About this episode

Ben Macintyre discusses the history of Colditz Castle and the attempts of soldiers to escape during World War II.

British writer Ben Macintyre on the eerie history of Colditz Castle which the Germans used as a prisoner of war camp during World War II. Since the Middle Ages, Colditz Castle has existed in some form, perched on the edge of a cliff in eastern Germany. Colditz has served as a royal hunting lodge, a madhouse, and most famously as a prisoner of war camp during World War II. It was said to be inescapable, but that didn't stop the English officers from trying to escape the nightmare of this gloomy fortress, and the clutches of the Germans. Ben Macintyre tells the full story of Colditz and the men imprisoned there, who were as flawed as they were heroic legend. Further Information Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle is published by Penguin This episode of Conversations explores history, World War 2, prisoners of war, Colditz Castle, Germany, allied soldiers, the officer class, escape, prison, solitary confinement, heroes, the middle ages, research, first hand accounts. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best…

People in this episode

Hosts: Richard Fidler, Sarah Kanowski

Guest: Ben Macintyre

Topics covered

• history
• World War 2
• prisoners of war
• Colditz Castle
• escape
• heroes

Keywords

• Colditz Castle
• World War II
• prisoners of war
• escape
• British writer
• history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Penguin, ABC Australia

Books & works: Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle

Places: Colditz Castle, Germany

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