Ask Me Anything - A Visit to Colditz Castle

[@PeteGibbo]

We went to a cafe down in the square whilst waiting for our guide at Colditz and ordered some food which literally translated as “farmer’s early lump”. It was bloody awful and quite inedible but the owner came through and asked us how it was (this was 1992 and they didn’t get much tourist trade at that time) and in my best German I said it was great. I had to eat my girlfriends lunch too since she couldn’t eat it and I remember feeling quite sick for the rest of the afternoon. The funny thing is I remember it with fondness - had it have been decent I would have forgotten it. Thank you Colditz for a shit lunch 😂.

[@whitby910]

A simply brilliant personal guide and appraisal of Colditz in WW2.

[@inspectorclouseau3880]

I also visited Colditz this year, i'm 53 from England and heard many stories about it. I rode my motorbike there, fascinating place and the history is great. It's had a lick of paint now

[@garyaugust1953]

I wasn't influenced by the TV Colditz story persay. Although, without it, the germ wouldn't have been sown. I researched accounts of escapees, guard diaries, and case studies. The beauty of WW2TV is that you allow this knowledge to progress via the sidebar. Exactly the same for me on a various topics which I have little knowledge. It's what makes this channel the best.

[@timbrown1481]

Thank you for the Q&A and tour.

[@brianjames3849]

Hi woody thanks for posting this video .I have been to colditz ,stalag left 3 where the great escape took place ,very moving places to visit ,thanks once again

[@michaelgall9848]

Great show Woody. I remember watching the series back in the 70's. I also remember at the time me and my mates had to wear a certain type of shoe, Clarkes Commando I think they were called, had a compass built into the heal under the insole. I never once got lost going around Twickenham.

[@fitzyirl]

Great talk Woody. I visited in October 2023 just before it closed for the winter and renovations. Fortunately the lady who gave the tour was extremely knowledgeable about the WW2 aspects and as it was only Irish and British on the tour only covered that and knew everything... all the nooks and crannies. She said we were to be her last ever tour after doing it for 20 years or so. A very humorous and knowledgeable lady. Glad you also got to live your boyhood dream.

[@conemadam]

Oh Woody!you don’t have to explain yourself. I’m a 70 year old half French half American woman raised by a ferociously French mother who lived through the war. No one understands better than people like me. We weren’t there but our lives were formed upon the memories of that wretched war.

[@Sshooter444]

The Colditz TV series was fantastic! I only saw it recently (2020) on KZbin. I rewatch regularly. Also, I agree with you about the Tweedle Dum episode, fantastic performances by the actors.

[@PaulScott_]

Thanks for sharing your tour Woody and glad that you could check the box off for Colditz. We had the TV series in Canada but I was quite young and when I first saw it I did not realize that it was based on a true story. I became more interested when I saw it mentioned in the WW2 books I was reading in the 1970s.

[@troykauffman3963]

Thank you for sharing Woody. As an American I didn’t really know about Colditz Castle. I learned a lot about it when I saw a video that Jon from @WW2Wayfinder did. The stories are absolutely amazing and can’t wait to read more about it in the two books that I got by Ben Macintyre and Robert Verkaik. Thank you again 🫡

[@XZoomie]

Brilliant, Woody! Your passion for the story and for your discoveries made this highly entertaining.

[@tomduggan51]

Thanks Paul for this splendid & enjoyable presentation on your recent trip to Colditz. I could relate to so much of it as I myself was lucky enough to visit it as part of a bus tour in 2004. Like you, I was a little disappointed insofar as I would have liked to have seen more of the actual castle itself & to have learnt more of the WW11 background! The visit struck me as being a standard tourist tour of the venue & in fact much of the time was spent on a basic tour of the museum. I too remember very well the sense of excitement I felt when the bus first came into view of the castle-thank you for sharing your own feelings on this moment with us! All in all my compliments Paul & thanks for your endeavours on this channel.

[@KevinJones-yh2jb]

Thanks Woody about your Colditz visit, I really enjoyed your presentation. It brought back memories of watching the tv series. Thank you for all you do with your channel, you are tireless in your research of so many campaigns, individual stories etc. Thats why to me you are the number one ww2 history channel

[@nicklehuray526]

Great talk. Had to catch up after the live show as was busy sitting a guiding accreditation test! Keep up the good work.

[@luckyguy600]

My Doctor in Orangeville Ontario was in Colditz in WWII. Dr. George Hill S/L DFC + 2 Bars No. 111 & 441 Squadrons 18 confirmed credits. Only 51 when he was killed turning into his driveway by a drunk driver west of town. Interesting man to be sure. Heck of a pilot. I have stories of him. He must have been born with wings on.

[@johnlucas8479]

Great Photos Woody

[@maikelvane5185]

Thanks for your tripreport. I do understand your expectations and disappointments. I have the same when visiting some museums.

[@nigelbarrett4741]

I’ve always wanted to visit Colditz, but your excellent show has really convinced me. It looks like they’ve done an excellent job in presenting the history and making it interactive. Now I just need to persuade my wife to stay in the youth hostel! A propos of nothing, by accident I stayed in Spangenburg Castle which held POWs including Airey Neave during the war and which is now a hotel (excellent restaurant) and was the scene for the well known Swiss Red Cross escape. Sadly the owners have made nothing of this part of the castle’s history.

[@trevorpage6376]

Hi Woody, enjoyed the show. It brought back memories of 2012 when a group of us had 3 nights there. I can really recommend staying, not at all like I’ve heard UK youth hostels are. Rooms spacious and spotless. We had a meal there on the first night. Some of us spent too long on the Harz railway but the kitchen staff stayed late for us to eat. Bottles of beer ‘under the counter’ in reception! Nothing was too much trouble. Most of my knowledge came from Pat Ried’s book, only vaguely remember the TV series. We’d booked a tour and were shown round by a lady in her 50s. Much the same route as you I think except she took our photos in the theatre and showed us where a couple of guys hid in a manhole on the exercise field before their escape. She said that some of the building was unsafe where the prisoners stayed…? But she was very knowledgeable and our ‘2 hour’ tour lasted over 3 hours. We were conscious that this lady knew a very different Germany before the reunification… Colditz was liberated by the Americans but for reasons I’ve never understood handed over to the Russians. I’d say to anyone in doubt, just go. Stay in the castle for 2 or 3 days. It’s a great part of the world as well. Keep up the good work!

[@JoAnnEggers]

Kia Ora from New Zealand. I”m the same age as you and remember the TV show so enjoyed your video on visiting Colditz. I’m currently reading a book about Charles Upham VC and bar (Searching for Charle by Tom Scott). Charles ended up in Colditz in October 1944 until it was liberated. He, in turn, liberated a glass paperweight from the commandant’s desk which now resides in the Army museum in Waiouru. And yes, I did notice I have the same surname as the German security officer in Colditz but no relation.

[@markfrumkin3230]

Thank you.

[@davidk7324]

Thanks Paul. I'm always interested in, and benefit from, the personal cultural touchstones you share with your community.

[@willierobertson862]

Thank you for sharing this Woody, it's like an in depth trip adviser review for WW2 nerds. 😉

[@PeterJahans]

Thanks Woody, very interesting. I grew up in Canada and was aware of the TV show (we got lots of British TV) but only watched a few episodes which I can't remember. I had a vague perception of Colditz WW2 history, so I'll be reading more about it now.

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Brilliant Woody, such a fantastic experience.

[@paultatchell-zb8bq]

I forgot to mench I collect toy soldiers as well as books and films I obsessed just been watching the episode of your story I wrote some thing previously love this channel so much will become a petron not got a. Lot of. Money at moment but will definitely do. It I no it helps that's a promise 😊

[@paultatchell-zb8bq]

I have not long ago found your channel I love it I am 58 and got a obsession with would war 2 got near on a war movie from ww11 and as many over ears such as ww1 _ modern films special forces to napoelonic so on my grandad was on the battleship Rodney in ww2 he was a gunner told me all stories that's were my love for it came I got hundreds of books as well I love what you do and think you are the best at what you do I need to start watching your over videos got to go back to the beginning keep it up it's fantastic thank you sir love to you and your family Paul 😊

[@WW2TV]

Welcome aboard

[@terryleddra1973]

I remember playing the board game of Colditz. Once I was making an escape from the small office adjacent to the Chapel. I had safely negotiated the searchlights and cut my way through the fence. thinking I would be home in time for tea and medals. Then my brother shot me! Bar Steward!

[@Historianphil]

Interesting talk Woody. The BBC series was released at a difficult time in Britain and shows like Colditz found a nostalgia niche that was just emerging in British culture. Maybe there will be a remake in the future, embracing more present day attitudes.

[@paultatchell-zb8bq]

I just been watching your story think 3 weeks ago got so much in common my fave band clash and theater of hate I collect war films and books I love wild geese and my favourite film is down fall Hitler in the bunker ie the film bunker as well got 700 films collected anything war related I was a roady for bands worked for Oasis and Stone roes was a punk in 77 fave show dad's army I think so many anyway sorry to keep tx this made me laugh to my self got a xl puppy called baba he looking at me thinking whats going on Paul my grandad was on roundy a gunner when sank bissmark and sent she'll so on hill 112 do day apparently and called Paul live in Plymouth one love mate just found channel can't stop watching thanks x

[@HarryFenton6124]

I just went to make a brew and my wife ask me what was that tune I was humming. Colditz, I said. For the first time in 40 years, I should think.

[@Ryanboy2020]

Woody, I hope you take the opportunity to write to the organizers of the Castle tour and let them know your thoughts. I think they would value your input and at the very least maybe create a WWII specific focused tour. This could be a private tour that people can book with a specific guide that emphasizes only WWII places and things of interest.

[@jimwalsh1958space]

I was 15yo in 1972 when the TV program first broadcast. I was busy chasing girls and getting stoned. The Tv series was about a bunch of posh blokes high on romantic idealism with a lot of stiff upper lip and always 'doing the right thing'. from the perspective of a kid living on a sink council estate it might as well have been about king arthur and his knights. I was aware of some seriously good acting though. 1970's TV/Movies was a new watermark in superior production, writing and acting. think of all those iconic 70's movies. The Godfather, Star Wars, Jaws, Alien, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Apocalypse Now, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, The French Connection, The Exorcist, A Clockwork Orange, The Deer Hunter, Deliverance, Dog Day Afternoon, Midnight Express, The Conversation, Get Carter, The Getaway, Don’t Look Now, Performance, Mean Streets, shall i go on ?

[@bananabrooks3836]

No.

[@mididoctors]

I still.find fhe idea they built a glider undetected ludicrous. Its like something from hogans heroes .

[@timbrown1481]

1:01:37 Some movie about building the glider and flying it off the roof. One star was Chuck Conners. I can’t remember the name of it.

[@WW2TV]

Escape of the Birdmen, also with Doug McClure and Richard Basehart

[@timbrown1481]

@@WW2TV Thank you Woody. As a Yank, this movie was all about I knew about Colditz. I was familiar with the name of the prison and that Allied POW’s were kept there. So thank you again, for another first class and educational program.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Just giving Woody some Al Gore Rythmic love.

[@Rhubba]

Woody plays the Do or Die card

[@mididoctors]

Staff car was my favourite

[@buonafortuna8928]

Good job again Woody. That episode of Colditz Tweedledum is on the tube - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXfYnK2rrNKSeZY

[@andreasfiege8388]

Like I said on the sidebar, the Colditz story is not really known here in Germany, same with the series and the board game (it´s hilraois that it ecen exists from my point of view). Maybe that´s a reason why the focus today at the museum is not really too much on the ww2 timeline, as the story is not known here, they have to have a wider focus to attract Germans to visit.

[@HG_NL]

Colditz, it is on my list also. Auschwitz, been there twice, a must see but really emotional draining, as it should.

[@ReverendHowl]

Board Colditz was way better than boring Monotony.