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The Traitor of Colditz: The Definitive Untold Account of Colditz Castle: 'Truly revelatory' Damien Lewis Paperback – 16 Mar. 2023

by Robert Verkaik (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 642 ratings
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THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'A vastly entertaining tale, bursting with astonishing stories and extraordinary characters ... A fascinating read' Sunday Telegraph

'Brilliant ... An amazing story, one I hadn't heard too much about' Dan Snow

IT IS THE DEPTHS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

The Germans like to boast that there is 'no escape' from the infamous fortress that is Colditz.

The elite British officers imprisoned there are determined to prove the Nazis wrong and get back into the war.

As the war heats up and the stakes are raised, the Gestapo plant a double-agent inside the prison in a bid to uncover the secrets of the British prisoners. Captain Julius Green of the Army Dental Corps and Sergeant John 'Busty' Brown must risk their lives in a bid to save the lives of hundreds of Allied servicemen and protect the secrets of MI9.

Drawn from unseen records, The Traitor of Colditz brings to light an extraordinary, never-before-told story from the Second World War, an epic tale of how MI9 took on the Nazis and exposed the traitors in their midst.

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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Headline Welbeck Non-Fiction
  4. Publication date
    16 Mar. 2023
  5. Dimensions
    12.8 x 2.8 x 19.6 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1802795197
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1802795196
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From the Publisher

Traitor of Colditz
Damien Lewis

Dr Helen Fry

Traitor of Colditz

Dan Snow

Traitor of Colditz
The Traitor of Arnhem
The Traitor of Colditz
Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars 153
4.5 out of 5 stars 642
Price £14.79 £9.94
What you'll find inside The never-before-told true story of a spy whose betrayal changed the face of the 20th Century. The untold story of Britain's bravest double agent, and how the MI9 exposed the traitors in their midst.

Product description

Review

'A rump of die-hard British fascists intent on horrific treachery, a hunt that echoes down the dark and sinister halls of Colditz Castle, secret and ingenious codes to fox the enemy, unbelievably courageous and ingenious escapes executed by Allied POWs who would not be denied, MI9's masterful body lines that spirited escapees back to Britain to continue the fight – this book has it all ... An intensively researched work, this is a period of WWII history that Robert Verkaik brings to life with real verve and flair' -- Damien Lewis, author of SAS Band of Brothers

'A masterly book... An incredible piece of research that has uncovered an unknown story of betrayal, double agents against a sense of honour and need for justice by those British POWs who were betrayed. It's a real page-turner' -- Dr Helen Fry, author and leading expert on MI9

'Verkaik has managed to add considerably to the history of Purdy, the traitor at Colditz... An excellent book' -- William Neave, son of Airey Neave, the first British officer to escape from Colditz

'A vastly entertaining tale, bursting with astonishing stories and extraordinary characters. Much of it will be new, even to fans of the Second World War espionage genre ... Verkaik has done a great job mining the secret service files in the National Archives and unearthing narrative gold ... The truth about the traitors may be that there is no great enigma to be unravelled. But in Verkaik's hands the story of their treachery makes for a fascinating read' -- Patrick Bishop, Sunday Telegraph

'Riveting story' ― Mail on Sunday

'A gripping tale of wartime espionage and counterespionage' ― History of War Magazine

'A brilliant book about Walter Purdy, one of the worst Nazi sympathisers who passed on information about British escape plans, including in Colditz Castle ... Us Brits don't like talking about traitors during the Second World War so Purdy doesn't fit the narrative. Purdy is an uncomfortable reality' ― Dan Snow's History Hit podcast

'A welcome addition to the Colditz historiography ... This book will have you hanging on every word' ― Key Military

Book Description

Drawing on unseen National Archives records, this book reveals the betrayal, espionage, and backstabbing within the ranks of the officers imprisoned in Colditz during WW2. How these men, surrounded by enemies, couldn't even afford to trust each other. And how the Traitor of Colditz almost led them to their deaths.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Headline Welbeck Non-Fiction
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 16 Mar. 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1802795197
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1802795196
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.8 x 2.8 x 19.6 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 52,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 642 ratings

About the author

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Robert Verkaik

Robert Verkaik

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ROBERT VERKAIK is the former home affairs editor of the Independent and the former security editor of the Mail on Sunday. He now writes for the Guardian, Independent, i, Tortoise, Observer, Times, Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Times. His books include: The Traitor of Arnhem (2024); The Traitor of Colditz (2022); Why You Won't Get Rich, how capitalism broke its contract with hard work (2021); Defiant: The Untold Story of the Battle of Britain (2020); Jihadi John: The Making of a Terrorist (2016) and Posh Boys: How English Public Schools Ruin Britain (2018) His reporting has been long-listed for both the Orwell Prize and the Paul Foot Awards. He was a runner-up in the specialist journalist category at the 2013 National Press Awards.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
642 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and engaging, with one mentioning it keeps interest throughout. Moreover, the research quality receives positive feedback, with customers noting it's well-researched and contains a lot of information. Additionally, the story quality is praised for its extraordinary courage, and one customer describes it as a superb story of wartime espionage.

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ReadabilityResearch qualityStory qualityWriting styleStorytelling
24 customers mention ‘Readability’23 positive1 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning it keeps the interest all the way through, and another noting it's ideal for reading by the pool.

"Good read" Read more

"This book is amazing. Lots of information and details. Excellent read" Read more

"This is a great read, detailing the steps MI5 took to brief servicemen going to war in order that - if captured - they could send secret information..." Read more

"...about the men who caught him than the traitor himself, this is a fascinating and exciting story, even for those who've already read a lot about..." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Research quality’13 positive2 negative

Customers praise the book's research quality, noting it is well-researched and contains a lot of information, with one customer highlighting its factual account of actual events.

"Well researched and written. An excellent and gripping read about a little-known subject. Very much looking forward to his next book." Read more

"...has not been told before about the traitors of Colditz and is very well researched and keeps the interest all the way through ...." Read more

"What appears to me to be a well-researched account that is important to restore the balance...." Read more

"...The book was well researched and beautifully written." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Story quality’13 positive2 negative

Customers find the book's story fascinating, particularly praising its tales of extraordinary courage and wartime heroics, with one customer noting it as a superb account of wartime espionage.

"...who caught him than the traitor himself, this is a fascinating and exciting story, even for those who've already read a lot about Colditz...." Read more

"Great Story A must to all readers" Read more

"An excellent text, well told, well written. True story and with 'cliff hanger' ending! One question, why were the photographs included twice!" Read more

"Though I haven't yet finished the book, it's a very interesting narrative." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Writing style’5 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book.

"Brilliantly written book on a subject something people find uncomfortable, the idea that a British officer could willingly aide the enemy and betray..." Read more

"...The book was well researched and beautifully written." Read more

"An excellent text, well told, well written. True story and with 'cliff hanger' ending! One question, why were the photographs included twice!" Read more

"Well researched and written. An excellent and gripping read about a little-known subject. Very much looking forward to his next book." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Storytelling’3 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling of the book, with one noting its clear detail and well-structured presentation.

"An excellent text, well told, well written. True story and with 'cliff hanger' ending! One question, why were the photographs included twice!" Read more

"...Very detailed but well presented." Read more

"...Prisoner is infinitely fascinating, for this reader, it wasn't especially well told...." Read more

"Great read. Detail is clear but easy to grasp. Reads like a spy novel not a reality. Well done. Made me want to find out more." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Lady Dido
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent research
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is essentially a very well-researched history book.

    Anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes machinations of both sides in the second world war will find it fascinating and informative. Don't expect a thriller. Although there are adventures, this is fundamentally a factual account of actual events rather than a semi-fictional page-turner.

    There is a lot of information in this book and it takes concentration to keep up with all the players. The title suggests that it is all about Colditz, but actually the majority of the book is set in other locations and prison camps.

    The story is set in the dying months of the war. It is very interesting to discover what a dangerous time this was for those held captive by the Nazis. Quite a few leading Nazis feared for their own lives and had nothing to lose as the end approached and the recriminations begin. The more influential prisoners were held as bargaining chips and the others were never sure from whom betrayal might come. This book really showed how impossible it was – and still is – to discern traitors.

    This is a tour de force by a very determined and tireless researcher. Excellent.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Non Sequitur
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Story, Unfascinatingly Told
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2022
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    It's interesting how, as time moves further away from the period portrayed, an author/historian is able to drill down deeply into specific subjects, whereas previously, closer to the date, secrets were not so forthcoming. The declassification of military records and ready access to them at the National Archive in Kew have changed the face of the researching and the recording of history. Thus is the case with Traitor in Colditz.

    While the story of Walter Purdy's twisty odyssey from Mosely Blackshirt to condemned Prisoner is infinitely fascinating, for this reader, it wasn't especially well told.The tone is less Guardian/Independent and more Mail on Sunday/Daily Express. The authorial voice suggests a particular desired moral response from the reader, rather than letting her make her own mind up about things. Mixed in with this is a subtle disdain for the regard in which ex-Colditz PoWs are held. I've seen this phenomenon before in other PoW histories, notably The Barbed Wire University. But whereas that work was characterised by a wry wit, this one is rather earnest in its efforts to be taken seriously. I was gripped by the story, but I didn't feel engaged by the author's telling of it.

    And sadly, the Content Error facility on my Kindle App got a lot of use, especially in the picture section regarding the Colditz group picture. Some of the identification was eccentric. I was also curious as to why a picture of the fateful Attic was included, but a photo of the location of the tunnel entrance was not, especially as the writer visited both. I would also have liked to have seen a picture of the document in which Willie Tod's written evidence appears to have been altered, as this is an important element in the conclusion.

    All in all, despite my criticisms, I'm glad this work is out there and I acknowledge the depth and reach of the writer's research. This book is a worthy addition to any Colditz oriented library.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Matthew Cartney
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb story of wartime espionage
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    More about the men who caught him than the traitor himself, this is a fascinating and exciting story, even for those who've already read a lot about Colditz. A whole host of stories of extraordinary courage come to light in these pages. One of the best stories of wartime heroics I've read in a long time.
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  • Denise Meredith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping tale of bravery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Loved the book. It was fascinating to hear of our unsung heroes who spied and distrupted the Nazi war machine, as well as the evil ones like Lord Haw Haw amongst others.
    The book was well researched and beautifully written.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Norman
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting account of Colditz prison
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This account has not been told before about the traitors of Colditz and is very well researched and keeps the interest all the way through . Delves into discrimination and class elitism that was practiced by the officers incarcerated in the Colditz prison . A few officers were willing to collaborate and spy for the Germans against the Allied cause in return for various favours thinking that Germany would win the war . Some backed the loser and paid the ultimate price . I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it .
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mrs C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    What appears to me to be a well-researched account that is important to restore the balance.
    The stories of the officers who risked everything are a wonderful example, but it is important to realise that there were also 'other ranks' who risked more and also men who followed the other path, siding with our country's enemies at a time of war.
    I am grateful to Mr Verkaik for providing such an important record.
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  • Colette Hunter
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Not my usual style of book, but it was very interesting full of facts and that were clearly well researched. A good read if you don’t want a story told around the actual events
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  • Padraig Mc
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story from a legendary POW camp
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Brilliantly written book on a subject something people find uncomfortable, the idea that a British officer could willingly aide the enemy and betray his comrades.

    Can definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in WW2, military history or the rise of the far right in the 1930s.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mary
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical story
    Reviewed in the United States on 29 September 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Good story about what a war can do to people and that the good always win. Was glad I read this
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  • J. Murray
    5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT
    Reviewed in the United States on 11 March 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    One of the best WW2 books I have read in a while and I read a lot. The best book since Spearhead a few years ago
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  • Cathy Barber
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and interesting
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 March 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Although the title suggests that only one traitor, Walter Purdy, will be covered, in fact several British traitors are included here, from their WWII actions through their trials and punishments.
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