As it is National Former POW Recognition Day: The Greatest POW Escapes of All Time

2015-02-20T13:54:56-05:00

Prisoners of war are those captured and held in custody from a belligerent power during or after an armed conflict. The United States has had over 130k POWs since the beginning of WWII. Many times, POWs are rendered helpless and are never recovered. But, sometimes they are able to break free from those who hold them captive - here are some of the most unbelievable POW escapes of all time.

Enlarged version: http://rly.pt/POW-IG

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 20 at 2015 2:16 PM

2015-02-20T14:16:34-05:00

Great thread RallyPoint Team!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 20 at 2015 2:27 PM

2015-02-20T14:27:39-05:00

I would say the most famous POW escape was the one immortalized in the 1963 Mega-hit "The Great Escape." There were a great many stars at the time who were WWII and Korean War veterans. The German Kommandant "von Luger," played by Hannes Messemer was an actual WWII German Officer who in real life was sent to the Russian front and captured. He managed to stay alive and escape in 1945. I believe only 10% of German POW's managed to survive the Russian gulags. In the movie, I loved the scene where he went off on the SS Agent "Allied POW's are the responsibility of the Luftwaffe....NOT THE SS!!!" Obviously, he wasn't a big fan.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Feb 20 at 2015 2:59 PM

2015-02-20T14:59:02-05:00

I had the privilege of talking to some Vets from the Korean war. One thing they mentioned is that at night, sometimes it would get so dark, that they couldn't see anything.

Some of the North Koreans were illiterate and didn't know how to count. One guy mentioned he feigned sickness and during a night road march slowly got to the end of the column. Then he quickly slipped out into a nearby ditch and because it was so dark and they didn't count properly, he was able to escape that way.

This guy was captured again and put in a cage to prevent it from happening again. Luckily he saved by the US/ROK army

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Feb 20 at 2015 3:29 PM

2015-02-20T15:29:26-05:00

Good thread. I really enjoyed "The Great Escape" like SFC Mark Merino.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 20 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-02-20T15:40:51-05:00

Vietnam War: Dieter Dengler "Rescue Dawn."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2jIKkxSsBg

Rescue Dawn Trailer

Release date: brought to you by ign.com

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 20 at 2015 6:34 PM

2015-02-20T18:34:11-05:00

Many years ago while researching another story I stumbled across a historical record concerning an officer serving under Washington during the Revolutionary War who was turned over to the British as a hostage to indemnify an truce between Washington and a British commander. Washington warned the colonial officer that he was going to use the truce as a subtrafuge to launch a surprise attack in which case the hostage would be transported to a POW camp. The American agreed. The truce was struck. Washington reneged on it. The American officer was sent to a POW camp in Canada. While there he gathered a group of other POWs and led a successful escape.

Pleased with the result, he volunteered to do it again. He allowed himself to be captured and was returned to a POW camp in Canada. He again escaped and led another group to freedom.

Sadly, I can't find my few notes and can't remember his name. If anyone has heard this story and has any information, I would greatly appreciate hearing from them.

Thanks.