#ForgottenPeople Lt-Col Edwin Darling was confident he ran the most secure POW camp in Britain.
Camp 198 in South Wales was surrounded by high-wire fences and searchlights and guarded by dogs.
There was good reason for the security... 1/4
Camp 198 in South Wales was surrounded by high-wire fences and searchlights and guarded by dogs.
There was good reason for the security... 1/4
By 1945 the camp housed 2,000 German POWs, including elite SS commanders and two field marshals, Gerd von Rundstedt & Erich von Manstein.
Darling knew that any successful escape would be a propaganda disaster. 2/4
Darling knew that any successful escape would be a propaganda disaster. 2/4
He was unaware that the POWs had constructed a 70-foot tunnel – superb German engineering, complete with electric lighting and ventilation.
On 10 March, 84 Germans escaped - the greatest break-out of the war (greater, even, than the Allied escape from Stalag Luft III). 3/4
On 10 March, 84 Germans escaped - the greatest break-out of the war (greater, even, than the Allied escape from Stalag Luft III). 3/4
Most Germans were recaptured, but three got away - to Edwin Darling’s eternal regret.
The government was so embarrassed that it hushed up the escape. To this day, few people know about the greatest escape of WW2. 4/4
The government was so embarrassed that it hushed up the escape. To this day, few people know about the greatest escape of WW2. 4/4
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