Recounts the stories of astonishing escapes and escape attempts made during World War II from Colditz Castle, the POW camp reserved by the Third Reich for the most ingenious, persistent escape artists from lesser camps.

Photographs appearing in the book were taken by Johannes Lange.

The history of Schloss Colditz -- Double-cross disaster -- C'est la vie -- Flushed out, from the German lavatories -- The chocolate car -- Bagged, by an informer -- Duped, by the Dutch dummies -- Escape equipment -- The day the Germans saw double -- The curtain rises -- Taken to the cleaners -- The murder of seven commandos -- How the fixer fixed a kiss -- A night on the tiles -- Steal, and be damned -- The secret ghosts -- If Allah is willing -- Invitation to dinner -- The freedom flight.