Escapes: New Zealand POWs in World War II

Escapes: New Zealand POWs in World War II

by D.O.W. Hall

First published in 1950 in booklet format in the New Zealand in the Second World War Official History series

A Merriam Press World War II History

34 photos and illustrations

Merriam Press 2025 PDF edition

Merriam Press released a paperback edition in 2000 which went through six revised editions to improve design and print quality and add additional materials including pictorial matter. Paperback edition is now out of print.

Details New Zealander and Allied escape attempts from German, Italian and Japanese prison camps. During World War II over 9,000 New Zealanders became prisoners of war. Of these 718 made successful escapes, 236 from German hands, 480 from the Italians and two from the Japanese. 

Contents

• Chapter 1: To Escape
• Chapter 2: Escape Organization
• Chapter 3: Escape Equipment
• Chapter 4: Outside Help
• Chapter 5: Types of Escape
• Chapter 6: Escapes in Crete
• Chapter 7: Escapes in Greece
• Chapter 8: The Italian Armistice
• Chapter 9: Escapers in Switzerland
• Chapter 10: Escapes in Germany
• Chapter 11: The Luft III Tunnel
• Chapter 12: Escapers in Yugoslavia
• Chapter 13: Escapes to China
• Chapter 14: Reprisals and Punishments
• Acknowledgments
• The Author