Details
COLDITZ – UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
by Nicolas Trudgian
Overall Print Size: 14½" x 12"
Edition Size: 200
Secondary Market
Colditz – a forbidding medieval castle near Leiptzig, Germany - remains one of the most potent symbols of the Second World War. Reputed to be the Nazis most escape proof prison this grim castle is the most notorious POW camp in history with the distinction of being the only German prison that had more guards than prisoners.
The castle was specifically used to impound incorrigible Allied officers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps, but putting so many experienced serial escapers in one place proved to be a rather questionable idea. Despite more conventional escape route gradually being sealed off by the Germans, members of "The Colditz Escape Academy" continue to jump, tunnel and sneak out of this 'inescapable' prison in surprising numbers.
Early in the war Hermann Goering made a public declaration that Colditz was 'escape proof' but he was to be proven wrong time and time again, and over 300 attempts were made during the course of the war, with more than 130 prisoners escaping and 31 successfully reaching home. When captured, the result was three weeks in the solitary confinement block, however this didn't stop prisoners inventing more elaborate ways of escaping, even catapulting themselves out of high windows, and of course the famous design and building of a sophisticated glider.
Early in the war Hermann Goering made a public declaration that Colditz was 'escape proof' but he was to be proven wrong time and time again, and over 300 attempts were made during the course of the war, with more than 130 prisoners escaping and 31 successfully reaching home. When captured, the result was three weeks in the solitary confinement block, however this didn't stop prisoners inventing more elaborate ways of escaping, even catapulting themselves out of high windows, and of course the famous design and building of a sophisticated glider.
Reproduced from a pencil drawing by Nicolas Trudgian, "COLDITZ – UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT" depicts the imposing castle shortly after being liberated by American troops in April 1945. In the foreground below the castle a Sherman Tank of the 9th Armored Division stands on watch, close to the sign that was erected by the US 69th Infantry Division.
In addition to artist Nicolas Trudgian, this stunning print is individually signed in pencil by a soldier who spent two years in Colditz during WWII:
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
