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Black Camp 21
All over Britain, POW camps are filling up with defeated German soldiers. Every day, thousands more pour in on ships from France. But only the most dangerous are sent to Camp 21 - 'black' prisoners - SS diehards who've sworn death before surrender. Nothing will stop their war, unless it's a bullet.
As one fanatic plots a mass breakout and glorious march on London, Max Hartmann dreams of the oath he pledged to the teenage bride he scarcely knows and the child he's never met. Where do his loyalties really lie? To Hitler or to the life he left behind in the bombed ruins of his homeland?
Beneath the wintry mountains, in the hell of Black Camp 21, suspicion and fear swirl around like the endless snow. And while the Reich crumbles - and his brutal companions plan their assault - Max's toughest battle is only just beginning.
Inspired by terrifying actual events, Black Camp 21 takes readers on a gut-wrenching journey from the battlefields of France to its shocking climax in a camp which still stands today.
As one fanatic plots a mass breakout and glorious march on London, Max Hartmann dreams of the oath he pledged to the teenage bride he scarcely knows and the child he's never met. Where do his loyalties really lie? To Hitler or to the life he left behind in the bombed ruins of his homeland?
Beneath the wintry mountains, in the hell of Black Camp 21, suspicion and fear swirl around like the endless snow. And while the Reich crumbles - and his brutal companions plan their assault - Max's toughest battle is only just beginning.
Inspired by terrifying actual events, Black Camp 21 takes readers on a gut-wrenching journey from the battlefields of France to its shocking climax in a camp which still stands today.
352 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2018
9 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Bill Jones
5 books1 followerBill Jones is the author of several award-winning books. The Ghost Runner (2011) won the 'Best New Writer' in the British Sports Book Awards. His biography of the ice skater John Curry - Alone (2014) - was shortlisted for the William Hill Awards and won the 'Outstanding Writing' category in the British Sports Book Awards. His first novel - Black Camp 21 (2018) was shortlisted in the Hugh McIlvanney Crime Fiction awards. All three of those books are in development as major feature films. Mr.Pilbeam Built A Boat is his latest, and most personal work of fiction, to date.
Before turning to full-time writing, Bill was - for many years - a distinguished documentary film-maker, producing and directing programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Discovery, Sky TV, PBS, national Geographic and many more.
His love of writing began as a journalist on an evening paper in North Yorkshire; the county where he now lives.
Before turning to full-time writing, Bill was - for many years - a distinguished documentary film-maker, producing and directing programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Discovery, Sky TV, PBS, national Geographic and many more.
His love of writing began as a journalist on an evening paper in North Yorkshire; the county where he now lives.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 3, 2023
Black Camp 21 is a World War Two story inspired by some of Britain’s prisoner of war camps that were built to accommodate the thousands of German soldiers who were captured in the months after the D-Day landings.
This is the story of tank driver and SS Officer Max. After his capture he is shipped to England and taken to London where he and several other SS officers are interrogated. They are then sent to a large camp in Devizes, but are kept separate from other German groups. Feared even among their fellow soldiers, the SS are given black circles to denote them.
Max discovers that the security and fencing are lax in Devizes and he is part of a mass break-out plan. However, the British aren’t as blind to the planning of the operation as the Germans think.
Later Max is taken to Scotland along with some of the more dangerous prisoners. This camp is notorious for the internal discipline that the Germans meter out themselves on their fellow camp mates.
This was an unusual war story and the author’s notes describe the documented death of an inmate at Black Camp 21 that inspired the whole idea. The author had also visited the camp which, I believe, still has some remnants left today. It’s quite a dark tale with a few twists, but it sets a good pace and has enough tension and intrigue to keep the pages turning.
This is the story of tank driver and SS Officer Max. After his capture he is shipped to England and taken to London where he and several other SS officers are interrogated. They are then sent to a large camp in Devizes, but are kept separate from other German groups. Feared even among their fellow soldiers, the SS are given black circles to denote them.
Max discovers that the security and fencing are lax in Devizes and he is part of a mass break-out plan. However, the British aren’t as blind to the planning of the operation as the Germans think.
Later Max is taken to Scotland along with some of the more dangerous prisoners. This camp is notorious for the internal discipline that the Germans meter out themselves on their fellow camp mates.
This was an unusual war story and the author’s notes describe the documented death of an inmate at Black Camp 21 that inspired the whole idea. The author had also visited the camp which, I believe, still has some remnants left today. It’s quite a dark tale with a few twists, but it sets a good pace and has enough tension and intrigue to keep the pages turning.
November 15, 2018
Personally I can leave WW1 and WW2 books and movies behind, but funnily enough this is already the 3rd I've read this year.
Based on a true story it tells the story of the German SS POWs being held in Britain. It's told sympathetically from the German POV through the one created character Max Hartman. It follows the soldiers as they live in denial of Hitler's imminent defeat as their suspicions of a traitor within threaten to unrail them.
There is so much more, but I won't be spoiling it. It is an interesting, well researched and well written piece. Will I be racing back into this era, no. But if your interested, or want to learn something of the mentality behind the SS this is worth the read.
Based on a true story it tells the story of the German SS POWs being held in Britain. It's told sympathetically from the German POV through the one created character Max Hartman. It follows the soldiers as they live in denial of Hitler's imminent defeat as their suspicions of a traitor within threaten to unrail them.
There is so much more, but I won't be spoiling it. It is an interesting, well researched and well written piece. Will I be racing back into this era, no. But if your interested, or want to learn something of the mentality behind the SS this is worth the read.
November 18, 2023
A well told story based on a shocking true event.
This story took me to places I knew, in Normandy, Wiltshire, London, and Perthshire and they were so well described I knew where I was. But what was new to me was the shocking truth about SS Nazi POWs, and the vast prison camps built to contain WWII prisoners. Bill Jones captures the scenes behind the archival documents in a narrative that was a page turner. For anyone interested in stories from WWII this opens a little known doorway onto a history unknown to most people. I recommend it add an important piece of jigsaw to our own history.
This story took me to places I knew, in Normandy, Wiltshire, London, and Perthshire and they were so well described I knew where I was. But what was new to me was the shocking truth about SS Nazi POWs, and the vast prison camps built to contain WWII prisoners. Bill Jones captures the scenes behind the archival documents in a narrative that was a page turner. For anyone interested in stories from WWII this opens a little known doorway onto a history unknown to most people. I recommend it add an important piece of jigsaw to our own history.
February 10, 2025
This is not an easy book to read due to its content and although it is a novel, many of the characters did exist and some of the punishments meted out to their own actually happened.
However, it was also very informative and made me look into events that actually happened in the UK during 1944/45.
I was not aware of just how many thousands of German pow’s were captured and sent to the UK even though I actually lived near where one of the camps was set up and heard many stories from my Mother and Aunt about them.
So I would recommend this book as it will help people learn a little more about certain events that nearly happened during that period.
However, it was also very informative and made me look into events that actually happened in the UK during 1944/45.
I was not aware of just how many thousands of German pow’s were captured and sent to the UK even though I actually lived near where one of the camps was set up and heard many stories from my Mother and Aunt about them.
So I would recommend this book as it will help people learn a little more about certain events that nearly happened during that period.
October 18, 2021
I like a book that shows me a life I had no idea about. Well, this book shocked me. I thought it was a straight forward thriller, but its far from it.
It's about the German prisoners of War in the UK between 1944 and 1946. I was born in 1949 and I hadn't got a clue. I had no idea how many were here or the threat they posed. This is a fictionalised version of true events. The Camp it is based on still exists in Comrie, perthshire.
I have every intention if visiting.
It's about the German prisoners of War in the UK between 1944 and 1946. I was born in 1949 and I hadn't got a clue. I had no idea how many were here or the threat they posed. This is a fictionalised version of true events. The Camp it is based on still exists in Comrie, perthshire.
I have every intention if visiting.
July 16, 2019
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"This book is historical fiction with a capital ‘H’. It’s a fictionalised account of the end of the Second World War in Europe, of the camps in Britain where German military prisoners were held, and of the persistence of fanatical self-delusion that refused to die in the minds of the captured SS."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"This book is historical fiction with a capital ‘H’. It’s a fictionalised account of the end of the Second World War in Europe, of the camps in Britain where German military prisoners were held, and of the persistence of fanatical self-delusion that refused to die in the minds of the captured SS."
August 6, 2019
Unexpected Good Read
This is not one of my normal types of books but I was hooked from the beginning. I was not that aware of the enormous numbers of german prisoners that the uk held and certainly wasn't aware of the Black Camp 21. A story of gang mentality, loyality, friendships and hope.
This is not one of my normal types of books but I was hooked from the beginning. I was not that aware of the enormous numbers of german prisoners that the uk held and certainly wasn't aware of the Black Camp 21. A story of gang mentality, loyality, friendships and hope.
November 12, 2019
Powerful historical fiction. Impeccably researched by Jones, bringing home the horror of the fanaticism of some of the SS and the conditions of the PoW camps that allowed the fanaticism to fester. Based on genuine events.
February 8, 2022
This is a fine read on an unusual subject, seems well researched and I kept turning the pages in anticipation. The only quibble I had was why the main character didn't send a letter to his girlfriend then wife or father before capture, it just exasperated me but the main story was good.
May 27, 2022
Fascinating Story
Thus book was fascinating from the get go to the Autors notes. I didn't know about this part of the war. Brilliantly put together. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Thus book was fascinating from the get go to the Autors notes. I didn't know about this part of the war. Brilliantly put together. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
April 25, 2019
Fascinating. As good as The Alphabet House
April 29, 2019
Not bad, but wanders a bit, plot wise
Based on an interesting piece of forgotten WWII history
Based on an interesting piece of forgotten WWII history
June 21, 2019
Ok read lee child recommendation???????
Bit in leet child’s zone.
Bit in leet child’s zone.
November 17, 2019
I picked this up on a whim, thoroughly enjoyed it.
February 18, 2021
Enjoyed the book. Fascinating for history. Easy and light reading but not overly exciting. Bought from the actual camp when on a visit there.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews