The Great EscapeThe Great Escape

The Great Escape, as it came to be The Great Escape, as it came to be known, was a mass escape attempt from known, was a mass escape attempt from the prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III the prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III located near the Polish town of Zagan located near the Polish town of Zagan

The purpose-built camp was opened in The purpose-built camp was opened in April 1942 and the Germans considered it April 1942 and the Germans considered it to be practically escape-proof. to be practically escape-proof.

The OutcomeThe Outcome   Of the 76 men who escaped, 3 made it Of the 76 men who escaped, 3 made it

home to the UK. 23 were recaptured and home to the UK. 23 were recaptured and sent back to Sagan. Hitler personally sent back to Sagan. Hitler personally ordered the execution of the other 50 men.ordered the execution of the other 50 men.

Prisoners of War in BritainPrisoners of War in Britain

In 1939 there were just two prisoner of war In 1939 there were just two prisoner of war camps in Britain. By the end of the war  camps in Britain. By the end of the war  there were more than 600.there were more than 600.

.  Prior to the successful allied defeat of .  Prior to the successful allied defeat of Germany in Africa in 1943, the majority of Germany in Africa in 1943, the majority of German prisoners of war were sent to German prisoners of war were sent to camps in Canada and the US.camps in Canada and the US.

POW camps in the USPOW camps in the US

More than 150,000 men arrived after the More than 150,000 men arrived after the surrender of Gen. Erwin Rommel's Afrika surrender of Gen. Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in April 1943, followed by an Korps in April 1943, followed by an average of 20,000 new POWs a month average of 20,000 new POWs a month

From the Normandy invasion in June 1944 From the Normandy invasion in June 1944 through December 30,000 prisoners a through December 30,000 prisoners a month arrived; for the last few months of month arrived; for the last few months of the war 60,000 were arriving each month. the war 60,000 were arriving each month. When the war was over, there were When the war was over, there were 425,000 enemy prisoners in 511 main and 425,000 enemy prisoners in 511 main and branch camps throughout the United branch camps throughout the United States. States.

five hundred major camps and several five hundred major camps and several satellite camps in many U.S. states, satellite camps in many U.S. states, including Ohio, California, Mississippi, including Ohio, California, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Arkansas, Oregon, Georgia, Texas and NebraskaNebraska

In Texas alone, there were about seventy In Texas alone, there were about seventy camps. camps.