The Big Break: The Greatest American WWII POW Escape Story Never Told

by Stephen Dando-Collins

The story opens in the stinking latrines of the Schubin camp as an American and a Canadian lead the digging of a tunnel which enabled a break involving 36 prisoners of war (POWs). The Germans then converted the camp to Oflag 64, to exclusively hold US Army officers, with more than 1500 Americans ultimately housed there. Plucky Americans attempted a variety of escapes until January, 1945, only to be thwarted every time.

Then, with the Red Army advancing closer every day, camp commandant Colonel Fritz Schneider received orders from Berlin to march his prisoners west. Game on! Over the next few days, 250 US Army officers would succeed in escaping east to link up with the Russians - although they would prove almost as dangerous as the Nazis - only to be ordered once they arrived back in the United States not to talk about their adventures. Within months, General Patton would launch a bloody bid to rescue the remaining Schubin Americans.

In The Big Break , this previously untold story follows POWs including General Eisenhower's personal aide, General Patton's son-in-law, and Ernest Hemingway's eldest son as they struggled to be free. Military historian and Paul Brickhill biographer Stephen Dando-Collins expertly chronicles this gripping story of Americans determined to be free, brave Poles risking their lives to help them, and dogmatic Nazis determined to stop them.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, World War II, American History, Adult, Military Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

Stephen Dando-Collins is the multi-award-winning author of 48 books. British reviewer, noted playwright Robin Hawdon, says that Dando-Collins is "the modern age's foremost dramatizer of Greek and Roman history," while American reviewer bestselling military author Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman has described Dando-Collins as "a literary giant." Considered an authority on the legions of ancient Rome, Dando-Collins has written ancient and modern history, children's novels, scientific nonfiction, and biographies. The bulk of his works deal with military history, ranging from Greek, Persian and Roman times to American, British and Australian 19th century history and World I and Word War II.
Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Russian, Albanian and Korean.
His most acclaimed book on the ancient military, 'LEGIONS OF ROME,' was the culmination of decades of research into Rome's imperial legions.
Dando-Collins aims to travel roads that others have not, unearthing new facts and opening new perspectives on often forgotten or overlooked people and aspects of history.
He has two new books in 2024: 'CAESAR VERSUS POMPEY: Determining Rome's Greatest General, Statesman & Nation-Builder,' (Turner, US), and 'THE BUNA SHOTS: The Amazing Story Behind Two Photographs that Changed the Course of World War Two,' (Australian Scholarly Publishing).

Reviews

[Amanda Tuinstra ( Liefde voor boeken Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

recensie volgt op mijn blog

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. It tells of POW's in WW 2 as the Germans are in full retreat. It paints a picture that puts you right there with the men as they try to stay alive till the wars end. Nice stuff.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australia should be very proud of author STEPHEN DANDO-COLLINS.
This latest WWII story has been described by the NY Daily News as "GRIPPING".
The Greatest American WWII story NEVER told! It's selling like hot cakes!

[Mike Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title is somewhat misleading - at least to me." The Big Break" is not an orchestrated escape a'la but the story of dozens, ultimately hundreds of U.S. Army and U.S. Air Corps POW's who escaped from their captors as they were marched to other POW camps in the waning days of WW II. As such, it is a story of dozens of escapes and not a single large event.The story is centered upon the POW's held in Schubin, Poland and culminates in the doomed task force which Patton sent to rescue his son-in-law after the POWs reached Austria. One cannot help but be impressed by the ingenuity, daring and bravery of the POW's and there are some amazing stories here.
I will add that without resorting to the index, I had difficulty keeping all the various escapees straight.
One of my pet peeves is that the maps are inadequate or simply not very helpful, something I increasingly see. Probably due to poor work by the editors.

[Charlie Barr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative stories about life in World War II POW camps, and the multiple attempts to escape with the help of friendly Polish underground, and the sometimes helpful Soviet Army. Well-researched history with numerous details about the prison camps and the psychology of the captors and POWs. Revealing insights into the brutality of war and the lasting consequences for individuals and countries.

[Cheri Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This was a very interesting read for me. I not heard these stories before.
These men were very brave and their termination enabled them to accomplish their escape and returning home.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Break" denoted the details of the Schubin break by POWs in 1945, mostly as the POW camp was evacuated to Germany. The subsequent forced march by the German guard to Hammelberg instigated a raid by US to save Patton's son in law.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed. A little too detailed for my tastes, but if you like WWII history , it is an intersting read.

[Jon Ellegood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read with interesting pieces here and there. Very easy to become lost in the constant switching between names, nations, and vary plot twists.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about an event that I had never heard of.

[Seth Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Teresa Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely interesting read. I passed it on to friends who also enjoy this type of book.

[Chris Remmelzwaal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Net iets te vaak raakte het boek mij totaal kwijt om er echt van te genieten. Wel potentie, uitvoering net te warrig.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story or really a set of stories about American POW's. I felt somewhat bogged down near the end, reading details about the bungler Patton sending in a rescue attempt because his son-in-law was among the prisoners.