USAG Poland, 3rd ID remember the 'Great Escape'

ZAGAN, Poland - 82 years after one of history's most audacious prison breaks, the legacy of the "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft 3 was remembered at the POW camp - turned museum in Zagan, Poland, March 24, 2026. Delegations of American, Polish and other nations honored the Airmen who escaped and those who lost their lives in the attempt. A moment in World War II history that continues to tie the U.S., Poland and the 13 different nations who were represented in the break out.

"In Stalag Luft 3 [on] 1944 March 24th, the whole idea was a mass escape of over 200 prisoners, and for that the POWs were digging three tunnels at the same time. These tunnels were code named Tom, Dick, and Harry; and unfortunately, Harry was the only one completed," said Marek Lazarz, Director of the POW Camps Museum at Zagan. "Due to so many technical problems and difficulties, instead of 200 only 76 escaped, but of the 76 only three made it to England. The other prisoners were recaptured and 50 were murdered."

The Great Escape took place on the nights of March 24-25, 1944 during World War II in present-day Zagan, Poland, and was established in March 1942 near the town of Sagan, Lower Silesia in then Nazi Germany, to hold Allied air force prisoners of war. Just over 10,000 Allied Airmen were held captive at Stalag Luft III, including about 7,500 American and 2,500 Commonwealth Airmen. The prisoner self-administer day-to-day life in the camp, while German guards, mostly older WWI Luftwaffe veterans patrolled its perimeter. The Germans chose this specific location, ironically because its sandy soil made it difficult for POWs to escape by tunnelling. And while no American's took part in the actual escape, many played a role in its year-long planning and tunnel digging until German forces segregated them to a different part of the camp.

"For me, it's a very personal and historical event, and to actually be here and experience it is a lot more meaningful than just watching it on a movie", said Maj. Daniel Maiuro, U.S. Army Garrison Poland's executive officer citing the 1963 film The Great Escape. "I would say what resonates with me more is the support from the community, and just seeing the overall number of representatives here, not only the various Polish armed forces, but from other countries too."

The 82nd anniversary was not just a day of remembrance and celebration for the service members who were captured and risked everything against the enemy, but an opportunity to share history with the community through presentation of rare artifacts in museums and tours around the Luft 3 Camp, said Lazarz.

"Our mission as a museum is to educate." said Lazarz. "Especially younger generations today. We had all these students from the local schools... and today I hope they learned something about the Great Escape."

Maiuro who spent much of the day exploring and touring the site that held many more memories than just that of the Great Escape, echoed his sentiment.

"I would say it would be important for us to continue to host and participate in these events because it's a part of our history - not only our history, but the history of Poland." said Maiuro. "History of other countries that have lost soldiers during these times, it's something that I think helps teach us about the events that have happened in the past, and helps shape us going forward."