Prominente

Held as hostages of Himmler and intended to be used as bargaining chips in the games that were planned to be conducted as a last stand from bases in the Bavarian mountains the tale of the Prominente is a incredible one.

In Colditz the German word Prominent - a grotesque word meaning more or less what its sound suggests - was first applied to Giles Romilly and Michael Alexander.

On April 13th 1945 the ‘Prominente’ were moved in the dead of night and taken on a nightmare journey from Colditz down through Germany, across Czechoslovakia towards Berchesgarten and beyond where they were to be used as pawns in Hitler’s and Himmler’s last stand in their game of war. It is an amazing tale involving various other POW camps, including Laufen, and involves the SS ultimately protecting them from other German units and sparing their lives and handing them over to the Allies - but not before they had been re-united with ‘Vandy’ and seen one of their number escape successfully - none other than Churchill’s nephew, Giles Romilly.

On 13th April 2009, leaving at the same time, 1.30 a.m., Gavin Worrell will be retracing their steps and going on this same journey. At present he is envisaging the group returning to Colditz on April 16th, the anniversary of the Liberation Day.

The publicity attached to the event will form part of the ‘Colditz Needs You! campaign.