The Red Cross Box Escape Attempt

The growing Bitish contingent in Colditz by 1942 resulted in an accompanying surge of personal belongings in the dormitaries. These often impeded German searches, and hence it was decided that all prisoners should pack away any unwanted belongings. They were to be packed into empty Red Cross cases, and stored in the attics of the Kommandantur buildings. Flt. Lt. Dominic Bruce saw this as his big chance. He concealed himself in one of the chests, and was carried to the attics by the orderlies. Once the attics had been locked up again, he emerged from his box, climbed out of the window (see photograph), and descended the outside face of the castle using a home-made rope.

Bruce left a small piece of paper in the empty box, on which he wrote ‘Die Luft in Colditz gefallt mir nicht mehr. Auf Wiedersehn!’ (‘The air in Colditz no longer pleases me. Au revoir!’)

The next morning the castle was visited by General Wolff, officer in charge of POW army district 4. He inspected the camp and found everything to his satisfaction. Foruantely for the camp Kommandantur, as Wolff was driven away, his back was turned to the southern face of the castle. If he had turned his head he would have seen a sixty-foot length of blue and white checked (bedsack) rope dangling from a remote window. It was, however, noticed by a hausfrau in the town, who quickliy reported it to the duty officer.
Flt. Lt. Bruce was captured a week later in Danzig.