Chandos Escapes From Colditz.......
Our music-free day today took us to the infamous Colditz Castle, home to hundreds of Second World War POW's from many nations. There were 300 attempts made to escape it's alleged impenetrable walls; 31 were successful, including one by 1970's politician Lieutenant Colonel Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave, who was later assassinated by the INLA.
We learnt of life within it's walls during an excellent guided tour. The prison housed mainly Officers of the Allied Armies (and the naughty people who had escaped from other camps!)and, contrary to the usual view of POW camps, had 3 meals a day, were allowed privileges, parcels from home and were allowed to write to, and receive letters from, loved ones.
One very sombre part of the Castle's history is the murder of 84 people who were 'euthanased' by Hitler in 1938 by being starved to death there, before it became a Prisoner of War establishment.
There was a Dutch clergyman interred there during the war who played the organ all day every day very loudly, often accompanying the Choir (also singing loudly), to cover up the sounds of the tunnel digging going on underneath the Chapel! So, when you hear Stephen Perrins going 'at it' full throttle, or we sing some passages in our best fortissimo, you can wonder what it is we are covering up........!
However our day was blighted by one of our number defecting to the German ranks, as you can see from the photo!
You'll be pleased to know that we all made it out safely, in true Airey Neave style, and went on to visit the Battle of Leipzig monument before returning to our hotel for a well earned siesta in readiness for whatever the evening may bring!
We learnt of life within it's walls during an excellent guided tour. The prison housed mainly Officers of the Allied Armies (and the naughty people who had escaped from other camps!)and, contrary to the usual view of POW camps, had 3 meals a day, were allowed privileges, parcels from home and were allowed to write to, and receive letters from, loved ones.
One very sombre part of the Castle's history is the murder of 84 people who were 'euthanased' by Hitler in 1938 by being starved to death there, before it became a Prisoner of War establishment.
There was a Dutch clergyman interred there during the war who played the organ all day every day very loudly, often accompanying the Choir (also singing loudly), to cover up the sounds of the tunnel digging going on underneath the Chapel! So, when you hear Stephen Perrins going 'at it' full throttle, or we sing some passages in our best fortissimo, you can wonder what it is we are covering up........!
However our day was blighted by one of our number defecting to the German ranks, as you can see from the photo!
You'll be pleased to know that we all made it out safely, in true Airey Neave style, and went on to visit the Battle of Leipzig monument before returning to our hotel for a well earned siesta in readiness for whatever the evening may bring!
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