During the Second World War, incorrigible escapees from German prisoner-of-war camps were given a special prison all to themselves - the famous Castle Colditz in Saxony. This maximum-security prison was deemed escape-proof, but of course the Allied prisoners set out to prove that wrong.
The Colditz Story recounts the true stories of the British, Polish and other nations represented in this special camp. This is a British story, so it does of course focus on the British prisoners. They, especially the officers, did have a huge advantage over the prisoners from other countries. Colditz was, after all, much like home - or at least, much like the boys' schools they all came from, with the cold dormitories, bad food and complete lack of girls.
Their escapes were aimed at getting back to Britain, to be able to rejoin their regiments and keep fighting. But that was only part of their aim. They knew that even unsuccessful escapes kept German troops busy trying to round them up. The more resources which were wasted on chasing prisoners, the less on the main war effort.
The Colditz prison camp has become the butt of satire in many a comedy series, but there is real affection behind the satire. These prisoners were men who simply refused to give up. Against all odds they continued the fight, often dying in the attempt. This film is a worthy commemoration.