Francis Steinmetz
Encyclopedia
Francis Steinmetz was an officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy who escaped from Oflag IV-C
, Colditz Castle
, a German POW camp, during World War II
.
In August 1941, Steinmetz, along with another Dutch POW, Lieutenant Hans Larive
, hid under a manhole cover
in the exercise yard of Colditz castle. Whilst the other prisoners were playing a game of soccer, lieutenant Gerrit Dames cut a small hole in the wire fence, allowing the two men to escape after the other prisoners left for roll call
and supper. The two came up out of hiding after nightfall, took a train to Gottmadingen, Germany, and reached Switzerland in three days.
Two other Dutchmen followed Steinmetz's actions; one Major C.Giebel and a Lieutenant O.Drijber used the same escape route. The method was discovered on the third attempt when two more Dutch officers tried to use it and were discovered by guards.
Oflag IV-C
Oflag IV-C, often referred to as Colditz Castle because of its location, was one of the most famous German Army prisoner-of-war camps for officers in World War II; Oflag is a shortening of Offizierslager, meaning "officers camp"...
, Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle is a Renaissance castle in the town of Colditz near Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz in the state of Saxony in Germany. Used as a workhouse for the indigent and a mental institution for over 100 years, it gained international fame as a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II for...
, a German POW camp, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In August 1941, Steinmetz, along with another Dutch POW, Lieutenant Hans Larive
Hans Larive
Etienne Henri "Hans" Larive, MWO, DSC and bar, was a Dutch naval officer during World War II. He escaped from the prisoner of war camp Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle in 1941, and spent the rest of the war in England serving aboard Motor Torpedo Boats...
, hid under a manhole cover
Manhole cover
A manhole cover is a removable plate forming the lid over the opening of a manhole, to prevent anyone from falling in and to keep unauthorized persons out....
in the exercise yard of Colditz castle. Whilst the other prisoners were playing a game of soccer, lieutenant Gerrit Dames cut a small hole in the wire fence, allowing the two men to escape after the other prisoners left for roll call
Roll call
Roll call is the calling of the names of people from a list to determine the presence or absence of the listed people . The term applies to the calling itself, to the time moment of this procedure, and to a military signal that announces it Roll call is the calling of the names of people from a...
and supper. The two came up out of hiding after nightfall, took a train to Gottmadingen, Germany, and reached Switzerland in three days.
Two other Dutchmen followed Steinmetz's actions; one Major C.Giebel and a Lieutenant O.Drijber used the same escape route. The method was discovered on the third attempt when two more Dutch officers tried to use it and were discovered by guards.