Alan McInnes memoir

Alan McInnes memoir

A German Holiday 1944-45

An autobiography of Alan's time as a prisoner of war. He talks about his training with his, mainly, Australian crew. He describes the night they were shot down over Germany. He describes their capture, mistreatment and interrogations at various locations. After interrogations at Dulag Luft they were sent to a transit camp in Frankfurt then on by train to Heydekrug, Stalag Luft VI. Although their camp section was new, it was cramped and basic. He describes camp life in detail. As the Russians got closer they were sent by train to an Army camp at Thorn. He read a copy of NCO education in the camp. These courses were extremely popular and supported by text books sent from the UK. Exams were undertaken and papers sent to the UK for marking. At Thorn they marched to Stammlager 357, but not for long. They then marched back to the railway and were sent to
Fallingbostel. He describes the rail journey in detail, then in greater detail he describes camp life. Later he was moved to an officer's camp at Eichstadt, which turned out to be an Army camp which refused them and they were sent to Sagan. He stayed there for a short time then was moved to Stalag Luft 3, then 111A. As the Russians neared they moved again. After a couple of days waiting in trucks they returned to their camp. The railway system was breaking down as the end of the war neared. After the Russians reached them they were allowed out of the camp but still remained billeted there. He writes about his impressions of the Russians.
His journey home was delayed by rain which meant aircraft could not fly. His story ends with his retelling of the night his aircraft was shot down, his night in Brussels and his return to England.

85 printed sheets

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