STALAG LUFT III - 23 SEPT., 1944 Courtesy of Lt. James C. Hart |
TO ESCAPE FROM PRISON IS NO LONGER A SPORT Germany has always kept to the Hague Convention, and only punished recaptured prisoners with minor disciplinary punishments. Germany will still maintain these principles of International Law, but England has, besides fighting at the front in a dishonest manner, instituted an illeagal warfare in non-combatant zones in the form of ganster commandos, terror bandits, and sabotage troops even up to the frontiers of Germany.
They say in a captured secret and confidential English Military Pamphlet: "The days when we could practice the rules of sportsmanship are over. For the time being every soldier must be a potential gangster and must be prepared to adopt their methods whenever necessary. The sphere of operations should always include the enenmy's own country, and in certain circumstances, such neutral countries as he is using a source of supply." England, with these instructions, opened up a non-military form of gangster warfare. Germany is determined to safeguard her homeland, and especially her industry and provisional centers for the fighting fronts. There fore it has become necessary to create strictly forbidden zones called death zones, in which all unauthorized trespassers will be immediately shot on sight. Escaping POW's entering such zones will most certianly lose their lives. They are, therefore, in constant danger of being mistaken for enemy agents or sabotage groups.
In plain English: Stay in the camps where you will be safe! Breaking out is now a damned dangerous act. All police and military guards have been given the most strict orders to shoot on sight all suspected persons.
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