
eBook - ePub
Escape from Stalag Luft III
The True Story of My Successful Great Escape: The Memoir of Bob Vanderstok
- 256 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
Escape from Stalag Luft III
The True Story of My Successful Great Escape: The Memoir of Bob Vanderstok
About this book
A memoir of the most decorated pilot in Dutch history and one of the World War II POWs who fled Nazi Germany what is known as "The Great Escape."
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On the night of 24 March 1944, Bram Vanderstok was the eighteenth of 76 men who crawled out of Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland. The 1963 film The Great Escape was largely based on this autobiography butâwith Vanderstok's agreementâfilmmakers chose to turn his story into an Australian character named Sedgwick, played by James Coburn.
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His memoir sets down his wartime adventures before being incarcerated in Stalag Luft III and then describes various escape attempts which culminated with the famous March breakout. After escaping, Vanderstok roamed Europe for weeks before making it back to England. Two months after escaping, he returned to the British no. 91 Squadron. In the following months he flew almost every day to France, escorting bombers and knocking down V1 rockets.
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In August 1944, he finally returned to his home. He learned that his two brothers had been killed in concentration camps after being arrested for resistance work. His father had been tortured and blinded by the Gestapo during interrogation. He had never betrayed his son.
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"His escapes, his operations as a Spitfire pilot, his experiences as a prisoner of war, and his incredible escape crossing the Pyreneesâall are described in a breathtaking manner which made me read his book through in one sitting." âProf. Dr. L de Jong, founder/director of the Dutch Institute for War Documentation
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"Such a modest man, such a dramatic storyâyou'll be pulled into this absorbing account." âJonathan Vance, author of The True Story of the Great Escape
Â
On the night of 24 March 1944, Bram Vanderstok was the eighteenth of 76 men who crawled out of Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland. The 1963 film The Great Escape was largely based on this autobiography butâwith Vanderstok's agreementâfilmmakers chose to turn his story into an Australian character named Sedgwick, played by James Coburn.
Â
His memoir sets down his wartime adventures before being incarcerated in Stalag Luft III and then describes various escape attempts which culminated with the famous March breakout. After escaping, Vanderstok roamed Europe for weeks before making it back to England. Two months after escaping, he returned to the British no. 91 Squadron. In the following months he flew almost every day to France, escorting bombers and knocking down V1 rockets.
Â
In August 1944, he finally returned to his home. He learned that his two brothers had been killed in concentration camps after being arrested for resistance work. His father had been tortured and blinded by the Gestapo during interrogation. He had never betrayed his son.
Â
"His escapes, his operations as a Spitfire pilot, his experiences as a prisoner of war, and his incredible escape crossing the Pyreneesâall are described in a breathtaking manner which made me read his book through in one sitting." âProf. Dr. L de Jong, founder/director of the Dutch Institute for War Documentation
Â
"Such a modest man, such a dramatic storyâyou'll be pulled into this absorbing account." âJonathan Vance, author of The True Story of the Great Escape
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Yes, you can access Escape from Stalag Luft III by Bram Vanderstok,Simon Pearson in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Military Biographies. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Foreword by Robert Vanderstok
- Preface by Simon Pearson
- Introduction
- Maps
- Shot Down over France
- The Trip to my Youth
- From Medschool to Dogfight
- Persecution and Resistance
- Escape to England
- Bandits Twelve OâClock
- Organization Big X
- Flowers in Stalag Luft III?
- Tunnels of Freedom: Tom, Dick and Harry
- The Great Escape
- âSoldiers of Orangeâ: 322 Squadron, RAF
- Murdered and Liberated
- Epilogue
- Glossary of Air Force and Kriegie Jargon
- Plate