Characters
This real-life British officer is one of the main leaders behind the escape plan.
Who is David “Soapy” Seaton?
This is the prison camp where most of the story’s escape planning takes place.
What is Holzminden?
This form of movement, done underground, becomes the prisoners’ best chance at escape.
What is tunneling?
The teamwork in planning the escape shows the importance of this theme.
What is cooperation?
This everyday object was used to hide dirt removed from the tunnel.
What are bags/pants/handmade pouches (depending on the version)?
He is known for his meticulous planning and is essential to organizing the escape.
→ Who is Brian “Rosie” Rosevear?
This war provides the backdrop for the entire book.
What is World War I?
The prisoners’ first major challenge is gathering these supplies without alerting guards.
What are tools or tunneling materials?
The officers’ refusal to give up their escape attempts highlights this trait.
What is perseverance?
The prisoners created false versions of these documents to help them travel safely.
What are identification papers?
This daring pilot is shot down early in the war and becomes a key member of the escape group.
Who is Cedric “Buster” Buckley?
This natural obstacle made tunneling extremely difficult due to its shifting soil.
What is clay (or unstable ground)?
This event happens on the night the officers finally use the tunnel and crawl out of Holzminden.
What is the breakout (the escape)?
The way the prisoners keep morale high despite harsh conditions represents this idea.
What is resilience?
The men tracked this natural element to avoid exposing their movements aboveground.
What is light (or shadows/sunset timing)?
This German commandant is in charge of Holzminden Prison.
Who is Hauptmann Karl Niemeyer?
After escaping, the officers attempt to reach a neutral country for safety.
What is the Netherlands?
The escape nearly fails when this part of the tunnel begins collapsing.
What are the tunnel's roof/walls?
The book shows how officers maintain their identity and dignity even while imprisoned.
What is honor (or maintaining humanity under pressure)?
They used these codes in letters to secretly share information with families and allies.
What are hidden/coded messages?
These officers, nicknamed for their cleanliness and charm, led the long-term plan for tunneling out.
Who are the “Tunnellers” / escape committee officers?
This city is where many prisoners were captured after being shot down.
What is behind enemy lines in Germany (often referenced as northern France/Germany)?
The narrative jumps between the prisoners’ stories and these scenes showing the dangers pilots faced before capture.
What are aerial combat or dogfight scenes?
Bascomb uses real letters and diaries, emphasizing this theme about truth and memory.
What is historical accuracy or legacy?
The tunnel exit had to be placed here to avoid being spotted by guards.
What is outside the compound fence / beyond the guards’ line of sight?