Greece Crete Stalag Dachau: A New Zealand Soldier's Encounters with Hitler's Army

by Jack Elworthy

In 1940, 28-year-old Jack Elworthy left New Zealand to fight in Europe, not to return for seven years. This is the story of his remarkable war, including the time he spent as an unofficial U.S. soldier. On mainland Greece, he got away just as the Nazis rolled in. On Crete he was captured and escaped, only to be recaptured when the Allies abandoned the island. In Germany he endured four years in POW camps, including notorious Stalag VIIIB. Freed by American forces in March 1945, he talked his way into the U.S. Army’s 45th (Thunderbird) Division as it made its way to Munich—birthplace of the Nazi Party—and the liberation of Dachau concentration camp. His daring feats were not yet over. Back in Britain awaiting repatriation, he became determined to return to devastated Europe, and succeeded—to the disbelief of MI5. This unflinchingly honest and unforgettable story takes you into the heart of the human experience of war, where there is heartbreak, fear, frustration, and few heroes.

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Liz V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of a proposed television program about WWII POWs, Elworthy shared his recollections: from an eagerness to get to the fight, training, diversion from Egypt to Scotland after Dunkirk, more training once in Egypt, deployment to mainland Greece and the evacuation, the battle of Crete and capture, captivity and liberation, excursions with the U.S. Army, liberation of Dachau, return to England for repatriation and the jaunt around France and Germany and, after 7 years, return to his wife and son.

Elworthy was a professional soldier and top ranked NCO when the war broke out and had cogent remarks about both Allied and Axis soldiers. His observations about good and very bad leadership should make this book required reading at service academies.