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| Ceremony to commemorate 'The Great Escape' | Ceremony to commemorate 'The Great Escape' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A ceremony to commemorate the Great Escape, the famous breakout from German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft Three in 1944, is due to take place later. | A ceremony to commemorate the Great Escape, the famous breakout from German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft Three in 1944, is due to take place later. |
| Survivors, families and UK and Polish officials will gather at Zagan in Poland, 70 years after the escape plot. | Survivors, families and UK and Polish officials will gather at Zagan in Poland, 70 years after the escape plot. |
| Of those who broke out of the camp, only three reached safety and of the 73 recaptured, 50 were shot. | Of those who broke out of the camp, only three reached safety and of the 73 recaptured, 50 were shot. |
| The ceremony, from 11:00 to 13:00 GMT, will be the first formal act of remembrance held in their honour. | The ceremony, from 11:00 to 13:00 GMT, will be the first formal act of remembrance held in their honour. |
| Between five and 10 survivors of the prisoner of war camp are expected to attend. | Between five and 10 survivors of the prisoner of war camp are expected to attend. |
| Afterwards, 50 RAF service personnel will march for four days to the cemetery at Poznan where the 50 prisoners of war are buried and lay wreaths in their memory. | Afterwards, 50 RAF service personnel will march for four days to the cemetery at Poznan where the 50 prisoners of war are buried and lay wreaths in their memory. |
| The daring bid for freedom was immortalised in the classic 1963 film The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough. | The daring bid for freedom was immortalised in the classic 1963 film The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough. |
| An escape committee was formed at the camp in spring 1943 and the escape plan hatched under the leadership of Squadron Leader Roger Bushell. | An escape committee was formed at the camp in spring 1943 and the escape plan hatched under the leadership of Squadron Leader Roger Bushell. |
| 'Remarkable achievement' | 'Remarkable achievement' |
| Three tunnels, codenamed Tom, Dick and Harry, were started in April 1943. | Three tunnels, codenamed Tom, Dick and Harry, were started in April 1943. |
| The tunnels were dug to a depth of 30ft and shored up with wooden boards from the prisoners' beds. | The tunnels were dug to a depth of 30ft and shored up with wooden boards from the prisoners' beds. |
| On the night of 24 March 1944, about 200 prisoners prepared to escape through Harry, a tunnel measuring over 300ft long, beneath Hut 104. | On the night of 24 March 1944, about 200 prisoners prepared to escape through Harry, a tunnel measuring over 300ft long, beneath Hut 104. |
| Of the 76 who made their break for freedom using the tunnel, 50 were subsequently shot by the Gestapo on Adolf Hitler's orders. | Of the 76 who made their break for freedom using the tunnel, 50 were subsequently shot by the Gestapo on Adolf Hitler's orders. |
| Only three of the escapees managed to reach England. | Only three of the escapees managed to reach England. |
| Former prisoner of war Charles Clarke, who has travelled to Poland for the ceremony, said the guards had been shocked at how many had dug their way out of the site. | |
| "I don't think they could really believe it because the camp was supposed to be escape-proof," he said. "I think it was a remarkable achievement and I have said this so many times - they did it with no tools, in conditions of great secrecy. | "I don't think they could really believe it because the camp was supposed to be escape-proof," he said. "I think it was a remarkable achievement and I have said this so many times - they did it with no tools, in conditions of great secrecy. |
| "When you think the chaps who lost their lives... what they have missed in the 70 years we have had." | "When you think the chaps who lost their lives... what they have missed in the 70 years we have had." |
| Stalag Luft Three, which was 100 miles south-east of Berlin, held about 10,000 RAF crew at the height of its occupation. | Stalag Luft Three, which was 100 miles south-east of Berlin, held about 10,000 RAF crew at the height of its occupation. |