Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle

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During 1864, a new hospital building was erected in the Gothic Revival style, on the ground where the stables and working quarters had been previously located.

For four years, these prisoners of the castle tested its walls and its guards with ingenious escape attempts that would become legend.Commendably, Macintyre has attempted to answer these questions, whilst at the same time presenting a readable and entertaining book.

An amazing recount by BM of the heroics and deprivations of the famed prisoners of castle Colditz in wartime Germany. Here Ben MacIntyre reveals the real story of Colditz - one not only of bravery, ingenuity and resilience, but also of snobbery, racism, homosexuality, bullying, treachery, insanity and farce.Several of his books have been made into films and television series, including Operation Mincemeat, A Spy Among Friends and SAS: Rogue Heroes. The average life expectancy in that camp in ‘normal’ times was three-and-a-half months from arrival. The main parts of the book (and the best parts) are about the many escapes that took place - a few of which were successful. The book debunks some of the myths that have grown up around Colditz as a prisoner of War camp and, in particular, the "stiff upper lipped Englishmen" within. So I was surprised to find that Macintyre’s latest book was about prisoners of war in the high-security officers’ prison in Colditz Castle.

Brian Bollen has suggested we carry this review of the latest book about the infamous Colditz Castle, of which he received a publisher’s copy just after having sent the DHO Journal 2022 to the printer in mid-October. The castle is between the towns of Hartha and Grimma on a hill spur over the river Zwickauer Mulde, a tributary of the River Elbe.The independent-minded quarterly magazine that combines good looks, good writing and a personal approach.