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Colditz Tour 13
Das Leben in Oflag IVC 
und ein Tunnel...
Everyday Life in Oflag IVC 
and a Tunnel...

Ehemaliger Kartoffel- oder Weinkeller unter dem Kellerhaus. Früher fanden eine Ausstellung von Aquarellen des britischen Kriegsgefangenen William F. Anderson. Diese eindrucksvollen Kunstwerke entstanden während des Zweiten Weltkrieges im Offizierssonderlager Oflag IV c, das im Schloß eingerichtet war. (Die Ausstellung ist jetzt im einem anderen Gebäude.)

Colditz: Schloss : Castle : Weinkeller : Ausstellung : Exhibition : Herr und Frau Sittner : photo April 1995 © Antony F. Anderson
Herr und Frau Sittner - Die Schokolade - Story		 Colditz : Schloss : Castle : Weinkeller : Ausstellung : Exhibition : photo 1996 © Jens Mahlmann
Former Potato- or Wine Cellar. This was the initial site of the exhibition of paintings by the British P.o.W. William F. Anderson. Those impressive works of art were painted during World War II in the Allied officers’ special camp Oflag IV c in Colditz Castle. This exhibition can now be found in another building.


Gleich im nächsten Keller werden Sie den Einstieg zum größten Fluchttunnel entdecken, der im Offizierslager auf dem Schloß gegraben wurde. 1941/42 gruben die französischen Offiziere in acht Monaten diesen Stollen von 44 Metern Länge, der auch durch die Kapelle führte. Nur 14 Meter vor dem geplanten Tunnel-ausgang wurde der Plan von den Deutschen aufgedeckt. 
Colditz : Schloss : Castle : Keller : Cellar : Fluchttunnel : Escape Tunnel : photo 1996 © Jens Mahlmann
In the very next cellar you will discover the entrance to the greatest escape tunnel ever dug in the Castle camp. In 1941/42 the French officers needed eight months to dig this tunnel of 44 meters length, leading also through the chapel. Only 14 meters before it would have been finished the Germans discovered the tunnel.
 

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 Next:- To Page 14: Explore the Attics and discover their secrets
 

Notes

Herr Heinz Sittner, a Colditzer who was a 13 year old schoolboy at the end of the war, looking at the exhibition with his wife.

The Story of the Chocolate

During the war POW families saved up chocolate to send out to Germany to supplement that provided by the Red Cross - little did they know how that chocolate might change people’s views….. 
    Mother said to me: "Say Good Day quietly…"

    Heinz Sittner often went with his mother to their allotment in Mosseln. Directly nearby, Officer prisoners of war from the Castle also had an allotment. They were not allowed to talk to each other even though the guards lazed around most of the time on the grass. One time a prisoner offered him a piece of chocolate. What was he to do? After all, he was in the Hitler Youth. His mother nodded, and he took it. He often went to the allotment alone. Then his mother gave him this advice: "You must say Heil Hitler to the guards, but say Good Day quietly to the prisoners…."

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Updated January 13th 2005