenings was a source of wonder to me and I would recommend this book to any reader of any age.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Major Pat Reid was a prisoner of war sent to Colditz because he had attempted so many escapes and this was the escape proof castle.
However, soon the allied P.O.W's soon planned and made many escape attempts, some successful, some not. This is their story, told from one of the prisoners who was put in charge of processing the escape suggestions and eventually escaping himself.
Stirring stuff that could be straight out of boys own. This is the first of two books, the second being "latter days at colditz" which tells the story after Pat Reid escaped but told by the same author.
Well written and one of those books that are hard to put down. If you like war stories this one is for you.
However, soon the allied P.O.W's soon planned and made many escape attempts, some successful, some not. This is their story, told from one of the prisoners who was put in charge of processing the escape suggestions and eventually escaping himself.
Stirring stuff that could be straight out of boys own. This is the first of two books, the second being "latter days at colditz" which tells the story after Pat Reid escaped but told by the same author.
Well written and one of those books that are hard to put down. If you like war stories this one is for you.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An absoultely brilliant read!The tales of heroism , ingenuity and in some cases a mix of luck and crazyness makes this book a must read for all those interested in the activity of Allied POWs during World War II.I have just about finished the first book culminating in the authors departure and have just purchased the sequel which I hope will be equally as good.If you enjoyed "The Great Escape" by Paul Brickhill or similary enjoyed this book or indeed either of the films you will love the little anecdotes and facts this book contains.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
a period piece
There are no surprises here, just a good story that goes together with a pipe and slippers. When this was written it was still ok to call Germans "Jerries" and German guards... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Neil Carmichael
The University of Escape
If you ask anyone in Britain to name a German prisoner-of-war camp from World War II, the answer (unless it is "don't know") will almost certainly be Colditz; few, if any, other... Read more
Published 11 months ago by J C E Hitchcock
Insightful and a different perspective on the war
This book was captivating from the very beginning. The story of some of the POW's from the second world war gives a different perspective into the war from some of the experiences... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2009 by Miss C. Valcin
The Colditz Classic
Pat Reid's book is the classic true story of life as a prisoner of war at Colditz Castle during World War 2, with intriguing details of escape efforts from the mighty... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by A. Byrne
The Classic Colditz Book
The first of Reid's 3 books on Colditz this timeless classic covers his period in Laufen and then Colditz and ends following his own successful escape from Colditz. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2008 by Gavin Worrell
The greatest P.O.W book
A true classic, "THE COLDITZ STORY" is a must have for all World War Two fanatics!!!
The Colditz story talks about the escape adventures of Pat Reid (the author) and a number of... Read more
Published on 29 July 2005 by Tom F
Fascinating, easy to read, exciting, addictive !
A very good book - easy to read, stories written in depth, covering the time P.R.Reid spent at Colditz and the many attempts to escape by him and others. Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2005 by "gmaniacuk"
My son finds this book as gripping as I did 20 years ago
I read this book years ago and was enthralled then. The fact that the escapes within it's pages actually happened makes it gripping. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2001
A classic escape story
This book is one of the best escape stories I have read for a long time. P.R.Reid tells the story of his life within the German fortress castle during the second world war, and the... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2001
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