Stalag Luft III (the Luftwaffe's main camp) was founded in May 1942 in a forest near the town of Żagań (Sagan) and the local army prisoner of war camp Stalag VIII C in Lower Silesia. It was one of six German prisoner of war camps specifically designed to hold the growing number of captured enemy air force personnel. Initially, the camp held mainly British and Americans, but pilots from other nations were later added. By June 1944, the camp housed 10,494 Luftwaffe officers and non-commissioned officers. Stalag III became known primarily for several escapes. In the largest escape attempt, over 80 soldiers temporarily found their way to freedom. This escape was made into a 1962 film with Steve McQueen called "Broken Chains." At the former entrance to the camp, it is worth visiting the small museum and the reconstructed camp barracks. The foundations of the original barracks and the tunnel outlines are located here in the forest and are easily accessible on foot or by car.

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Elevation 120 m

Weather

Saturday 17 January

6°C

-3°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

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Location: Żagań, powiat żagański, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland

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