Fascinating, riveting, surprising: not just for WWII buffs.
12/09/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An engrossing account of brave and seemingly impossible escapes from enemy prison camps and other dangerous situations. The almost Python-esque methods of escape are mind-boggling. Real "Let's dig a tunnel a quarter of a mile long with nothing but a spoon and a cork screw" type stuff--but they actually did it, and it actually worked. The extreme creativity and bravery of a member of the French Resistance who is trying to free her husband from capture by the Germans will bring you to tears."
A Variety of Escape Experiences
Jan Peczkis | Chicago IL, USA | 05/10/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"
This two-part DVD presents escape experiences from situations as varied as POW camps, evacuations of land troops (Dunkirk) and overturned ship hulls (the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor). Some of the escapes cited, in my opinion, do not belong together in this DVD. Thus, for instance, the repeated escapes of one German POW (Luftwaffe pilot Steinhilper from a Canadian POW camp) hardly deserve mention together with the Great Escape of European POWs from Stalag Luft III. Individual escapes from German POW camps, each a counterpart of Steinhilper's experiences, were a common occurrence. In addition, German POWs in Allied custody had much better conditions for escaping than did their Allied counterparts in German hands, and did not face potential death upon recapture, but that is another story.
Detailed scenes of the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor are provided, and survivors of the bombing of the USS Oklahoma are interviewed. One is also heartened to learn that several times as many soldiers were evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk as had been originally planned.
Much detail is presented about the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. A number of ageing veterans of the Great Escape were interviewed. Their memories appear to be very crisp despite the passage of all this time. Some of them were still brought to tears when the murder of 50 of the 73 recaptured airmen was recounted.
"
Great Escapes of WWII DVD
Shoobedoo | Maryland, USA | 01/09/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The History Channel generally offers good productions on WWII subjects, and this DVD is no different. It is entertaining and accurate, and well worth the price of admission."