Now for the first time you can experience something of what it was like to be a prisoner of the Germans during World War Two. POW Escapes, in consultation with veterans and historians, has re-created a Prisoner of War camp in Poland of the type operated by the German Luftwaffe. Obviously our camp represents the camps that were run in accordance with the terms of the Geneva Convention, and conditions are as authentic as they can be without causing suffering to our “prisoners”. We know that conditions in the actual camps were often harsh and many men lost their lives. We dedicate this site to those brave men and we hope that this experience will help others appreciate something of what those men went through after they were captured while fighting for our freedom.
You will need to arrange your own flight to Warsaw in Poland, but from the moment you arrive until the moment you are “liberated” from the camp, you will live the part of an Allied airman shot down over Poland during WW2. You will be given your new identity when you have booked your place, and you must learn your cover story off by heart. At no time will you be allowed to break character, and at no time will any member of our staff break character. You will be given your uniform when you are “captured” by the Germans, and it will be yours to keep when you leave, free of charge.
Your briefing will include details of your name, rank and serial number along with details of the “mission” you were carrying out when you were shot down, and you will be required to learn and memorise the actual current events of the time so that you can share information with other “prisoners” when you reach the camp.
When you arrive in Warsaw you will be met by members of our staff playing the part of Polish resistance operatives. They will refer to you only by your “cover” name, and you will only know them by their cover names. Code words and signals will be used for identification purposes.
Our staff will remain in character for the entire duration of your experience. They will escort you to your “safe house” accommodation where you will meet fellow “Airmen” in hiding, and they will arrange for a sight-seeing tour of Warsaw, taking in all the sites relevant to World War Two and the German occupation of Poland – the Gestapo HQ, Gestapo prisons, the Warsaw Uprising museum, the Warsaw Ghetto and other points of historical importance. You will obviously wear your civilian clothes during this part of the experience.
At some point on the fifth day after you arrive in Warsaw, you will be “arrested” by members of our staff playing the role of Gestapo officers and Nazi Storm Troopers. They will take you away for “interrogation” and then you will be sent to Stalag Luft XIX – our re-creation of a WW2 Luftwaffe POW camp. Before you arrive you will be given your chosen uniform to wear for the remainder of the experience. Underwear and socks will also be provided.
When you arrive at the camp under armed guard, you will meet the Camp Commandant and he will tell you the rules to be obeyed during your stay. The camp is guarded by Luftwaffe guards in authentic uniforms with authentic weapons. You will meet your fellow “POWs” and other members of our staff playing the roles of existing POWs who have been at the camp since before your arrival. Other members of our staff will be playing the roles of “moles” planted by the Germans to gather information on escape attempts – be careful, never reveal your true identity or break character – those who do will be named and shamed as “collaborators” at the “Liberation Dinner” (see below). During the Liberation Dinner you will also be awarded a “rank” according to your performance in the camp. The more seriously you take the experience, the more you stay in character, the more you “live” the experience, keep secrets, refuse to collaborate, assist in escapes and perform your duty, the higher the rank you will be awarded.
Inside the camp there will be organised escape attempts and the “Germans” will respond in an authentic manner. There will also be surprise searches looking for contraband and anybody found with banned items will be punished.
There will be “trips to the cooler” (solitary confinement) and even firing squads for those found guilty of serious offences (members of our staff playing the part of long term prisoners will be the “victims”). These are all faithfully re-created in a completely authentic manner to give you a very real impression of what life was like for POWs of the time. Be warned, there will be some shocks.
After five nights of “captivity”, the camp will be “liberated” by members of our staff playing Russian troops, and you will be taken to a Warsaw hotel. That night you will attend the “Liberation Dinner” where the Camp Commandant and the guards will be guests of honour. There will be authentic 1940s entertainment, dancing and decor. All guests and staff will remain in uniform for this event. You will be presented with souvenirs of your experience and a certificate to say you have attended the lectures of your choice. You will be awarded your “rank” according to your performance, and your uniform will be yours to keep.
The following morning you will be free to fly home or carry on your tour of Poland. You may wish to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, other concentration camps, or Sagan, the site of the original Stalag Luft III of “Great Escape” fame. All these tours and others can be arranged on your behalf at extra cost.
Dates for 2010 are July 18th to 28th. Book your place now by clicking here.
NO TELEPHONES, MP3 PLAYERS, RADIOS OR OTHER TYPES OF MODERN EQUIPMENT ARE ALLOWED IN THE CAMP. Your cellular telephone (and its charger) will be held and monitored by our staff playing members of the Polish resistance for the duration of the experience. Any urgent messages from home will be passed to you in the camp. Only URGENT messages from TWO people that you nominate will be passed on. Before you leave your home, you must inform your friends / relatives / office / work associates that you will be unreachable for the full duration of the experience, except in absolute emergencies.
Food and exercise in the camp are designed to make sure you are fit and healthy for duty following liberation. Expect to eat healthily, lose weight and get fit during the experience.
