“We arrived at the small town of Colditz early one afternoon. Almost upon leaving the station we saw looming above us our future prison: beautiful, serene, majestic, and yet forbidding enough to make our hearts sink into our boots. It towered above us, dominating the whole village; a magnificent Castle built on the edge of a cliff. It was the real fairy castle of childhood’s story-books. What ogres there might live within! I thought of the dungeons and of all the stories I had ever heard of prisoners in chains, pining away their lives, of rats and tortures, and of unspeakable cruelties and abominations.”

‘The Colditz Story’ by P.R.Reid, M.B.E., M.C.

“Oflag IVC was a special camp set up by the Germans for prisoners of war who had proved themselves to be a nuisance at other camps, either because of their attempts to escape, or their general attitude towards the Germans. In addition there were certain personnel who had been dropped as agents in occupied countries, and the ‘Prominente’ who were held at the camp because of their connection with the British Royal Family or with members of the British or Allied Governments. It was believed that the Germans intended to hold these men as hostages to be used as bargaining weapons should the need arise, though at the end if hostilities, owing to the chaotic conditions prevailing, this plan was never put into effect.”

“The camp was built on the ruins of the castle”. “Owing to the nature of its construction the Germans believed the camp to be escape-proof. There was a dry moat with a high outer wall surrounding the castle. On the outer side of this wall there was a drop of nearly 30 feet to the terraced gardens below, which were built above a fairly high perpendicular wall.”

“The castle was divided into two main sections built round two small courtyards. The German offices occupied the southern section in which there were two main gates, one leading to the town, the other leading into the park.”

“The Latter Days at Colditz” Map by Major P.R.Reid, M.C., M.B.E.

The Station

Many of the POWs arrived at Colditz by virtue of the German Railway Network. On many occassions they were packed into cattle trucks with far too many prisoners to a wagon and often without sufficient food and little water. They did on occassion arrive in ones and twos by train and each time they arrived at a side shunting slightly down teh track to keep them apart from the local train users.

Above Kommandant Schmidt talks to Lange the Security Officer. Belgians look on in the background.

Initially Oflag IVC took responsibility of the POWs once they arrived at the train station. This one kilometre, or ten minute, walk along Bahnhof Strasse over the Adolf Hitler Bridge and up Baderhof and beaing right into the uppermarket takes you to the foot of the castle. The route has changed very little since WW2 and you can still see how the POWs would look for every opportunity to escape.

Above the POWs cross the Adolf Hitler Bridge from the West to East bank. Looking in front to their right they would be looking at the formidable castle. The bridge is still in use today. They are about to head up to the Baderstrasse. Note the Guards with their rifles in the ‘rabbit hunting’ position.

Above is Bader Strasse (the name has nothing to do with Douglas Bader).

Above the POWs have just crossed the Adolf Hitler bridge taking them over the River Mulde fom the East to the West bank. The station is only a few hundred metres ahead of them.

Above some of the POWs express their pleasure in seeking the back of IVC. They wave to their former castle mates. When the non British & Dominion nations were moved out in 1943 their adventures had only just begau and many ended in tragedy.