November 16, 2004

Somethin' good landed smack dab in the middle of tonight's TV lineup

In case ya are bored and can't find nuthin' better to do, I suggest ya turn on your TV, if'n ya got one of 'em, and tune in PBS. NOVA has a very interestin' show lined up for ya to see tonight, the real story behind The Great Escape. 'Scuse me please while I go try to locate a videotape that I can use to make a copy of this program.

By the way, did any of the Germans ever escape from our prison camps durin' the war? I ain't never heard any stories about such occurrin', least ways not from the American POW camps. I also never heard of a Hogan's Heroes equivalent playin' on TVs in Germany.

Posted by Tiger at November 16, 2004 06:02 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Yes, I believe there was an escape of German prisoners being held in Phoenix, Arizona. The only detail I remember was that they had somehow gotten hold of a map and planned to float down the Salt River past Yuma to the Sea of Cortez. Unfortunately, they didn't know that the Salt is dry as a bone since it was dammed for irrigation back in the 'thirties. I believe all were recaptured in short order, but it was a pretty impressive stunt.

Posted by: TwoCents at November 16, 2004 11:30 PM

Thanks! I'll have to do a bit a research and see if I can find anythin' 'bout that on the 'net. ;)

Posted by: Tig at November 17, 2004 08:15 AM

I remember reading once of some Nazis escaping in the Arkansas and Louisiana area, making way by boat to South America.

Most of what I read indicates the Germans were most happy to be over here. In fact, many stayed after the war.

My grandfather, who was a farmer in Araknsas, used some prisoners on his farm. They became friends. These guys had no guards and commuted to his farm as if they just had day jobs.

I personally knew a former German soldier on Long Island who stayed after the war to work in an aircraft factory. He served on the eastern front, and escaped from Stalingrad on a tank. He was sent to France and captured there in 1944. This guy was a wiry SOB, and could beat anyone to hell, eventhough when I knew him, he was in his late 60s. By the way, he was a most conscientious worker.

And that's what I know.

More important, how come the Nazis never executed Kinchloe? I thought they hated blacks.

Posted by: Chris at November 17, 2004 12:34 PM