The Colditz Story by P.R. Reid
Book of the Week: 17 May 2015

This week’s book is a true story but as exciting and tense as any work of fiction.
During World War II, Colditz Castle was a notorious prison for Allied prisoners of war. The Germans used it for those who had already escaped from other prisoner-of-war camps because they believed it to be escape-proof. They were to be proved wrong. The Colditz Story was written ten years after the War by Pat Reid, who persistently worked to plan and execute attempted escapes by others. He describes these in a detailed, clear and no-nonsense style which, rather than downplaying events, makes the reader even more astonished at the inventiveness and resilience of those involved. Prisoners hid inside mattresses, climbed on rooftops and crawled thorough tunnels which they dug laboriously with inadequate tools. They created fake uniforms and paperwork and disrupted German authority at every turn. The Germans themselves were clever, disciplined and thorough and foiled many escape attempts but, to their fury and frustration, determined prisoners were regularly outwitting them.

One benefit of reading this book is that you will never be at a loss for a conversation with Mr Temple, whose ‘Mastermind’ subject this is. He is one of the few people who have actually broken in to Colditz Castle. Ask him about it.