Colditz - Under New Management by Nicholas Trudgian

Colditz - a forbidding medieval castle near Leipzig, Germany - remains one of the most potent symbols of the Second World War. Reputed to be the Nazis most escape proof prison this grim castle is the most notorious PoW camp in history with the distinction of being the only German prison that had more guards than prisoners.

The castle was specifically used to impound incorrigible Allied officers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps but putting so many experienced serial escapers in one place proved to be a rather questionable idea. Despite more conventional escape routes gradually being sealed off by the Germans, members of 'The Colditz Escape Academy" continued to jump, tunnel and sneak out of this "inescapable" prison in surprising numbers.

Early in the war Hermann Goering made a public declaration that Colditz was "escape proof" but he was to be proven wrong time and time again, and over 300 attempts were made during the course of the war, with more than 130 prisoners escaping and 31 successfully reaching home. When captured, the result was three weeks in the solitary confinement block, however this didn't stop prisoners inventing more elaborate means of escaping, even catapulting themselves out of high windows, and of course the famous design and building of a sophisticated glider.

This new edition, reproduced from a pencil drawing by Nicolas Trudgian. depicts the imposing castle shortly after being liberated by American troops in April 1945. In the foreground below a Sherman Tank of the 9th Armored Division stands on watch, close to the sign that was erected by the US 69th Infantry Division.

With the edition personally signed by veterans that were inmates of Colditz during WWII. this extraordinary release represents an illustration of human resilience and ingenuity, and is likely to be highly sought after by collectors and historians alike.

THE SIGNATURES

Major Peter Parker

Joining the Kings Royal Rifles in 1939 he was captured in Calais when it fell to Guderians Panzers and sent to Eichstadt from where he escaped. After further attempts he was sent to Colditz in 1943 until the end of the war having spent almost five years as a PoW.

The Colditz Proofs

To Find out more about the Colditz Proofs