The London Cage - Lt. Col. A.P. Scotland O.B.E. - Part 3

The London Cage - Lt. Col. A.P. Scotland O.B.E.

2017 Reading Challenge - Day 173

June 22, 2017 

Book 50 - The London Cage
Lt. Col. A.P. Scotland O.B.E.
 Part 3 - p. 107-160
Reading Time - 1 hour

In this section, we learn a lot about the Stalag Luft III escape attempt. Stalag Luft III was a POW camp for Allied airmen - mostly British, Canadian, Australian with a smattering from other Allied countries. The airmen constructed a tunnel out of the camp and about 80 men made it out before the Germans discovered the exit point. Over the next few weeks, most of the escapees were recaptured (except for two who eventually made their way back to England). Hitler and his deputies, in the aftermath of the escape had decided that an example needed to be made and ordered the killing of "at least half" of the escapees. As they were captured, the escapees were handed over to the Gestapo, driven down deserted roads and shot.

Scotland spends more time talking about the entire story than he does about how the information was extracted from German prisoners of war. His biggest regret seems to be that not everyone involved in the atrocity was captured and/or convicted. It is a sad story.