It was one of the greatest prison escapes ever
d on the way high-security 000-year-old no one had to ’, n - g ht cending into y, swimming er, climbing platform and h 30ft of solid rock… and coming out exactly where they planned on top of the ridge pole of the Carabiniere barracks.
“They slid down it and descended the ramparts using a rope tied to an ancient olive tree. There’s no doubt it was one of the greatest prison escapes not only in World War II but ever.”
While his stories are incredible, Alastair’s war was far from being one big adventure. He lost many friends, was regularly beaten and tortured and suffered horrendous injuries during his various escape attempts. But he never gave up.
Another dramatic escape came in the final days of the war.
After the Italian dictator Mussolini had surrendered, Alastair was transferred north and ended up in Austrian, Czech and German PoW camps.
During this time, he also shared a cell with SAS founder David Stirling.
The Nazis, meanwhile, had become increasingly irritated with his antics and warned that if he tried to escape again, he would be shot. ot to be deterred, he made off from a Prague camp to find two pals who were also fleeing. His plan was to engage them as outside help for a Great Escape-style mass exodus.
Alastair managed to survive a raid on a resistance house he stayed in by hiding under a bed.
When he was later lifted by Hitler’s secret police, the Gestapo, he feigned vomiting and was allowed to go to a bathroom, where he managed to dispose of incriminating fake documents before being identified.
In 1945, after 20 escape attempts that ended in him being recaptured, Alastair finally made it to Allied lines.
While being marched along with other PoWs near the German town of Rossla, he slipped into the mountains when an opportunity presented itself.
He stayed at altitude until he spotted the advance of the US 3rd Armored Division and hitched a ride home.
The 21 Escapes of Lt Alastair Cram by David M Guss, Macmillan, £18.99 hardback, is out now.
DAVID M GUSS ON BREAKOUT FROM ‘ITALIAN COLDITZ’