RISKY BUSINESS

How cunning prisoners of war outwitted their Nazi captors

- by CLAIRE O'BOYLE

IT was a big influence on one of Hollywood’s most iconic World War Two movies - and the real-life Great Escape was just as thrilling.

Masterminded by legendary RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, who inspired Richard Attenborough’s character Roger Bartlett in the film, the extraordinary plan was to break 200 men out of the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp in German-occupied Poland in a single night.

The Germans believed the camp was protected from breakouts because the site’s sandy soil would hamper escape attempts.

Historian Dr Kate Vigurs says: “The film of The Great Escape is phenomenally good. It’s dramatic, it’s exciting, but the real-life Great Escape was even more exciting than the film makes out.”

Home to around 10,000 airmen, mostly British and US officers, Stalag Luft III was relaxed compared to other camps.