Colditz - Under New Management by Nicolas Trudgian. (B)

Colditz - a forbidding medieval castle near Leiptzig, Germany - remains one of the most potent symbols of the Second World War. Reputed to be the Nazis most escape proof prison, this grim castle is the most notorious PoW camp in history with the distinction of being the only German prison that had more guards than prisoners. The castle was specifically used to impound incorrigible, Allied officers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps but putting so many experienced serial escapers in one place proved to be a rather questionable idea. Despite more conventional escape routes gradually being sealed off by the Germans, members of The Colditz Escape Academy continued to jump, tunnel and sneak out of this inescapable prison in surprising numbers. Early in the war Hermann Goering made a public declaration that Colditz was escape proof but he was to be proven wrong time and time again, and over 300 attempts were made during the course of the war, with more than 130 prisoners escaping and 31 successfully reaching home. When captured the result was three weeks in the solitary confinement block, however this didn't stop prisoners inventing even more elaborate means of escaping, even catapulting themselves out of high windows and of course the famous design and building of a sophisticated glider. This new edition, reproduced from a pencil drawing by Nicolas Trudgian, depicts the imposing castle shortly after being liberated by American troops in April 1945. In the foreground below a Sherman Tank of the 9th Armored Division stands on watch, close to the sign that was erected by the US 69th Infantry Division.

Supplied double matted with an original piece of the wooden floor of the guardroom in the solitary confinement block at Colditz. Also supplied with a matching numbered book in a collectors slipcase, signed by the author, Michael Booker, and Prof Peter Hoffman.

Only 4 prints in this edition remaining.

Signed by Maj Peter Parker (deceased),
Maj Gen Corran Purdon,
Flt Lt Bill Goldfinch (deceased),
Maj Mike Edwards (deceased),
Brig Grismond Davies-Scourfield (deceased),
Stf Sgt Murray Shapiro
and
Prof Peter Hoffman (book)

Colditz Proof Edition : Limited edition of 76 Colditz proofs.

Print paper size 14.5 inches x 12 inches (37cm x 31cm)