the inner courtyard of colditz castle used prison yard when castle pow camp oflag iv-c during world war ii. french prisoners used bell tower (left) access wine cellar tunneled under chapel (behind tree).
their tunnel began @ top of chapel s clock tower , descended 8.6 metres (28.2 ft) ground using shaft contained ropes , weights clock. found weights used hang down shaft, , chains, had been removed. left empty shaft extended clock cellars below. after previous escape attempts cazaumayo , paille, doors (one on each floor) had provided access tower, had been bricked in order prevent further escape attempts. however, sealing tower germans had in essence provided secure location escape tunnel work done without notice. french time gained access tower attics, descended 35 m cellars, , began work on horizontal shaft in june 1941. shaft work continue further 8 months.
the horizontal shaft towards chapel progressed 4 m (13 ft) before hit rock hard dig. decided dig upwards towards chapel floor. here tunnel continued underneath wooden floor of chapel distance of 13.5 m (44.3 ft). this, 7 heavy oak timbers in floor, measuring 0.5 m (1.3 ft) square, had cut through. homemade saws, assembled german table knives, employed task. completed, tunnel dropped vertically far corner of chapel further 5.2 m (17 ft). tunnel proceeded out towards proposed exit 2 further descents, separated shafts in tough stone foundations of castle. tunnel ran horizontal distance of 44 m (144 ft), reaching final depth of 8.6 m (28.2 ft) below ground.
french prisoners, incarcerated in colditz castle during second world war, spent 8 months digging escape tunnel. 5.2m vertical shaft, located in corner of chapel, small part of construction.
tunneling continued 1942. germans knew french digging somewhere, based on noise of tunnelling reverberating through castle @ night. french thought entrance undetectable. however, on 15 january germans searched sealed-off clock tower. noises heard below, , after lowering small boy down shaft, 3 french officers found. after searching cellar thoroughly, entrance tunnel discovered mere 2 m (6.5 ft) short of completion. french convinced had been betrayed 1 of own countrymen, denied guards demanded french pay repair damage (estimated @ 12,000 reichsmark).
the tunnel had electric lighting along whole length, powered electricity chapel. allowed tunnellers see doing , signal arrival of sentries. entrance tunnel in wine cellar concealed 5 large stones covering small door, left little trace of hole. debris transported in sacks hoisted clock tower castle s attics. wine cellar regularly cleaned , redusted using dust harvested attic, hide reddish clay dust not present in cellar ordinarily.
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