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The
Long March in 1945 was undertaken by prisoners of war from POW
camps in eastern Germany (now Polish territory) fleeing the
advancing Russians. A group from Cosford led by our Training and
Development Squadron, headed off in February 2007 to re-enact the
march of one group of POWs from Stalag Luft III at Zagan in
February 1945. Stalag Luft III was the POW camp famous for the
Great Escape through tunnels burrowed under the fence; some 50
re-captured POWs were murdered by the Gestapo. The film, The Great
Escape, with Steve McQueen et al was based on that escape. We were
accompanied during our days in Poland and Germany by two veterans
from that time who participated in the original Long March, and
although not participants in the Great Escape, were at Stalag Luft
III at that time and knew many of the men who escaped. So, we were
in the presence of men who had done the real thing, in conditions
of -20 degrees, with minimal equipment. We had all the equipment we
needed, we were in good physical condition with good food and
support, but it was still very tough - marching some 20 odd miles a
day and staying in very primitive conditions - tents and barns. A
day in Berlin before we began the march gave us the opportunity to
see some of the 2nd World War and Cold War sights ( I was ‘missing
in action’ for a few hours after the group scarpered down some
street and I lost them, though I managed to make contact by phone
and taxi back to them. They hadn’t even missed me !) After the
March we enjoyed a night back in Poland at a castle hotel with a
wonderful dining in night and much vodka ! Characters ? Warrant
Officer Dods, a Scots Presbyterian and Rangers supporter who found
it difficult to go in to the Catholic Churches that we stopped at
in Poland (where the original marchers often spent the night), but
converted in the end; PTI Sgt Carter who was last seen in the
castle in Poland exchanging all his clothes (except underpants)
with some Polish guy (Carter got an Armani suit, the Pole an RAF No
5 mess dress); and Coops who couldn’t march in
line.