The Diggers of Colditz
The classic Australian POW story about escape from the inescapable
1st Edition
Published on 17. June 2019
320 pages
978-1-76085-215-3 (ISBN)
Description
Colditz Castle was Nazi Germany's infamous 'escape-proof' wartime prison, where hundreds of the most determined and resourceful Allied prisoners were sent. Despite having more guards than inmates, Australian Lieutenant Jack Champ and other prisoners tirelessly carried out their campaign to escape from the massive floodlit stronghold, by any means necessary.
In this riveting account - by turns humorous, heartfelt and tragic - historian Colin Burgess and Lieutenant Jack Champ, from the point of view of the prisoners themselves, tell the story of the twenty Australians who made this castle their 'home', and the plans they made that were so crazy that some even achieved the seemingly impossible - escape!
'A stirring testimony of mateship . . . We are often on tenterhooks, always impressed by their determination, industry and courage' Australian Book Review
In this riveting account - by turns humorous, heartfelt and tragic - historian Colin Burgess and Lieutenant Jack Champ, from the point of view of the prisoners themselves, tell the story of the twenty Australians who made this castle their 'home', and the plans they made that were so crazy that some even achieved the seemingly impossible - escape!
'A stirring testimony of mateship . . . We are often on tenterhooks, always impressed by their determination, industry and courage' Australian Book Review
More details
Persons
Colin Burgess was born in suburban Sydney in 1947. To date, he has written or co-authored nearly forty books, covering the Australian prisoner-of-war experience, aviation, and human space exploration. Colin still lives near Sydney with his wife Pat. They have two adult sons and three grandchildren.
Content
- Intro
- Dedication
- Australians in Colditz
- Foreword to the 1997 Edition
- Introduction
- 1. Out of the Frying Pan
- 2. Warburg: Planning the Wire Job
- 3. First Escape
- 4. Eichstätt: The Second Escape
- 5. Colditz
- 6. Some Intrepid Internationals
- 7. The Old Boys
- 8. Home Run
- 9. Austrian Escapade
- 10. Burning the Candle
- 11. The Colditz Glider
- 12. Beginning of the End
- Epilogue
- Photographs
- About the Authors
- Index
- Copyright
