When Britain entered the Second World War in September 1939, military planners understood that thousands of Allied servicemen would inevitably fall into enemy hands. Traditionally, prisoners of war were expected simply to endure captivity until the conflict ended. But this time, the British military establishment began to develop a very different philosophy.
To coordinate rescue and escape efforts, Britain established MI9, a secret department dedicated to helping Allied servicemen evade capture and escape from occupied Europe. At its head was the determined Norman Crockatt, a brigadier who transformed escape from a private ambition into an official duty.
Highly detailed map printed on silk were supplied to Allied PoW to help them escape. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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