Multidisciplinary investigations at Stalag Luft III allied prisoner‐of‐war camp: The site of the 1944 “great escape,” Zagan, Western Poland

Abstract

Stalag Luft III, situated in Zagan, Poland (formerly eastern Germany), was the site of a World War II Allied aviator prisoner of war (POW) camp famous for repeat escape attempts-notably the mass escape of 76 POWs in March 1944, shown in the 1963 film "The Great Escape." The site has had little attention to date because it was within restricted military training grounds until 1992. This paper reports on attempts to locate the undiscovered "Dick" escape tunnel (the "Tom" and "Harry" tunnels from the same escape attempt were discovered and destroyed by camp authorities). Geological and geophysical surveys located hut 122, which contained the "Dick" entrance shaft. Subsequent archaeological investigations included surface artifact collection and inspection of the rubble-filled, tunnel entrance shaft. Excavations to a depth of 10 m through yellow glacio-fluvial sand resulted in the discovery of the refilled "Dick" tunnel with intact bed-board shoring and ventilation system. Our investigation provides valuable insights into POW escape efforts.

Applications of GPR for Humanitarian Assistance and Security

“…Some cavities were discovered under and around the chapel which suggests the presence of crypts or burials, as well as an inhomogeneity that indicates the presence of linear underground structures. Examples in escape tunnelling are also possible to find in the specialized literature as in Pringle et al (2007), in which an undiscovered underground tunnel used for repeat escape attempts by prisoners of the World War II in Zagan (Poland) is located. A variety of features were recognized by GPR, including the entrance shaft, tunnel, and part of the tunnel ventilation system.…”

Holocaust Archaeology: Archaeological Approaches to Landscapes of Nazi Genocide and Persecution

“…Luft assisted in the identification of further tunnels constructed as part of the well -known 'Great Escape' (Pringle et al 2007). Given that excavation may not be possible at some sites , it is particularly important that the potential of geophysical techniques for identifying buried archaeological remains, in conjunction with other methods, be examined further.…”

Geophysics and the Great Escape

“…In the course of this work, there was a large amount of earthmoving by machine, creating a large pit to allow archaeologists to work at the depth that the tunnel required; this was the main focus of the television program about the project. Prior to the excavation, however, a series of geophysical surveys was undertaken by Jamie Pringle of Keele University, starting with a survey using a proton precision magnetometer (Pringle et al, 2007). This proved to be rather disappointing, as there was little indication of the entrance to the shaft for the tunnel.…”