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Paul Brickhill

The Great Escape Mass Market Paperback – May 12, 1986

by Paul Brickhill (Author)

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With only their bare hands and the crudest of homemade tools, they sank shafts, built underground railroads, forged passports, drew maps, faked weapons, and tailored German uniforms and civilian clothes.

They developed a fantastic security system to protect themselves from the German "ferrets" who prowled the compounds with nerve-racking tenacity and suspicion.

It was a split-second operation as delicate and as deadly as a time bomb. It demanded the concentrated devotion and vigilance of more than six hundred men -- every single one of them, every minute, every hour, every day, and every night for more than a year.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Fawcett
Publication date

May 12, 1986
Dimensions

4.21 x 0.66 x 6.86 inches
ISBN-10

0449210685
ISBN-13

978-0449210680
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One Of The Great True Stories Of The War, And One Of The Greatest Escape Narratives Of All Time."

The San Francisco Chronicle

From the Inside Flap

eir bare hands and the crudest of homemade tools, they sank shafts, built underground railroads, forged passports, drew maps, faked weapons, and tailored German uniforms and civilian clothes.<br><br>They developed a fantastic security system to protect themselves from the German "ferrets" who prowled the compounds with nerve-racking tenacity and suspicion.<br><br>It was a split-second operation as delicate and as deadly as a time bomb. It demanded the concentrated devotion and vigilance of more than six hundred men -- every single one of them, every minute, every hour, every day, and every night for more than a year.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fawcett (May 12, 1986)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0449210685
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0449210680
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.21 x 0.66 x 6.86 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #504,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,031 in Military Historical Fiction
- #4,929 in War Fiction (Books)
- #47,252 in Biographies

Customer Reviews:
306 ratings

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BALACOBACO

A famous book. It has some fictional names because it was written soon after the war(1950), but nowadays they are totally known.

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2015

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Australian Paul Brickhill, a Spitfire pilot who flew in World War Ii in RAF's 92 Squadron, and that was shot down and taken prisoner in Tunisia in 1943, wrote three famous books in his career after the war: REACH FOR THE SKY (the Douglas Bader history), THE DAM BUSTERS (about RAF's 617 Squadron and the raids against the German dams in the Ruhr), and THE GREAT ESCAPE (about the famous escape from a German Air Force personnel prisoner camp in Sagan).

Although all three were made into movies, THE GREAT ESCAPE is by far the most well known, basically due to the fact that it received the "full Hollywwod treatment" (for better or for worse), in the film of the same name released in 1963. And also, of course, because of the sheer atrocity committed by the Nazis against the fugitives.

Brickhill is a fact teller. You will not find much about specific characters, deep emotions, despair or whatever. It's basically a description about what the almost 600 hundred people involved in any manner with the escape attempt worked. There were the "stooges" (security), the forgers, the compass makers, the tailors, the planners, the bribers, of course, the diggers!

The book goes all the way until the day of the escape, which was doomed since the beginning: terrifying cold outside; not being capable to find the railway access to buy train tickets, in the night; the exit hole being outside the forest surrounding the camp; frozen ground delaying the opening of the exiting hole by one hour and a half; some sand falls in the tunnel...

The result is that Roger Bushell (the master planner) and other leaders (Group Captain Massey, Wings Day) knew before hand that almost everybody would get caught, mainly the 'hardarsers" (people that eould try to escape by foot and that did not speak German). Their main aim was simply to act according to the officers code, trying to escape and harrassing the enemy anyway they could.

The trouble is that, even in their worst dreams, the fugitives never thought they were going to be shot. Maybe Roger Bushell knew he COULD be executed, but all the others don't. Roger was such a Tasmanian devil, that the Germans had had enough. He was considered almost a saboteur. Caught in civilian clothes trying to escape, it was all they needed to shot him.

Only three men managed to escape: two Norwegian flghter pilots made the ultimate perfect escape, and in a couple dyas were already in England. The other man took longer, going through Spain, and reached England intact.

Then, the book goes about the hunt for the executioners, vile Gestapo men most of them. Mostly, it was not the case of "receiving orders". Most of them received the orders and did the killings wih gusto. "Heroically" shooting people in the back of the dead.... Fifteen men were executed in 1948. Other men were found guilty in later years, but their death sentences were comuted to life imprisonment. Hard feelings were already going low...

As for the movie, it is what is: Hollywood. A classic, yes, but once you read the book, you will get a little bit angry about the movie. Firts: there were no Americans amongst the 76 fugitives (and the movie inlcude two main American characters, McQueen and James Garner); there were no runaways with motorcycle or planes (two of the most important moments of the movie); the 50 men executed were not shot at once, in the same place (it was in pairs or four at the most, in different places); there is no German character other than the commandat, and in the book there are at least two strong German guards (Rubberneck, for example). However, I understand they had to create dialogues and and composite characters, because, other than Roger Bushell's single mindedness, Brickhill gives the reader almost nothing in terms of character traits.

A very good book, deservedly placed among the classics of World War II literature.

19 people found this helpful

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hthesmith

Average read

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2017

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Mr. Brickhill doesn't know how to write very well, but he doesn't really need to because the subject stands up pretty well on its own. The book has a "sameness" about it all throughout because every chapter sounds exactly like the last one. Brickhill can't write dialogue and literary description fails him so it's too bad they didn't get a ghostwriter to help him out because like I said, he does have quite a story to tell. There was one aspect to the story that I found curious. Brickhill along with the other prisoners was shocked that many of the escapees were shot. He blathers on about the Geneva Convention and how this is in violation of that, but really, what in &^%&& did he/they expect? The Germans were murdering civilians and Slavic soldiers right and left. Brickhill knew this b/c he mentions how a Czech family who hid Roger Bushell in Prague was summarily executed when the Gestapo found out. That doesn't seem to phase him. But killing Brits does. The German high command was psychotic and it was just a matter of time before the Allied POWs felt the brunt of it. I found his reaction and the reaction of his compatriots to the mass shooting disingenuous and extremely naive.

4 people found this helpful

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SteveinMA

Fascinating read, as good (but different) than the movie

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2019

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This was an outstanding read, really demonstrated the real life ingenuity of British and allied POWs in WWII. While it differs (for dramatic purposes) from the movie of the same name, this true rendition is every bit as engaging and more important, it's the true story!

3 people found this helpful

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Dan W.

25 years later and I now I fianly have a copy of my own.

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2021

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I found a hard back copy of this book in my high school library and have been looking for the past 25 some odd years to get my own copy. I can now stop kicking myself for not acquiring it when I could. This is an amazing account told by a participate of the biggest POW escape in WWII (but too claustrophobic to make the tunnel passage). This book has the details that are only hinted at in the 1963 movie of the same name. A must read for any student of the WWII European Theater.

One person found this helpful

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The original Great Escape...

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2006

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Paul Brickhill's "The Great Escape" may be the classic wartime escape account, and the inspiration for the classic movie of the same title. The largest single breakout of POWs from a Nazi detention facility during the Second War World was organized by a mixed group of British and American fliers at Luft Stalag III, many of whom were veterans of previous escape attempts. Under the noses of their German captors, the fliers dug three tunnels, one of which finally reached beyond the perimeter wire and made possible an escape attempt.

Brickhill was one of the POWs who worked on the escape project. "The Great Escape" is full of fascinating details on the security plan that hid the tunnels from prying German ferrets, on improvised equipment, and on manufactured escape clothing and documentation. Brickhill's narrative includes the key personalities inside the wire who put the whole thing together and pulled it off.

Brickhill does not romanticize the POW life. The POWs were half-starved, suffering from the effects of years of confinement, and in constant danger of provoking German retaliation. That so many sacrificed so much is a testament to all of them as human beings and as representatives of the Allied military effort.

This book is very highly recommended to those readers interested in the POW experience and the real story behind "The Great Escape."

3 people found this helpful

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Robert Yordan

The Great Escape

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020

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The novelization is historically of WW2 about how POW’s planned and executed with precision fooling the Germans escaped from a nazi prison camp, it gives details with great characters and situations brillianty done by author Paul Brickhill.

One person found this helpful

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Squeaky Joe

A must-read for anyone interested in WWII.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2021

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The classic wartime adventure story that tells how 600 men worked on a plan that would eventually result in 76 men escaping from a prisoner-of-war camp. With men engaged in digging, forging passports and other documents, making suitable escape outfits and keeping the Germans occupied when they got too nosy, this book relates the story and the aftermath of the most audacious escape attempt in history.

Written by Australian pilot Paul Brickhill, the book begins with the various escape attempts made by several men before being captured and interned in a new camp, Stalag Luft III. Going into meticulous detail, the author describes the many different roles taken by prisoners in their efforts to stage a mass breakout from the camp. Although somewhat different to the movie version, many incidents are familiar, such as the escapee who inadvertently answers in English when questioned under his disguise as a French businessman.

One noticeable feature of the book is the author’s choice not to include himself in the story. Though Brickhill was at the camp and worked as a tunneller and lookout before taking charge of security for the forger team, he wrote The Great Escape from the point of view of an all-seeing observer.

A classic tale of courage, ingenuity and determination, and a must-read for anyone interested in WWII.

One person found this helpful

M. W. Ellwood

As expected from Paul Brickhill, a very gripping story, well told.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2020

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As expected from Paul Brickhill, a very gripping story, well told.

I'd read "The Dam Busters" ( many times ), and also "Reach for the Sky" several times, so I knew Paul Brickhill was a great writer. For some reason I'd ignored this book, and am glad I've put this right now.

Of course it's a better book because Brickhill was himself involved in planning and working on the escape, although he was not among those chosen to go.

One person found this helpful

CARNLOU

A Very Good Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2013

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I recently purchased 'The Great Escape' by Paul Brickhill off here and a great purchase it turned out to be. Now, first thing's first, if you think you are buying a novelisation of the 1963 film of the same name (the front cover of the book being advertised on the site at present would), then think again. This is not the book of the film. This is the real deal. This is a book that details how over 600 prisoners of war came together and masterminded a huge breakout from Stalag Luft III by building three tunnels codenamed Tom, Dick and Harry. Moreover, they did all of this right under the noses of their German Luftwaffe captors.

For the most part, the book is very good. Brickhill literally describes everything from the prisoners' arrival at Sagan to the eventual breakout itself. If I had any complaints to make about his writing style, it would be that, at times, he can be a little too detailed. Read the book and you shall see what I mean. Overall, it's not really a big problem.

Of course, on the night of the escape then, 76 men broke out and the majority of them were captured within days. Brickhill captures their fear perfectly here. Sadly though, 50 of the prisoners would be brutally executed by the Gestapo under direct orders of Hitler. Out of the 76, I do believe that only 3 made a 'home run'.

So, all things considered, it was a pleasure to finally read 'The Great Escape'. It goes without saying that I am a huge fan of the film, but the book documents the real story as it really happened. With that in mind, if you have always wanted to read up on the real escape that influenced the film, then I strongly recommend a purchase of this book - a very good read.

Hope this review helps. Thanks for reading.

4 people found this helpful

Kevin Martin

The first of a long line of books telling of the classic escape from a German POW camp

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2019

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Read many years ago, and as the first proper account of the escape, that was coined 'Great' after this book, it has to be considered a classic.

Many subsequent books have proved that some of the content is wrong, but it does not detract from the emotional content of what was a tragic but heroic attempt to frustrate the Germans.

Peter T.

The Greatest Escape

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2013

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Now so well known as a classic escape story of the Second World War,little did we know quite how much of the film was from the true story as told by aone of those involved.Paul Brickhill, lucky to still be alive, which had his own plans gone well, might well not have been the case. 76 escaped rather than the intended 200, but such as to enrage Hitler who initially ordered that all escapees should be shot on recapture but was persuaded to limit the death list to fifty. After the war many of those who carried out. That order were tried and hanged.
An incredible escape plan involving initially 3 tunnels known as Tom, Dick and Harry and most of the camp inmates.ultimately fifty men were executed for their courage and audacity. Paul Brickhill brings it to life brilliantly.

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