Tim Carroll

Toda una generación recuerda a Steve McQueen en motocicleta tratando de saltar una alambrada para escapar de los nazis. Esa imagen era la más emblemática del filme de John Sturges La gran evasión (1963), sobre la huida masiva de prisioneros aliados de un campo alemán. La historia era auténtica y ahora ha aparecido en España un libro que explica pormenorizadamente esa fuga espectacular, la más famosa de la II Guerra Mundial. El libro se titula igual que la película, es obra del británico Tim Carroll y lo ha publicado Inédita. La obra, en la que hablan los siete últimos supervivientes de los 76 que se fugaron, entre ellos Jimmy James que, con 12 intentos de fuga, fue el modelo en el que se inspiró el personaje de McQueen, relata los verdaderos acontecimientos y algunos son incluso más sorprendentes que los que narraba el filme: en el campo, el Stalag Luft III, no había tres túneles, por ejemplo, sino 100.… (plus d'informations)

This non-fiction book covers the episode labelled The Great Escape as well as other Allied prisoners-of-war escape attempts, both successful and not. These incredible men, in this case mostly Royal Air Force Officers, never gave up but continuously plotted, planned and devised various escape attempts through their time of captivity.

Most of us know and have seen the movie The Great Escape, but to actually read what went into this daring prison camp breakout was awe inspiring. 76 Allied Officers escaped en mass from Stalag Luft III, of these 76, 3 actually made it back to England, the rest were caught. 50 were executed, on direct orders from Hitler, who originally wanted all recaptured prisoners to be killed, his advisors were only able to talk him down to the 50.

I thought this book was very well done, step-by-step details of the planning, the actual event and the recapture or successful conclusion of each prisoners escape was laid out. He included interviews he conducted in 2004 with the seven men left from the original 76. Of these 7, the feelings were mixed as to whether this much publicised escape was worth the lives that it cost. An officer was taught that, if caught, it was their duty to try and escape, and the Geneva Convention recognized this fact. I believe these courageous men felt they were not heros but simply doing their duty as soldiers.… (plus d'informations)