Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Colditz
- Prisoners of the Castle
- Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
In a forbidding Gothic castle on a hilltop in the heart of Nazi Germany, an unlikely band of British officers spent the Second World War plotting daring escapes from their German captors. Or so the story of Colditz has gone, unchallenged for 70 years. But that tale contains only part of the truth.
The astonishing inside story, revealed for the first time by bestselling historian Ben Macintyre, is a tale of the indomitable human spirit, but also one of class conflict, homosexuality, espionage, insanity and farce. Through an astonishing range of material, Macintyre reveals a remarkable cast of characters, wider than previously seen and hitherto hidden from history, taking in prisoners and captors who were living cheek-by-jowl in a thrilling game of cat and mouse.
From the elitist members of the Colditz Bullingdon Club to America's oldest paratrooper and least successful secret agent, the soldier-prisoners of Colditz were courageous and resilient as well as vulnerable and fearful—and astonishingly imaginative in their desperate escape attempts. Deeply researched and full of incredible human stories, this is the definitive book on Colditz.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
What listeners say about Colditz
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- B. E. Heffernan
- 13-04-23
Fantastic
Absolute joy to listen too however have to admit I didn’t know much about Colditz even though at my age of 58 I should be more knowledgeable. Like I said an absolute joy to listen to
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- linz
- 22-04-23
fascinating insight
I very much enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the POWs and the prison. Grudging respect for Eggers and his bafflement at how rude the English prisoners were. it is both very amusing at times and also tragic. Recommended to anyone with even a passing interest like mine.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- McDermoV
- 19-03-23
Colditz for the WW2 buff.
An excellent even-handed thoroughly researched account of the famous POW camp. Some details I knew, many I did not. Recommended as both a good yarn and interesting history.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pecola
- 07-02-23
A hugely interesting, fascinating, informative and important book
If you have any internet in recent history, WWII or human ingenuity you should find this book fascinating and a jolly good story brilliantly narrated by the author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- tillymax
- 12-05-23
Brilliant book, superbly narrated by the author
Ben MacIntyre has produced another book that must be the definitive book on the subject of Colditz. Far from what had often been portrayed in the past, books, films and TV series ie that it was populated by plucky Brits, and nasty Germans, there was a truly international dimension to the cast of characters that played a part in the Colditz story.
The individuals be they prisoners or the German officers in charge have their stories fleshed out so very well and interestingly.
I felt that I learned a lot, historically, about human nature and enormous spirit and ingenuity that was required to survive incarceration for what for some was nearly 5 years. I really found that I had to listen to the book at every opportunity, unputdownable
One of Ben MacIntyre’s best ever books, thoroughly recommended
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Simon Wagman
- 27-05-23
Interesting
Interesting listen and well read. A bit dry in places but worth it and highly recommend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- patrick dalgleish
- 06-10-22
A comprehensive history of this famous camp
well researched and told a history of Colditz that will entertain and inform all especially those of us that grew up playing the board game and watching the TV series. I am now encouraged to search out more by this author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ed Ballard
- 22-12-22
Amazing really great
So enjoy listening to this book! Really well told balance of facts and insights into the people. Thank you
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- viv
- 02-11-22
Fascinating and brilliant
As usual, Ben MacIntyre informs and entertains. He tells these fascinating and amazing stories in such an easy style you can listen for hours. His narration is perfect. I have been fascinated by Colditz since watching the BBC series as a child and it still never fails to fill me with admiration and almost disbelief at what these men endured and achieved.
However Macintyre goes further here than the TV series and films as we learn about the shocking treatment of an Indian officer in the British Army and we get a brilliant insight into the real Douglas Bader - he certainly wasn’t any Kenneth More ( mind you, even that presentation of his character got on my nerves!). A great listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alexander Shepherd
- 08-12-22
Excellent book. Couldn’t stop listening.
This book is so good. It it well researched and entertaining. The characters and stories are amazing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!