The 'Great Escape' during World War II
Observances were held in Poland to mark the 80th anniversary of the 'Great Escape,' in which 76 prisoners of war tunneled out of a German POW camp during World War II. The escape was led by British airmen, but most of the soldiers faced a tragic end, with only three making it to safety. The escape was celebrated in a 1963 film starring Steve McQueen and was recently featured in an episode of the American war drama miniseries 'Masters of the Air.'
Key Points
- British soldiers pay tribute to the prisoners who escaped during a ceremony in Poland
- Only three out of 76 prisoners made it to safety
- The escape was highly fictionalized in a 1963 film starring Steve McQueen
Pros
- Act of defiance and bravery by Allied prisoners of war during World War II
Cons
- Most of the soldiers who escaped faced tragic consequences