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COLDITZ – UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT by Nicolas Trudgian

Colditz – a forbidding medieval castle near Leiptzig, Germany - remains one of the most potent symbols of the Second World War. Reputed to be the Nazis most escape proof prison this grim castle is the most notorious PoW camp in history with the distinction of being the only German prison that had more guards than prisoners.

The castle was specifically used to impound incorrigible Allied oficers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps but putting so many experienced serial escapers in one place proved to be a rather questionable idea. Despite more conventional escape route gradually being sealed off by the Germans, members of "The Colditz Escape Academy" continue to jump, tunnel and sneak out of this 'inescapable' prison in surprising numbers.

Early in the war Hermann Goering made a public declaration that Colditz was 'escape proof' but he was to be proven wrong tim and time again, and over 300 attempts were made during the course of the war, with more than 130 prisoners escaping and 31 succeccfully reaching home. When captured, the result was three weeks in the solitary confinement block, however this didn't stop prisoners inventing more elaborate ways of escaping, even catapulting themselves out of high windows, and of course the famous design and building of a sophisticated glider.

This new edition, reproduced from a pencil drawing by Nicolas Trudgian, depicts the imposing castle shortly after being liberated by American troops in April 1945. In the foreground below a Sherman Tank of the 9th Armoured division stands on watch, close to the sign that was erected by the US 69th Infantry Division.

THE SIGNATURES
The edition is personally signed by veterans that were inmates of Colditz during WWII, and this extraordinary release represents an illustration of human resilience and ingenuity, and is likely to be highly sought after by collectors and historians alike.

THE LIMITED EDITION
Along with artist Nicolas Trudgian, these prints are also signed by a soldier who spent two years in Colditz during WWII - Major PETER PARKER

Overall size 14.5" x 12"

200 Signed & numbered prints with one signature £50inc vat (£42.56+vat)


THE COLDITZ PROOFS
Every print in this edition is issued with a special edition copy of the book ‘Collecting Colditz and its Secrets’ which is personally signed by the author Michael Booker, individually stamped using the original No1 Colditz ‘censor’ stamp and presented in a gold embossed slipcase.

Each copy is additionally double matted to conservation standards to include an original piece of the wooden floor from the Guardroom in the solitary confinement block and additionally signed by a further FIVE Colditz veterans and one of the Guards, a total of SEVEN signatures:

Major General CORRAN PURDON
Flight Lieutenant BILL GOLDFINCH
Major MIKE EDWARDS
Brigadier GRISMOND DAVIES-SCOURFIELD
Staff Sergeant MURRAY SHAPIRO
Professor PETER HOFFMAN - prison guard (Special edition book)

The Colditz proofs are additionally authenticated by the official museum at Colditz.

Overall size 18" x 17.5"

76 Colditz Proofs with 7 signatures and book - £395 inc vat (£336.17+vat)
25 Artist Proofs and book - £495 inc vat (£421.28+vat)

Orders from outside the European Union are free from VAT. But due to the weight of the parcel will attract a shipping surcharge

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