Escape Across the Baltic – A Tale of Courage and Survival

For years of exploring prisoner-of-war (POW) stories, we have encountered many guests whose relatives decided to escape from captivity. Although the entire plan, transfer, and security were massive operations, from a purely human perspective, I was always curious about the exact moment when the escapees boarded the ship.

I came across a fairly detailed description of a transfer POW from Stalag XXA to Sweden. The operation was meticulously planned and required cooperation between members of the underground, port staff, and the ship's crew. It is easy to write about it now, but at that time, even the smallest mistake could cost these people—and their families—their lives.

The first step was to enter the port area—according to sources, the kitchen served as the entry point. Next, it was necessary to change into work clothes, apply a "coal makeup," and blend in with the workers. The most stressful moment was boarding the ship. The vessels were heavily guarded, so it was crucial to take advantage of any distraction among the guards. At this point, the ship’s crew proved invaluable—sailors offering cigarettes, alcohol, or even starting fights. These moments were used to quickly, yet calmly, board the ship and hide in a specially prepared compartment.

This hiding space was prepped in advance for a long and uncomfortable journey. The escapees were also supplied with food and drinks. The final stage involved remaining undiscovered during the ship’s inspection by patrols with dogs—hiding spots were sprayed with mothballs to throw off the scent. It was also necessary to wait until the ship actually set sail. Germans often ordered the engines to be started to simulate departure and flush out any stowaways onto the deck.

Stories like these are always thrilling, like scenes from a Hollywood movie. However, they also evoke a sobering reflection on personal risk, the fate of loved ones, and the responsibility for those being helped. At that time, such acts were so heroic that it’s almost hard to believe they really happened. Yet they did...

In the photo: an image of the s/s Ingeren one of many coal ships, which became a symbol of freedom. Foto from: https://skipshistorie.net/Bergen/BRG541JacobKjode/Tekster/BRG54119230200000%20INGEREN.htm

Comments

Thanks this trip we've discovered new facts about POW from Stalag XXA in 1945

That was wonderful trip. During three days we saw couple of places connected with POW path of Jack Stansfield. Moreover thanks his son Michael we saw notes with memories of last days in Stalag XXA in Torun. In opposit to all facts which says that prisoners left camp in late december 1945 Jack wrote that they started to march on 21 january! That means that lasts groups of POW left camp in 10 days before Torun was liberated. Fortunatley Jack survived afeter he escaped from march. He met russians army and polish partizants. Below we presents you short memories about Jack and trip to Poland... My father was called Jack Stansfield, he was born in August 1918. He was brought up in the market town of Malton in North Yorkshire where his parents were publicans. He joined the Territorial Army in March 1939 and was mobilised on the declaration of war. Jack enlisted in his local regiment joining the 5th Battalion of the Green Howards. After a short time at the Regimental HQ in Richmond, North...

Living conditions in Stalag XXA

Monthly bath in Stalag XXA Living conditions Lawrence Travers Dorins a former POW describes „fort XI was surrounded by a high bank and the fence around it with gates across the entrance road, on one side there was also a dry moat with a bridge on it. The bridge led to a tunnel” The fortress was covered with trees, bushes and earth so that the fortress could not be visible from the bird's eye. Prisoners slept in caponiers where initially were supposed to sleep Prussian soldiers. Yet PoW describes the rooms as if there were designed as rooms in the concentration camps. Rooms looked as semi tunnels. “The perpendicular walls were about 3m high and the height of the arched roof was about 5 m, wooden bunks provided sleeping spaces. Each room had only two small windows which obviously allowed no ventilation. Due to the end of the night the air was solid and everyone would have a headache due to oxygen starvation” .In those rooms kept approximately 32 men. There were three shelves whe...

Just few hours to understand life in Stalag XXA(20A) in Torun

"I will always be grateful to Pawel for helping me understand better what happened to my father when he was captured by the German army after the fighting at Dunkirk. Like many former British POWs, Dad was reluctant to tell his children very much about what he had endured during the war. We knew he spent most of the war in German POW camps, in particular one in Poland. From his army records we discovered that camp was Staleg XX-A. I contacted Pawel at very short notice recently when I was in traveling with my husband in Europe. Pawel was able to meet me in Torun to walk me through the history of Staleg XX-A and some of the forts of Torun. My father, John Wilkinson, was with the British Expeditionary Force, serving in the Light Tank Regiment of the 1st East Riding Yeomanry. We believe he fought at Cassel in France before being captured. It was extraordinary for me to walk with Pawel at Torun where the British POWs disembarked, knowing my father would hav...

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