Human Game: The True Story of the 'Great Escape' Murders and the Hunt for the Gestapo Gunmen (38 page)

PREAMBLE: THE GREAT ESCAPE

1
Stalag Luft III location and security details. Gill, pgs. 53, 54; Brickhill, pg. 27; Carroll, pgs. 59–60, 61.

1
Different colored soils and the need for a long tunnel. Gill, pg. 54; Carroll, pg. 60.

1
Size and construction of barracks and their distance from the fence. Carroll, pgs. 60, 61.

2
Barracks built on stilts and concrete pilings. Carroll, pg. 61.

2
Germans sink subterranean microphones. Air 40/2486/031.

2
Canine units and weather conditions. Carroll, pgs. 60, 62.

2
“main camps.” Carroll, pg. 59.

2
Roger Bushell arrives at Stalag Luft III. Brickhill, pg. 19.

2
Bushell shot down and captured. Brickhill, pgs. 3–4; Gill, pg. 14; Vance, pg. 12.

3
Bushell’s biographic details from birth to being shot down. Gill, pgs. 11–14.

3
Bushell’s escape from the train, being betrayed in Prague. Brickhill, pgs. 8–9; Gill, pgs. 10, 44.

4
Bushell assumes command of X-Organization, takes advantage of seasoned escapers. Brickhill, pg. 20; Gill, pg. 75.

4
Locations of the tunnels. Gill, pgs. 106–107.

4
–
5
Concealing the tunnels. Gill, pgs. 111–112, 114; Brickhill, pgs. 34–36.

5
“a standard pastime at Stalag Luft III.” Air 40/2487/009.

5
The role of the “duty pilots.” Gill, pgs. 108, 137–138.

5
The process of digging a tunnel. Brickhill, pg. 79.

5
–
6
Conditions in the tunnel. Brickhill, pgs. 79, 80.

6
“Digging was the worst…” Brickhill, pg. 80.

6
Fanshawe and his “trouser bags.” Brickhill, pg. 41; Gill, pg. 125.

6
Walenn and the work of “Dean and Dawson.” Carroll, pgs. 110–112; Gill, pgs. 59–60, 146–147.

7
“Made in Stalag Luft III.” Gill, pg. 150.

7
The work of Plunkett’s cartographic team. Gill, pg. 93.

7
“a bed-stead and mattress, knife, spoon…” Air 40/2286/034.

7
Inventory list of items used to build the tunnels. Air 40/2286/034.

7
Lighting the tunnels. Gill, pg. 120; Pumping fresh air into the tunnels. Brickhill, pgs. 50–51.

8
“While bombed-out German civilians had to do their utmost…” Air 40/2286/034-035.

8
“heavy earth vibrations.” Air 40/2286/031.

8
Laborers working the coal stores are responsible for microphone noise. Air 40/2286/031.

8
–
9
Discovery and destruction of Tom. Gill, pgs. 140–141, 144; Carroll, pgs. 138–139.

9
Building Harry. Andrews, pg. 46; Gill, pgs. 122–123, 155, 158, 166.

9
The date set for the escape. Burgess, pg. 123.

9
–
10
Lottery to go through the tunnel, and final preparations. Andrews, pgs. 53–54; Gill, pg. 163; Burgess, pg. 124.

10
Rate of men through the tunnel. Carroll, pg. 211; Escape’s slow process and various mishaps. Andrews, pg. 54; Gill, pgs. 179–180, 184, 185.

10
Outside temperature sinks to thirty below zero. Carroll, pg. 211.

10
Prisoners 101 to 200 are ordered back to their bunks. Burgess, pg. 135.

10
Only fifty men have so far managed to get away. Carroll, pg. 212.

11
The first men out of the tunnel. Burgess, pgs. 129–130.

11
Guard discovers tunnel exit. Gill, pg. 187.

11
Chaos following the tunnel’s discovery, prisoners are rounded up outside. Gill, pgs. 188–190; Brickhill, pgs. 199–200.

11
Prisoners spend nearly three hours standing outside; seventy-six men escaped. Brickhill, pg. 200.

PROLOGUE: SUNDAY, MARCH 26

13
Hitler calls a meeting with Göring, Himmler, and Keitel. Air 40/2487/011.

13
Göring and Keitel clash over prisoner responsibility. IMT, pg. 2; Westhoff statement. Air 40/2487/131.

14
Breslau Kripo initiate national hue and cry. Law Reports of Trials of War Criminals: Selected and Prepared by the United Nations War
Crimes Commission (referenced from here on as UNWCC), pg. 35; Men being siphoned off to search for escapees. Westhoff statement. Air 40/2487/131.

14
“It is incredible…” Carroll, pg. 243.

15
“irrespective of whether it is an escape…”
Stufe Römisch III
order. Air 40/2487/045.

15
“The persons recaptured are to be reported…”
Stufe Römisch III
order. Air 40/2487/045.

15
Responses to Red Cross, case-by-case handling for American and British prisoners.
Stufe Römisch III
order. Air 40/2487/045.

15
Details of
Aktion Kugel.
The Operation
Kugel
Order. Air 40/2487/049; Mathausen affidavit. Air 40/2487/050.

15
“more than half the escapees.” UNWCC, pg. 33.

15
Himmler proposes that fifty escapees be shot. UNWCC, pg. 39; Andrews, pg. 57.

16
“The frequent mass escapes of officer prisoners…” UNWCC, pg. 33.

16
Kripo
charged with handing prisoners over to the Gestapo. UNWCC, pgs. 33–35.

16
Wielen summoned to Nebe’s office in Berlin. Wielen statements. Air 40/2488/014 and Air 40/2487/150.

16
Nebe’s office and red leather furniture. Wielen statement. Air 40/2488/016-017.

17
“You look tired…” based on paraphrased conversation in Wielen statement. Air 40/2487/150.

17
“was very angry.” Wielen statement. Air 40/2487/150.

17
Wielen declines to accept responsibility. Wielen statement. Air 40/2487/150.

17
“looked extremely tired…” Wielen statement. Air 40/2487/150.

17
Breslau
Kripo
ordered to hand prisoners to Breslau Gestapo. Wielen statement. Air 40/2488/014-015.

17
Wielen arranges meeting with Scharpwinkel. Wielen statement. Air 40/2487/151.

17
“I shall do this personally.” Wielen statement. Air 40/2487/151.

17
Thirty-five escapees imprisoned at Gorlitz. Air 40/2487/022.

17
–
18
Details of recaptured escapees arrive in Nebe’s Berlin office. Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
“You have heard about the Führer Order…” Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
Nebe starts sorting through the index cards. Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
“He is so young…” Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
“He is for it.” Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
Nebe swaps one card for another and hands stack to Merten. Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
“Now quickly, the list!” Merten statement. Air 40/2487/076.

18
Merten misstates the location of prisoners. Merten statement. Air 40/2487/077.

CHAPTER 1: “THOSE ARE MY ORDERS”

19
“I have to acquaint you with a top secret matter.” UNWCC, pg. 43.

19
“It is an order from the Führer…” UNWCC, pg. 43.

19
–
20
Post’s biographical details. Air 40/2287/036; Air 40/2279/007-008.

20
Details and planning of operation under Post’s command. Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/026.

20
“Anyone not complying…” Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/026.

21
Catanach and Christensen catch 3:15 to Berlin. Gill, pg. 186.

21
Route the men traveled following the escape. Andrews, pg. 72; Information pertaining to their arrest. Linke statement. Air 40/2279/008-009.

21
Four airmen interrogated and placed in police prison; Berlin notified of capture. Linke statement. Air 40/2279/008.

22
Type of cars driven. Struve statement. Air 40/2279/022.

22
Gestapo agents have lunch in Flensburg, drive to prison. Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/026.

22
Handcuffed prisoners escorted out to waiting cars and driven away in convoy. Kaehler statement. Air 40/2279/014.

22
Post points out Kiel landmarks. Andrews, pg. 230.

22
–
23
Exchange between Post and Catanach is taken from Post’s testimony at trial. Quoted in Andrews, pg. 230.

23
Post anxious to make theater performance, drops tickets off at mistress’s apartment. Kaehler statement. Air 40/2279/014.

23
Route driven to killing field; change in Post’s demeanor. Kaehler statement. Air 40/2279/014.

23
Post marches Catanach into field, shoots airman. Kaehler statement. Air 40/2279/014.

24
Oskar Schmidt tells airmen to get out and relieve themselves. Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/027.

24
Prisoners react upon finding Catanach’s body in the grass. Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/027.

24
“Shoot them!” Kaehler statement. Air 40/2279/015.

24
Airman survives initial shooting. Jacobs statement. Air 40/2279/020; Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/027.

24
“He is still alive…” Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/027.

24
Post and Kaehler leave the scene of the crime. Oskar Schmidt statement. Air 40/2279/027.

24
“He was not mine…” Jacobs statement. Air 40/2279/021.

24
“And so did mine.” Jacobs statement. Air 40/2279/021.

25
Post arrives at undertaker’s. Kaehler statement. Air 40/2279/015.

25
Leather coat and long boots. Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
“I need you to collect some prisoners…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
“What prisoners are they?” Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
“French. Shot whilst trying to escape.” Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
Tischendorf asks Kaehler about the prisoners. Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
“They’re British airmen.” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
“Are they the same seventy-six airmen…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
“I shall have a car ready to leave…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

25
Details of the drive back to the meadow. Boll statement. Air 40/2279/037; Salau statement. Air 40/2279/038.

26
Boll sees three men standing in field. Boll statement. Air 40/2279/037.

26
Bodies stacked two to a coffin. Salau statement. Air 40/2279/038.

26
Two corpses had bullet wounds to the head. Boll statement. Air 40/2279/037.

26
“If the Russians get here…” Salau statement. Air 40/2279/038.

26
Gestapo arrives at the crematorium with bodies to destroy. Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

26
“Here are four corpses to be cremated.” Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

26
“Do you have the necessary documents?” Based on paraphrased conversation in Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

26
“Berlin has ordered it.” Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

26
“You will not make any entries.” Based on paraphrased conversation in Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

26
Bodies to be registered only with Roman numerals I-IV. Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

27
“The corpses are those of prisoners…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

27
Schafer notes the victims’ clothing. Schafer statement. Air 40/2279/041.

27
Jacobs takes possession of the urns. Jacobs statement. Air 40/2279/020-021.

27
“Everything in order?” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

27
“Yes.” Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

27
“What kind of bodies were they?” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

27
“They were all shot from the back.” Based on paraphrased conversation in Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

27
Nothing more is said about the incident. Tischendorf statement. Air 40/2279/039.

27
“harass, confuse, and confound the enemy.” Carroll, pg. 2.

27
Massey biographical details. Carroll, pg. 73; Gill, pg. 96; Brickhill, pg. 23.

28
Fate and whereabouts of those still on the run a mystery. Carroll, pg. 255; Brickhill, pg. 223.

28
Pieber tells Massey the
kommandant
has “terrible” news. Brickhill, pg. 224; Gill, pg. 221.

28
The camp’s rumor mill; Massey escorted to Braune’s office. Brickhill, pg. 224.

29
The exchange between Massey and Braune is quoted in Brickhill (pgs. 224–226), Gill (pgs. 221–223), and Carroll (pgs. 225–256). The dialogue differs only slightly in each account. I have quoted the conversation reported by Brickhill, as he was an inmate in Stalag Luft III at the time of the escape.

30
“Please do not think the Luftwaffe…” Brickhill, pg. 227.

30
Massey calls a camp meeting. Brickhill, pg. 227; Gill, pg. 223; Numbers tallied. Andrews, pg. 59.

30
Massey’s repatriation. Gill, pgs. 224–225.

30
List of dead is posted; Swiss Protecting Power visits the camp. Air 40/2488/036.

31
Breakdown of victims’ nationalities. Air 40/2488/003.

31
“a full and immediate report.” Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons. May 19, 1945, vol. 400. Columns 437–439.

31
Number of victims climbs to fifty, ashes arrive at camp. Air 40/2488/036.

31
“No orders have at any time been given…” Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons. June 23, 1945, vol. 401. Columns 477–482.