THE GRAPE ESCAPE
How homebrew helped Pows cope with Colditz
BRITISH Second World War prisoners at Colditz made high-quality wines and spirits which resulted in a very drunken Christmas in 1942, a new book reveals.
The Pows became so adept they made a demi-sec – a slightly sweet wine – a rosé, schnapps and one named Chateau Colditz.
Author Ben Macintyre’s new book Colditz: Prisoners Of The Castle, reveals the wines were of far better quality than typical prison camp hooch.
One inmate with a family background in wines and spirits took charge of the operation with spectacular results.
By Christmas 1942, prisoner Captain Michael Farr, whose family ran James Hawkers & Co Ltd, makers of liqueurs and gin in Plymouth, had created a fine selection.
Farr emerged as the chief purveyor of wines and spirits to Colditz, developing his range from a variety of dried fruits.
Colditz’s security chief, Reinhold Eggers, allowed the prisoners extra privileges for Christmas 1942 if they promised not to attempt to escape, and the drinks flowed freely.
Macintyre said: “This Colditz Christmas differed from its predecessors in one other respect – it was spectacularly drunken. Farr’s grand cru was Chateau Colditz, a demi-sec sparkling wine that flowed freely in all quarters of Christmas dinner.”
Macintyre said Farr noted that the booze “created a lot of merriment and high spirits and we forgot where we were for a short time”.
In 1974, Captain Farr met Eggers at a reunion with other former prisoners in Paignton, Devon. Despite being wartime enemies, he had won
the respect of the Pows for his fairness. Prisoners of the iconic castle in Saxony, Germany, included legendary RAF Spitfire pilot Douglas Bader and Sir David Stirling, founder of the Special Air Service.
Eggers had dubbed the castle’s prisoners the “naughty boys”, as many had been sent there after escaping from other camps around occupied Europe.
Colditz became notorious for daring and innovative escapes too.
Airey Neave, who went on to become shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland before he was assassinated by the IRA in 1979, was the first British Army officer to successfully escape in 1942.