Williamsburg Regional Library

The big break, the greatest American WWII POW escape story never told, Stephen Dando-Collins

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages [231]-243) and index

contains biographical information

mapsplatesillustrations

index present

non fiction

The big break

bibliography

965617282

Stephen Dando-Collins

the greatest American WWII POW escape story never told

"Oflag 64, a World War II prisoner of war (POW) camp based in Schubin, Poland, was speculated to be one of the only POW camps set up exclusively for U.S. Army ground component officers. About 150 American officers lived in the camp in 1943, and by 1945, that number had expanded to 1,500. When the German commandant Colonel Fritz Schneider received orders to march all of his prisoners to west Germany to escape the Russians in January 1945, that number declined rapidly as the American officers put into place long-existing escape plans that would make history. In The Big Break, we follow famous POWs, such as General Eisenhower's personal aide, General Patton's son-in-law, and Ernest Hemingway's eldest son, as the first American escapes via a tunnel in a stinking latrine, with almost 250 US officers following closely behind in a mass break. Historian Stephen Dando-Collins chronicles the gripping story of irrepressible Americans determined to be free, brave Poles risking their lives to help them, and dogmatic Nazis determined to stop them"--, Provided by publisher

The first American to escape from Schubin -- On the loose -- The Yanks move in -- Under, over and through the wire -- Death sentences -- The Russians are coming -- The Big Break, day one -- Game on -- Meeting the Russkies -- Moscow or bust -- The first Schubin escapee home runs -- Kriegies on the run -- The Hammelburg Schubinites -- Patton wants them liberated -- Fighting through to Hammelburg -- The battle for the camp -- Busting out -- One helluva night -- Blood and fire on the Reussenberg -- Freedom so close -- Liberation -- Welcome home, Kriegie

adult