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The Last Escape: The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Europe 1944-45
As World War II approached its end, thousands of American and British soldiers languished in German POW camps. With the Russian Red Army closing in from the east and Allied troops advancing from the west, Hitler forced the POWs deeper into the heart of Germany. Over the next several months these prisoners were forced to walk more than 500 miles through the severest of winter conditions, and hundreds died from exhaustion, disease, and starvation. Here—for the first time—interviews with the POWs who survived as well as their diaries and letters bring this astonishing tale of endurance and courage to life.
520 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2002
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455 people want to read
About the author
John Nichol
31 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 19, 2016
This was a good account of what happened to American and British prisoners of war held in Germany during the last year of WWII. As the front lines got closer and closer to Germany, many of the men were marched first west—away from the advancing Red Army, and then east or south—away from the advancing British or American forces. There was never enough food, the weather was awful, and the men always lived in fear of a mass execution by the Nazis or death by friendly fire. First the Germans thought to use their lives as a bargaining chip, and then Stalin used their safety as leverage to get what he wanted from his British and American allies.
The subtitle claims it’s an untold story. I’ve read at least one memoir by a survivor of one of the marches (A Distant Prayer) and read about the mass evacuations in a few other books. But it is a story perhaps never before told in this detail. Mistreatment of German-help POWs doesn’t often take center stage. Perhaps that’s because they didn’t go on a Bataan death march and the camps where they were held didn’t have gas chambers. They had it bad, but others had it worse. Their story is still compelling, their bravery and endurance inspiring. I was saddened by their hardships and amazed by their resourcefulness. Some of them were on the road for months, during one of the coldest winters on record, with scarcely any food. This book gives you a good glimpse of the chaos surrounding the end of the war and the difficulties of those who lived through it.
I definitely learned a few new things from this book and I'm glad I read it. Recommended for readers interested in POWs, the end of WWII, or the beginning of the cold war.
The subtitle claims it’s an untold story. I’ve read at least one memoir by a survivor of one of the marches (A Distant Prayer) and read about the mass evacuations in a few other books. But it is a story perhaps never before told in this detail. Mistreatment of German-help POWs doesn’t often take center stage. Perhaps that’s because they didn’t go on a Bataan death march and the camps where they were held didn’t have gas chambers. They had it bad, but others had it worse. Their story is still compelling, their bravery and endurance inspiring. I was saddened by their hardships and amazed by their resourcefulness. Some of them were on the road for months, during one of the coldest winters on record, with scarcely any food. This book gives you a good glimpse of the chaos surrounding the end of the war and the difficulties of those who lived through it.
I definitely learned a few new things from this book and I'm glad I read it. Recommended for readers interested in POWs, the end of WWII, or the beginning of the cold war.
October 8, 2011
A very good account of a forgotten part of the Second World War; Allied POW's caught in the final months of the Third Reich. The author's of this book have provide the reader with a detailed and moving account of what happened to the many thousands of Allied POW's caught in the final struggle for Nazi Germany towards the end of WW2.
These men are the unrecognised heroes of the Second World War. British soldiers captured from as far back as Dunkirk, or in North Africa or as recent as Arnhem. Or the many RAF officers and men from the British Empire and Commonwealth and their comrades in arms, men from the USAAF, shot down on missions over occupied Europe who were forced marched across the shrinking borders of the Third Reich undergoing horrendous privations and hardships, in an attempt to keep them from the advancing allied forces.
The authors have utilised interviews with many surviving veterans who speak here for the first time of the terrible conditions and of the many untold acts of heroism, fortitude and courage never before told. This is a great story and should be read by all who have an interest in the Second World War, as this is a part of that story not told before.
These men are the unrecognised heroes of the Second World War. British soldiers captured from as far back as Dunkirk, or in North Africa or as recent as Arnhem. Or the many RAF officers and men from the British Empire and Commonwealth and their comrades in arms, men from the USAAF, shot down on missions over occupied Europe who were forced marched across the shrinking borders of the Third Reich undergoing horrendous privations and hardships, in an attempt to keep them from the advancing allied forces.
The authors have utilised interviews with many surviving veterans who speak here for the first time of the terrible conditions and of the many untold acts of heroism, fortitude and courage never before told. This is a great story and should be read by all who have an interest in the Second World War, as this is a part of that story not told before.
July 27, 2024
In depth look at the POW story, one I'd not read about and knew very little before. Easy to follow, well written and honest. Recommend.
August 22, 2017
The Last Escape is an immaculate researched book on the subject of Allied POW's during WWII. I found the information quite interesting for I knew little about the POW situation in the European Theatre during WWII. The book covers the interment, liberation, and welcoming home of these prisoners. I found the part on the forced marches a little disturbing. As Russia was advancing into Germany, Allied POW's without warning were marched out of the camps in the dreaded winter hundreds of miles. The suffering these men endured was horrific. You will shake your head in disbelief at how many men dealt with cruelty, and misfortune. The book is a little long over 500 pages and little repetitive but I think the author's wanted it that way to give us a remarkable story of bravery, courage and fortitude by so many Allied POW's. It will leave a lump in your throat when you realize just how badly most POW' were treated in these camps.
November 14, 2018
Way too many questions hanging, the numbers conflicting and what these soldiers suffered and survived is a disgusting story on humanity. Yalta? the pure winner was Stalin. Simply this, there are no winners in war, everyone loses no matter how they try to paint it. The prisoners lives will never be the same but they endured and will have my respect forever.
January 20, 2025
Having had an uncle who was a prisoner, initially in Italy and then Fallingbostel until the end of the war, I found this book illuminating. The last few months of the war in Europe were confusing and dangerous for all POWs. Forced to march hundreds of miles in freezing conditions many died of disease and starvation. Both the Allies and the Nazis bear responsibility for the many tragedies.
September 12, 2025
A harrowing account of the depravities of war. I can see my own grandfather in so many of the accounts.
It is the definitive volume on POWs during the war, especially the Air Corps. The authors do a magnificent job in putting the suffering of the POWs in context of what was happening—or not happening as the case may be—in Washington and London to prepare for their return.
It is the definitive volume on POWs during the war, especially the Air Corps. The authors do a magnificent job in putting the suffering of the POWs in context of what was happening—or not happening as the case may be—in Washington and London to prepare for their return.
June 9, 2024
Forgotten journey of POW's enforced marches further and further into the heart of the Nazi Reich, As it recedes into infamous cruelty. Hundreds of pointless miles of desperate hunger, Ice and snow.
A simpler time of Keep putting one foot in front of the other or die.
A simpler time of Keep putting one foot in front of the other or die.
December 28, 2017
So sad. So unnecessary.
January 6, 2020
A very well written account of allied POWs in Germany during World War II. Mostly airmen and mostly British but gives a very good picture if what we know about life in a Nazi POW camp.
March 25, 2022
Very well written accounts
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September 16, 2022A good view to an important chapter of humans history.
September 24, 2023
A solid account about an aspect of history that is often overlooked. I'm very interested in the period towards the end of and the immediate aftermath of the war.
April 23, 2024
Fantastic insight into a forgotten story. Brilliantly researched and written as always.
January 25, 2013
I inherited this book among many books about WW2 from my dad, a former POW of Lamsdorf.
I have done some reading around the accounts of POW's since Dad's death in 2010, and really wish that I'd known before his death as much as I now do. I suspect that that is often how it is though.
This book is a fascinating and well written compilation of some of the accounts of POW's who were forced out of the relative safety of their prison camps as the war was reaching it's conclusion and Germany was falling in to chaos. These men had already suffered enough, many of them prisoner's for over 4 years, starved and in very poor health and not knowing when and if they would ever be free, would ever see their loved one's again. Now they are forced to march for hundred's of miles, through one of the bitterest and coldest winter's in Europe, with little or no food, nowhere clean, dry and warm for the night and often no real idea of where they are going. Some are even fired on by their own countrymen in a terrifying and very sad "friendly fire" incident. Their suffering is hard to imagine and that so many survive despite this is amazing.
I didn't know these stories, however I knew that POW's had been marched over Germany as Dad was one who was left behind at Lamsdorf, I remember his account in his own book Sojourn in Silesia.
To say I enjoyed the book somehow feels wrong, however it is well written and makes fascinating reading.
I have done some reading around the accounts of POW's since Dad's death in 2010, and really wish that I'd known before his death as much as I now do. I suspect that that is often how it is though.
This book is a fascinating and well written compilation of some of the accounts of POW's who were forced out of the relative safety of their prison camps as the war was reaching it's conclusion and Germany was falling in to chaos. These men had already suffered enough, many of them prisoner's for over 4 years, starved and in very poor health and not knowing when and if they would ever be free, would ever see their loved one's again. Now they are forced to march for hundred's of miles, through one of the bitterest and coldest winter's in Europe, with little or no food, nowhere clean, dry and warm for the night and often no real idea of where they are going. Some are even fired on by their own countrymen in a terrifying and very sad "friendly fire" incident. Their suffering is hard to imagine and that so many survive despite this is amazing.
I didn't know these stories, however I knew that POW's had been marched over Germany as Dad was one who was left behind at Lamsdorf, I remember his account in his own book Sojourn in Silesia.
To say I enjoyed the book somehow feels wrong, however it is well written and makes fascinating reading.
October 27, 2013
John Nichol and Tony Rennell tell us the little known story of the Allied prisoners of war in Germany in 1944-5.
Though their treatment was not as bad as that suffered by the prisoners of the Japanese, those unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of the Germans were treated in a brutal manner, poorly fed, denied adequate medical care and liable to be killed on the whim of their captors. The suffering of the pows however got a lot worse from the end of 1944 until their liberation in 1945, those in camps likely to be over-run by the advancing Russians were turned out of their camps and forced to march westwards in the depth of winter for many weeks. With little food, inadequate clothing and no medical care they struggled to stay alive with the constant threat of being shot if they fell out of the march.
This was a moving but also disturbing tale told with great honesty, dealing not only with the brutal treatment by the Germans but also by the indifference shown by the Allied governments to the prisoners plight, and the break down of humanity between the prisoners themselves.
This book had particular relevance for myself as my grandfather was a prisoner of both the Italians and then the Germans for three years and himself was forced to march across Germany in atrocious conditions, however I would recommend it to anyone interested in military history.
Though their treatment was not as bad as that suffered by the prisoners of the Japanese, those unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of the Germans were treated in a brutal manner, poorly fed, denied adequate medical care and liable to be killed on the whim of their captors. The suffering of the pows however got a lot worse from the end of 1944 until their liberation in 1945, those in camps likely to be over-run by the advancing Russians were turned out of their camps and forced to march westwards in the depth of winter for many weeks. With little food, inadequate clothing and no medical care they struggled to stay alive with the constant threat of being shot if they fell out of the march.
This was a moving but also disturbing tale told with great honesty, dealing not only with the brutal treatment by the Germans but also by the indifference shown by the Allied governments to the prisoners plight, and the break down of humanity between the prisoners themselves.
This book had particular relevance for myself as my grandfather was a prisoner of both the Italians and then the Germans for three years and himself was forced to march across Germany in atrocious conditions, however I would recommend it to anyone interested in military history.
February 4, 2013
Speculating world from the respective of WW2 survivors, whether their British,Russian, American, German, or even people who had been caught up in the war. The challenges and nerve that the men faced was exciting as it was nerve wrecking. One would feel the oppression. The freezing of nerves as the book takes you to force march hundreds of miles long. The stark chill of the coming winter, as the Ally prisoner of war begin the what soon will be call the death march.
The interactions between peers become relevant to survivors, where a man would sacrifice his life to get a bit of white cream for a sick patient. A friend who is dying slowly but faster than him. The sick feeling of surviving was stronger than the sweet freedom, as the chances of escape dissipate as POW begin dying. The fear of liberation and the cruelty of men who are subjected to fear. The joy of return, the joy of living. The acts valor are plentiful, even if the act was a simple as remain quiet. Their joy becomes your joy, their fears are your fears. their hopes, is your hopes. The captivation exercise lack no emotion; lacks no understanding, there things that do not need words to be understood.
In time, you'll understand that is no shame for POW. Their is only shame upon desertion.
The interactions between peers become relevant to survivors, where a man would sacrifice his life to get a bit of white cream for a sick patient. A friend who is dying slowly but faster than him. The sick feeling of surviving was stronger than the sweet freedom, as the chances of escape dissipate as POW begin dying. The fear of liberation and the cruelty of men who are subjected to fear. The joy of return, the joy of living. The acts valor are plentiful, even if the act was a simple as remain quiet. Their joy becomes your joy, their fears are your fears. their hopes, is your hopes. The captivation exercise lack no emotion; lacks no understanding, there things that do not need words to be understood.
In time, you'll understand that is no shame for POW. Their is only shame upon desertion.
April 16, 2011
The story is not untold, just not heard as often as the stories of the American prisoners held by the Japanese during WWII. The Germans treated prisoners awfully, as illustrated by the true stories in this book.
The death marches were unbelievable. Some marched over 400 miles with very little clothing, no food, and the worst winter Germany saw in over 50 years. I found the resolve for these men to survive to be remarkable. The most incredible fact is that more POWs didn't die considering what they went through. I was particularly moved by the description of a POW afraid to go to sleep one night because he was sure he would freeze to death. Truly inspirational and fascinating stories. The sacrifices these men made are hard to fathom.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because of the writing style. I'm nit-picky, I know, but the writing didn't flow enough to grip me. The stories were gripping, but the writing could have been more creative.
Still, I strongly recommend this book. It relates facts that we should all be aware of.
The death marches were unbelievable. Some marched over 400 miles with very little clothing, no food, and the worst winter Germany saw in over 50 years. I found the resolve for these men to survive to be remarkable. The most incredible fact is that more POWs didn't die considering what they went through. I was particularly moved by the description of a POW afraid to go to sleep one night because he was sure he would freeze to death. Truly inspirational and fascinating stories. The sacrifices these men made are hard to fathom.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because of the writing style. I'm nit-picky, I know, but the writing didn't flow enough to grip me. The stories were gripping, but the writing could have been more creative.
Still, I strongly recommend this book. It relates facts that we should all be aware of.
August 7, 2014
This book did gave me for World War 2 what "Look Away" gave me for the USA Civil War. Opened up a totally unknown chapter to me to delve into and add to my knowledge. So many histories add only a few kernels of new knowledge whereas "The Last Escape" explains the who, why, and how of how it all went down. Good Germans and bad Germans, which routes for relocation and why. How history brought happy Army Air Corp pilots for congratulations. Then left them in tears as they found out they fired on prisoners. How the prisoners survived not only years or months of deprivation. But how they were able to cope by forming lifetime friendships. The story would be incomplete without an aftermath. Mr. Nichols handles this prefectly with an end that goes beyond the touching of the family front door. He explains the ignorance of home governments and the failures in compensation as the cold war pushed everyone to forget debts owed to POWs.
February 5, 2014
Forget "Hogan's Heroes," forget "The Great Escape": the real story of what Allied POWs endured has seldom been heard until now. The Last Escape is a fascinating and chilling read which tells of the forced marches and terrible conditions suffered by Allied prisoners in the last days of the war.
The authors, one of whom is a former POW of the Iraq War, display remarkable sensitivity in the handling of the former prisoners' stories and present them in a compellingly readable way. Maps and appendices help to put the events into context.
It's heartbreaking to read some of these stories, and one can only imagine the strength of the men who have to live with the memories of these times. The Last Escape also serves as a sobering reminder that we have to do better by the brave few who are willing to fight this country's wars.
The authors, one of whom is a former POW of the Iraq War, display remarkable sensitivity in the handling of the former prisoners' stories and present them in a compellingly readable way. Maps and appendices help to put the events into context.
It's heartbreaking to read some of these stories, and one can only imagine the strength of the men who have to live with the memories of these times. The Last Escape also serves as a sobering reminder that we have to do better by the brave few who are willing to fight this country's wars.
March 3, 2017
Seems Hitler forgot the war was over; he didn't want to let his prisoners go. Despite bone-chilling weather, fatigue, starvation. inadequate clothing, and a myriad of diseases allied prisoners of was were marched and transported in cattle cars from camp to camp and treated horribly. The fact so many survived is a testament to the love of home and family. I will admit this was a hard book to read but well worth it.
April 21, 2015
Good book about the POW situation in Europe in WWII. Interviews with survivors, diaries, and official documents were used to produce this. The way POWs were treated is disgusting - especially considering the way POWs in America were treated. When will we learn that someone willing to go to war will also be willing to violate all the "rules" created by international agreements?
March 27, 2016
This is a well written account of the experiences of World War II POWs in Europe. It manages to weave official publications, reports and first hand accounts into a very readable narrative. My only complaint would be that the author's personal thoughts and opinions were often reflected in the writing and I feel they should have remained objective.
January 13, 2016
After the D-Day invasion Germany moved Allied POWS deeper into Germany on foot in the dead of winter. Hundreds dies on the march and all were afraid of either being killed by the Germans or captured by the Russians.
April 29, 2008
Uhm not to sure. One day I am enjoying it and the next I'm not. Good information but a bit repetitive.
Currently reading
November 9, 2015My dad was a POW during WWII and was on one of the forced marches described in this book. It filled in some of the gaps for me about what he endured.
April 15, 2009
for my research on my dad's POW experience. Gripping account. I had no idea the hardships these brave men endured.
October 7, 2012
Almost anything WWII is facinating, important, and interesting to read.
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