ABSTRACT
Belgian prisoners in Germany had many reasons for staying put, but a minority were motivated to escape. Their stories show the advantages of careful planning and the pitfalls they could encounter along the way. Material assistance in finding money, clothing, documents and, above all, information about travelling and border crossings were all crucial in aiding success, but even then there were unforeseen problems and the constant danger of discovery. Most fugitives headed for their homeland but realised that they might get more sympathy and help on the German side if they went via areas of the Reich that had been annexed from Belgium in 1940, such as Eupen, Malmedy, St. Vith or Moresnet. The escape narratives highlight the dangers faced by those on the run and the specific problems in travelling by train, where checks were frequent, and in crossing the German frontier on the way westwards.
