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 cru...
This blog is dedicated to people who were imprisoned in Stalag XXA in Thorn in 1939-45. We would like to show you that in the shadows of the beautiful gothic city there is also forgotten history.