Author: Peter C. Conrad

ISBN: 13:978-1-894864-64-0

          10: 1-894864-64-6

Inspired by true events that were garnered from extensive research, Peter Conrad’s Canadian Wartime Prison Escapes: Courage & Daring Behind Enemy Lines shares with us the hair raising accounts of several courageous Canadian soldiers and airmen who during World Wars I and II were either captured by the enemy and escaped or made their way back after getting caught behind enemy lines. The tales of these escapees are not often heard and although they are based on the facts of their events, they are narrated with, as Conrad mentions, “an eye to good storytelling.”

Conrad points out in his Introduction and as shown with his selection of stories that for the most part these individuals had to depend on the good will of the local people, blend into the population and determined to follow a clear plan to escape. Quite noteworthy is the help these escapees received from the local population who were aware that if they were discovered by the enemy they would undoubtedly be shot. The path to freedom also meant long journeys in total secrecy through unfriendly terrain and at times horrible weather conditions without adequate food and clothing.    

The stories are divided into eleven chapters covering World War I escapes, those from the Japanese in World War II, Canadians and their participation with the British Military Intelligence 9 (MI9), the Dieppe escapes, those from the Italian, Eastern and Stalag III, and the Canadians who returned to Occupied France. There are also descriptions of the different lines of escape that were established by the British intelligence services in co-operation with the French Resistance as well as other resistance movements.

It is quite interesting to learn, as Conrad notes, the attitude during World War I of men who escaped prisons camps were thought to be spies. Furthermore, escaping was not considered a widely accepted duty as it was during the Second World War. As an example of this differentiation, Conrad recounts the story of Peter Anderson who escaped from the Germans after a harrowing experience only to experience a cool reception once he arrived in London on Oct 2, 1915. As Anderson was 47 years old at the time and was a Danish-Canadian with a German accent, he was suspected of being a German agent, but the authorities were never able to prove that this was the case. Conrad mentions that ninety-nine Canadian soldiers successfully escaped during World War I, with Anderson being the only officer to escape the German prisoner of war camps. On the other hand, the escapees during World War II were respected for their efforts and many took up positions after their escape to help others who likewise found themselves in the same situations as these brave souls.

The chapter devoted to Stalug Luft III is one of the more captivating ones. This prison camp was the site of the most persistent, daring and extraordinary escape efforts of World War II and where an escape known as the Wooden Horse had taken place. Three massive tunnels were built, named Tom, Dick and Harry. As Conrad mentions, these tunnels were masterpieces of deception. Unfortunately, the attempt ended up in disaster and so enraged Hitler that he ordered the murder of 50 escapees, contrary to the Geneva Convention.

Conrad’s stories with his inventive dialogue, thoughts and emotions of the characters are skillfully interwoven with sufficient strategic and tactical detail to make this book a useful addition for historians and others who are curious about these daring adventures of brave Canadians during the two world wars.  

The above review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Retired Title Attorney: Editor & Publisher of Bookpleasures. Here are  Norm Goldman's Reviews