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rb3221
Aug 15, 2015rb3221 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book describes in detail what life was like, including specific details of the amount of work needed to even try to escape. The 336' tunnel took 11 months to complete and in part used 4000 bed boards, 1000' feet of electric wire, 600' of rope and several hundred tons of sand were moved and hidden. An incredible accomplishment!! As well accurate forged documentation and identity cards were expertly produced for all the escapes. But was it worth it since of the 76 that escaped, only 3 made back to England and 50 were later executed. This is not fully addressed but Barris does suggest that a huge amount of manpower was needed to re-capture the escapees (even though this is apparently not true). Two criticisms: Barris does not address the anger, disillusionment, deprivation and depression of being a prisoner, often for years. And secondly, the format Barris uses does not allow the reader to follow any single story as the various tales leapfrog throughout the book. But overall, a book well worth reading.