On 25 March 1944, Hitler orders the Horrible execution of all Allied POWs recaptured following last night's 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III.

On 25 March 1944, Hitler orders the Horrible execution of all Allied POWs recaptured following last night's 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III.

In March 1943, RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bushell began planning the escape of over 200 prisoners from Stalag Luft III, a POW camp in western Poland that houses almost ten thousand Allied officers and NCOs.

Over 600 British and American prisoners began simultaneous work on three tunnels from barracks 123, 122, and 104 to outside the camp perimeter, codenamed 'Tom', 'Dick', and 'Harry.

Using thousands of utensils, improvised tools, food containers, and even electrical wires stolen from inattentive German workers, the prisoners dug the tunnels 8.5-9 m deep and over 100 m long, complete with staging areas, lights, and an air duct system.

They encountered two major setbacks: when the forest above the exit to 'Dick' was cleared for camp expansion, and the Germans discovered 'Tom' in September 1943.

They thus paused all efforts on 'Harry' until January 1944.

By then, they had forged or obtained enough fake identification papers, some with the help of openly anti-Nazi guards and civilians or by bribing guards. 

However, they had to work on short notice and plan to escape before the announced Gestapo inspection at the end of March instead of during the summer.

On the night of 24 March, those selected to escape began crawling through the tunnel, with the first successfully escaping into the forest around 2230 hours.

They continue to move through the tunnel at about ten per hour, but by 0430 hours, only 76 escape.

 At 0455 hours, guards spot the 77th prisoner as he emerges from the tunnel's exit and raise the alarm.

Today, on 25 March, Hitler is briefed on the escape and orders all the escapees to be shot.

 Hitler's generals urge him to refrain from such a reprisal, fearing that the Allies will retaliate in kind.

 Hitler finally reduces the execution order to just over half of the prisoners.

In the upcoming days, the Germans will capture 73 of the 76 escapees and execute 50 of them.