Colditz TV Series S02-E01 - Arrival Of A Hero

"Arrival of a Hero"
Ulmann is still seething over the "home-run" by Pat Grant and Phil Carrington, and interrogates Dick Player ceaselessly, without success. Meanwhile, the Kommandant is advised that he will have a new second-in-command, Major Horst Mohn, who arrives amidst the prisoners' jubilation over the success of their two colleagues. Mohn informs the Kommandant that he has been sent from the Führer's personal staff after having received both decorations for his aviation exploits and a severe wound in the stomach from a Russian bayonet. He also indicates that Hitler was informed of the successful escape attempt and insists that security be tightened up. Mohn then proceeds to antagonise the prisoners one by one, particularly Carter, whose intimate letters to Cathy he reads with great interest. Because of the friction created, the Kommandant becomes determined that Mohn should be removed from Colditz.

[@thorsden5562]

I am totally addicted to this series! I get up extra early just to see another episode before heading to work. Fine acting and great stories in each segment.

[@LordHughfusJarted]

Oh, this takes me back. I was about 10 years old when this came out and my folks would let me stay up and watch it. What an awesome series. My best mates uncle was in it ( Paul Chapman) which of course made it all the more entertaining. In 1996/7 whilst living and working in the Dresden area, i had the opportunity of going to the Castle which was about an hours drive away. I was lucky enough to get a 1 to 1 tour from the local Colditz museums Curator. What a joy that was. No sign of a glider though ..

[@ronmailloux8655]

why am I watching this series for the umpteenth time?. because it is so damn good and beats the crap out of todays shluck

[@graciefields898]

I totally agree. I refuse to watch the modern day offerings, only watch '70s and '80s TV on sites like this, far better quality. I'm glad to know it's not only me who's watching this series for the umpteenth time.

[@TheGeezzer]

With players like David McCallum and Anthony Valentine, Colditz could not fail to be a hit TV show...and it was. I remember when this episode first aired back in 1974, I'za10-year-old.

[@mollyfilms]

I love how the British uniforms are immaculately presented, pressed and super clean. Amazing.

[@jjsudlow]

Bernard Hepton is a fine actor. His portrayal of the Kommandant is a wonderful balance, a man struggling between military duty and doubts about the morality of the regime he is serving. In "Secret Army," also featuring Christopher Neame, Hepton plays Albert, who runs a cafe, which is the heart of a resistance organization. A wonderful portrayal: duplicity, guilt, courage...

[@bunkerman99]

Valentine was a wonderful actor. He did a great job portraying the German Major.

[@arthursteven5601]

Total agree sir

[@MrSlitskirts]

Hi yes. He was also in 'Callan' too.

[@sylvester-jb3lj]

@@MrSlitskirts plus a great cameo in 'Minder' as Maurice the gambler !

[@phillipbonner9944]

Thank you for your great charm and acting Anthony Valentine God Bless, Rest in Peace

[@daleburrell6273]

Yes, it takes a real talent to play a stinker like Mohn...

[@gunner678]

Dale Burrell and Toby Miers in Callan, great character as well!

[@NoahSpurrier]

A homemade sewing machine was shown briefly. I didn’t believe they could have made something that complicated could be made from scrap and still be effective enough to actually be useful, so I looked it up and apparently they really did make one. I was more impressed by this than the glider they built.

[@markfryer9880]

I didn't know about the sewing machine until I saw it in this episode and read your comment. It is quite a complex machine to replicate but I guess with enough time and determination it could be done. I have known about the glider since reading Reach for the Sky in the 80s. There was a documentary about it and it did actually fly. Made in the 90s or 2000 I think.

[@ronniecoleman2342]

The glider was real too...I think it's still there.

[@lordeden2732]

Bartering for parts with bribable guards helped a lot in many cases. I had a boss who was in Changi jail and worked on the burma railway. During which by careful cultivating of some guards items like medical kits could be put together. Also working R/T set was constructed. Although the range was not brilliant it was capable of reaching jungle units to get information in and out.

[@Gill12283]

Valentine is a brilliant actor, able to play both good and guy and villains well. And he looks just fantastic in that uniform!

[@dlamiss]

Superb actor so charismatic and born on the same date as me August 17

[@h.j7469]

He looks generally like a Nazi Aryan type

[@allangilchrist5938]

I love the fact that Jack Hedley wears a cardigan in Colditz. What about slippers and a pipe? Makes one proud to be British.

[@kennethduval6769]

Yes

[@brucemacallan6831]

Wow, - When this was on TV for the first time, I remember begging my mother to let me stay up to watch it. (she did) Thanks for the video!!

[@johnking5174]

This series first aired in January 1974 during the three day week strike period. BBC One, BBC Two and ITV were forced to closedown early at around 10.30pm each night from early January until early February 1974 to save power. Colditz aired at 9.25pm and was the last proper programme of a Monday on BBC One back then. This episode aired on Monday 7th January 1974.

[@brucemacallan6831]

@@johnking5174 That was past my bed time

[@johnking5174]

22:35 - No matter how much you might hate Major Mohn, you have to give the man credit for a great comeback here to Captain Downing.

[@gaius_enceladus]

I like the smile of Mohne when he sees the "gone away" written on the bunk! **Excellent** casting! Both Ullman and Mohne really look the part! Bernard Hepton is great as the Kommandant too!

[@majorhorstmohn709]

Thankyou for your observations, rather unfortunate that your attempts to see me 'gone away' failed so terribly lol better luck next time lmao

[@duncanholding7636]

The interactions between Jack Hedley and Bernard Hepton in this drama were superb. Two actors at the top of their game... Hepton was a very underrated actor. Played a sleaze bag so well in Get Carter

[@MrSlitskirts]

Hi, yes. Bernard Hepton was also in 'Secret Army' too.

[@kathyraygoza3299]

Bernard Helton was superb actor I could be wrong but I would put him in character actor class. Often times some of us watch something because of the supporting actors. I was in awe of Mr. Helton when I first saw him giving a glories male version Gloria Swanson in Midsomer Murdurous long before I ever knew of this series. RIP MR HEPTON.

[@duncanholding7636]

​@@kathyraygoza3299 he also played Inspector Goole in the 1982 version of an inspector calls.. IMHO THE best version

[@MrSlitskirts]

@@kathyraygoza3299 Hi, yes. You would also probably like him in 'Secret Army' where he plays a Cafe owner (in Belgium) but he's in charge of 'Lifeline' (helping allied aircrew escape): kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5-xaopmg9aIaNk at 1:03 kind regards.

[@kathyraygoza3299]

Very talented actor . Was his work in Midsomer Murders one of his last performances? His act as a megnomaliac was frightening and outstandig.

[@haydoncooper3744]

Some very fine actors and acting all the way through. Anthony Valentine was in particular was brilliant.

[@bazthehandyman]

Bernard Hepton....absolute Master.

[@COIcultist]

Absolute master on not depending on the scene. Yes he is still a masterful actor even in the roles as a snivelling shit in Get Carter or this absolutely wonderful role the of fear laden Albert, in Secret Army: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6SYlGeJe81_gLc

[@debbief9861]

Mohn isn’t happy to merely assert himself around the POWs. When the Kommandant challenges him, he uses his association with Hitler and the Nazi top brass as leverage against the Kommandant. The threat is well-understood by the Kommandant, who swiftly comes to see what he’s dealing with in Mohn. Excellent performances and script!

[@michaelforde4373]

yes valentine did spice up the second series in was and still arguably the finest drama of its time, the quality and detail was truly outstanding.

[@alanjames19711]

Wish I could get the series on DVD. My parents would watch this every week. The Brits always make superb dramas like this without too much embellishments.

[@chrislubs1341]

Colditz. Stumbled onto episode"Arrival of a Hero" caught because of David McCallum, yet stayed up over 24 hours watching all available episodes in a binge. The new second-in-command, Major Horst Mohn portrayed as an intelligent foe to drive story plots. Generally strong montage of episodic plays, with some episodes substantially exceeding others presenting nontrivial treatments of ideas, and motivations: few strawman as villains, heroes, clowns or victims; characters perspectives developed as empathetically reasonable. In this episode Christopher Neame as Count Eisenger sells a provocatively convincing perspective perhaps actually true for the WWII elite. Some plots may be allegorical treatments of society extensions beyond that of the POW staging.

[@medleychildress451]

me too

[@kennethduval6769]

I’m so glad someone uploaded this brilliant show, they don’t seem to make them this good anymore. ❤

[@jimbojet8728]

I watched these episodes first time around. Many years ago. With my old mam. I’m an old soldier myself now, this old show somehow reminds me of better times and worse times too. Every one a winner though.

[@mkrbrtsn1]

Anthony Valentine, what a performance!

[@generalpublic3744]

I remember then this series was aired, Anthony Valentine's acting contribution was such that he got hate mail and I believe threats! He was probably the most hated man in Britain! All credit to him for such a convincing performance.

[@markfryer9880]

Some people just can't differentiate between real people and actors portraying a character. It was the same thing with some of the actors in Neighbours being abused in the street for something that their character had done.

[@arthursteven5601]

I thought he was a truly wonderful underated actor

[@haydoncooper3744]

Didn’t know this but would not surprise me at all.For me he was wonderful actor I never tire of watching anything he was in.

[@vintagebrew1057]

He said he also got letters from ladies inviting him to visit them in his uniform.

[@lordeden2732]

They wanted him to invade their poland!​@@vintagebrew1057

[@duncanholding7636]

David McCallum was so unlucky. A POW in the great escape.and a POW in this

[@mkrbrtsn1]

At least he got to wear a RAF mustache in this!

[@stewartmcfarlane2008]

Wonderful to re watch these. As a 19 year old student Colditz was required viewing. It was 51 years ago. All permances were top rate. David McCallum was outstanding. We were lucky in the UK to have such fine actors. The tradition continues.

[@johnking5174]

RIP Anthony Valentine (Major Mohn) who died today aged 76.

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

i did not know,he always played his parts so well.a true pro.rip mr valentine

[@timoakes450]

Toby MearsThe Section's second best man-RIP MATE TOMMY27

[@sircurtisseretse3297]

+John King. Thank you for telling us. Sad to hear of the death this great actor. I thought he made the part of Raffles his own.

[@margaretblack3718]

Brilliant man. Very sadly missed. Never forgotten.

[@majorhorstmohn709]

This is lies and propaganda, Herr Valentine has not died he has merely been posted elsewhere

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

someone said in one of the comments on the series,that he wrote to antony valentine and valentine replied with a 3 page letter and explained how where they had to be accurate they really studied the true storys.mohns character is totally fictional btw.but how cool to not only get a reply but a 3 page letter.rip mr valentine

[@vintagebrew1057]

Lovely actor and lovely guy!

[@daleburrell6273]

@@vintagebrew1057 ...true enough.

[@markfryer9880]

Three pages is quite a reply to a fan letter.

[@pariscribe5245]

Another great one ! As they all were !!! Beats todays b.s. by miles...

[@robertboyle2573]

Anthony Valentine is menacing without being a stereotype German 'baddie'.

[@arthursteven5601]

Total agree

[@martinwilley4316]

I have just had a cracking good bit of television to watch with this. Thankyou indeed for putting it up.

[@leilal8053]

Good Show👍

[@peterhill8398]

Well gentlemen, there's no longer any doubt. This castle is surrounded by film.

[@SuperGrimupnorth]

from covid to colditz.. Covid has had me going over anything WW2 on utube.. it all feels much closer to home now 🤔

[@tonyanderton3521]

Gripping stuff. Great drama, brilliantly written. And, blissfully, none of that horrendous background music that drowns modern tv.

[@johnking5174]

I have been enjoying the great ITV drama Callan here on KZbin and I am shocked at how very little background music there was on dramas of the 60s and 70s.

[@ds1868]

@@johnking5174 the lack of music builds up the atmosphere and the tension. This approach seems to be lost today. Another 70s programme that did this was Sapphire and Steel.

[@dindinprivate3477]

Anthony Valentine - was a great actor. You hate him from the get-go!

[@davidmerritt2383]

Never see this before Colditz TV Series looks good! Great Actors...

[@CorwynCelesil]

This show was my first introduction to Anthony Valentine. I watched it first about four years ago and actually forgot about the character of Mohn until I sat down to watch it the second time this last month. This time around I was totally taken by Valentine's extremely good acting and the depth he gave to what is essentially a stereotype. So much so that I promptly went and watched the 14 episodes of "Raffles" and just loved him all the more. And now I had to come back here and watch him as Mohn again, just because of how utterly different the two characters are. What a wonderful actor.

[@johnking5174]

Did you ever see him in Callan?

[@CorwynCelesil]

No, I don't know what that is.

[@johnking5174]

@@CorwynCelesil A British spy drama from 1967 - 1972 starring Edward Woodward and for most of the run Anthony Valentine.

[@johnking5174]

@@CorwynCelesil Would you like me to send you a link to an episode?

[@CorwynCelesil]

@@johnking5174 Sure.

[@johnjackson8783]

Thanks for posting this. Since first seeing this show in 1972, and revisiting off and on, l've grown to like the Krauts more and more. The British 'Jolly Hockey Sticks' attitude and inate air of superiority wears..

[@markfryer9880]

Why do you reckon that Aussies love beating the Poms at cricket or anything else? Mark from Melbourne Australia

[@laraegodwin6008]

Valentine is great in this role. He is excellent in the series as the evil German Nazi Major at the COLDITZ FORTRESS

[@roddale8412]

RIP Bernard Hepton.

[@johnking5174]

He lived to the grand old age of 92. Well deserved. From his friends and family it seems he was a true gentleman.

[@malcolmveloz1160]

I like the smile of Mohne when he sees the "gone away" written on the bunk! *Excellent* casting! Both Ullman and Mohne really look the part! Bernard Hepton is great as the Kommandant too!

[@glynnevans1851]

@@malcolmveloz1160 Hi Malcolm, Quite agree with you sir. This series was Momentous and very much highly acclaimed. Also the character Colonel Preston was played to a high standard of integrity. Also this series reminds me of the time n Fab to be young and luvly memories of my parents too. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🕊🕊🕊

[@johnking5174]

In the actual Colditz POW camp only one German officer spoke fluent English and had to act as interpreter for all the English officers. He was called Captain Reinhold Eggers. In the tv series of course all the Germans speak reasonable English. I do like how in some episodes the Kommandant speaks his lines with some pauses as if his English was a little bit rusty at times, that is down to Bernard Hepton's fine acting.

[@bazthehandyman]

+John King ...spot on...Bernard Hepton is fantastic.

[@sartainja]

Great actor who does a good job on these series.

[@Alexzander19736]

Been watching the series on TV when i was young. Very exiting then. But now ... lol When the Germans 'speak' German to each other it sounds robotic. I am Dutch and understand Germans 100% so that's why i say robotic. ;)

[@johnking5174]

Most were British actors so you have to give a little bit of licence for accents.

[@antsman88]

I believe Ullman was based entirely on Eggers.

[@veronicawhatley5044]

Such a charming Englishman playing such a bad arse German

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

how can u not hate and love mohn all in one.i wish modern drama was written as well as this era of english tv.secret army is another riveting series made by the same crew that did colditz.it has a lot of the actors from colditz as well.who here votes for a 2020 new series of colditz.now that would be good...

[@majorhorstmohn709]

You may have escaped us Major Reid but your friends will suffer for your foolish deeds, enjoy your skiing gentlemen, likewise for your comrades who will find it only goes downhill from here also

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

@@majorhorstmohn709 i don't know i hope the cart you escaped under didn't go downhill to fast for you and it took you years later to get away ..by the way you left your bag of money behind. We used it for bribes

[@Stephen-wb3wf]

This is incredible wish i found this sooner. Chills after every "Mr. Carta"

[@franceleeparis37]

Watched this series when I was a school kid.... didn’t really understand it then... but now it seems a great series..

[@haydoncooper3744]

Loved watching this a kid and still do,I have the box set.

[@NathanaelTan]

Damn! Major Mohn looks like the Kommandant's son at first lol

[@nicklaytonUK]

This series is absolutely brilliant. Has survived so well.

[@kathyraygoza3299]

Really liked this series so much that I ordered a copy only to find it was not playable in my California zone so I watch it on KZbin. Recently I read a blog where people were asked tell what film they had ever seen that left them speechless after the performance. My list includes Where Butterflies Go To Die and Sold its series 1 Tweedle Dee and Twaddle Dumb, so,so heart wrenching.

[@nicklaytonUK]

@@kathyraygoza3299 Kathy- 'Where Butterflies go to Die' is a Colditz episode? Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum is one of the finest pieces of television ever made. And I also include Chernobyl in that list.

[@antsman88]

Brilliant episode to set up the story arch for the rest of the series.

[@jillbarker8219]

RIP Anthony Valentine.

[@edwardmorley5273]

Anthony valentine as the nazi officer fresh from wounds on the front and back to run security in colditz... Excellent performance from a excellent actor who sadly passed away some years ago.

[@ds1868]

Not strictly a Nazi officer. A major in the Luftwaffe. It was the SS that deserve that particular epithet.

[@edwardmorley5273]

@@ds1868 I stand corrected... I only meant to highlight anthonys great performence... He was a wonderful actor.

[@evanessex6868]

I think the scene with the kommadant and the general show that the kommadant honestly tried to be firm and fair

[@fredsalfa]

Fascinating watching this as a child I didnt really understand it but now as an adult I do and it reminds me of all the corporate politics that go on in my job its no different exactly the same.

[@shahida5051]

I love this series

[@allandavis8201]

I used to watch this avidly with my dad, it was, and still is the best portrayal of the infamous P.O.W camp that was Colditz castle, and even though I knew that the chances of the men escaping it didn’t stop my nerves from tingling and my brain 🧠 wishing and praying that they would escape and not be caught, I suppose I was about 11 or 12 at the time it first aired, I have watched it again and again over the years and it is as good today as it was back in my childhood.

[@doktoruzo]

Has there ever been a better portrayal of a German officer than Anthony Valentine as Major Mohn ? Wow, that Knights Cross with Oak leaves...

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

i agree,his performance is probably the best german officer ever....

[@CorwynCelesil]

While I love Valentine's portrayal of Mohn and think it's quite rich, I prefer Hepton's Kommandant and how he demonstrated something different about German military officers than your typical Nazi stereotype. Mohn is a really deep portrayal, but he's still fairly stereotypical. The Kommandant is very much not.

[@majorhorstmohn709]

Ah yes you are admiring the Knights Cross with Oak leaves this is understandable I have no problem with admiration, there is no homo in one mans attraction to another is perfectly natural, I'm privileged to be recognised by the medical staff, carry on Doktor

[@doktoruzo]

@@majorhorstmohn709 ..lol, just seen this 6 months after you left the comment. Ha, ha. Nice one. Perfect portrayal though. And yes, that Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and swords...ooh! Just needs the Diamonds and...bingo...full house.

[@majorhorstmohn709]

@@doktoruzo 6 months is reasonable, mail is slow during wartime, a parcel from February arrived only just this week from your ebay, I had the postman shot of course

[@robin231176]

Bernard Hepton was an extremely good actor - for me, he will forever be Toby Esterhase.

[@iwfgb]

A fantastic actor but for me he will always be Albert Foiret.

[@petermortimer6303]

He was busy during the war running Colditz and that cafe.

[@paulvandijk666]

Completely agree with that. After all, the Smiley series were an outstanding achievement.

[@Bruce-1956]

and David McCallum will always be Illya Kuryakin.

[@philippankhurst6680]

Toby's scene with George in the art gallery in Smiley's People was a highpoint of Hepton's career.

[@pedrojuliancereceda8301]

Thank you for the trouble you took downloading this great TV show! I really appreciated and I am enjoying quite a lot watching it!

[@11Kralle]

Anthony Valentine is very able at play-acting german mannerisms. The questioning of Lt.Player is awesome! I've just seen a curious detail: at 23:10 min one can see the "Völkischer Beobachter" laying on Prestons desk...

[@gazza2933]

Yet another great drama series from the BBC. Thanks for posting.

[@shelbynamels973]

After watching the docu about the mass break-out of Soviet POWs from the SS work camp of Mauthausen, and the ruthless brutality used in recapturing the escapees, watching this series is like watching a piece of drawing room entertainment.

[@sh0k0nes]

What’s the docu called? Thank u?

[@shelbynamels973]

@@sh0k0nes Actually, that was a 2=part installment on Mark Felton's WW II history channel. The episode was called "The great rabbit hunt - Soviet POW breakout Mauthausen 1945". Thanks for taking an interest. Hope that was helpful.

[@sh0k0nes]

@@shelbynamels973 Thank u. Found it

[@thezerastora]

I always thought this was a movie, I have been searching for this since I was about 10 years old, I watched it when I was around 6 years old and was fascinated with WW2 after watching.

[@v8powerr771]

Anybody found disliking this film will get three weeks of solitary confinement!

[@jasonbarnes9781]

V8 Powerr here here!

[@ambeckerful]

might be worth it if it means Major Mohn will visit me for a game of chess..

[@nasreenjohnson3074]

in that case I better Like it then!

[@Cpt.Hodges]

Cooler 30 days is the correct term

[@deathmisser85]

Don't you mean 28 weeks solitary confinement ? XP

[@paulfitzpatrick2688]

all very civilized. Both sides highly respectful towards each other.

[@gilwoods734]

this is real tv. other than that which they show today.

[@clausewitz41_plus_1]

I read the English and American accounts of colditz several times when I was a teen. Great books

[@MrGymm56]

Visit the place if you can. Apparently some shots here were filmed in a castle in Scotland. Seeing this series inspired me to always want to go. A couple of years ago I did. I discovered lots by going. Great series!

[@johnking5174]

Stirling Castle located in the city of Stirling, to the north east of Glasgow was used as the exterior because is resembled Colditz Castle as how it looked in the 1940s.

[@ppj0241]

He was in the Paratroops which were part of the Luftwaffe.

[@johnrogan9420]

Der jaggershirm

[@jodyrussell4969]

40:36 that stare tells me that the commandant doesn't share Mjr. Mohn's views on Hitler.

[@lastunctives2095]

Valentine was a terrific actor also brilliant as the public school psycho in Callan .

[@reb0118]

Was that not Peter Egan? I could be mistaken though?....🤔

[@lastunctives2095]

No not Peter Egan - Christopher Neame but Strange fact Egan played Valentine's character Toby Meres in the Film version of Callan 1974 !

[@northdevonpictures826]

Loved the first series of Colditz.

[@MrDavey2010]

Thank you or the upload. A truly classic series. My favourite was Tweeldum & Tweedldee.

[@pwareham61]

That was my favourite episode too. Absolutely heartbreaking.

[@michaelbedford8017]

I enjoyed these, back in the day. Now, every time I see them, it reminds me of 'Allo Allo'

[@jimbojet8728]

The man from U.N.C.L.E. Limping like he’s broken his neck? Love it.

[@susanbeaumont6063]

Loving it. Thank you

[@henryviii6341]

thanks for uploading.

[@malcolmveloz1160]

RIP Anthony, you will be missed.

[@barrybernstein9049]

"Tweedledum" from this series is one of the finest drama's ever seen on BBC TV.

[@graemesmith3000]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF WATCHING THIS AS A KID!

[@jonhart7630]

Anthony Valentine plays a Fallschirmjager (Paratroooper) who was injured at Stalingrad. There was only one company of German Paratroopers at Stalingrad and nearly all of them were captured or killed.

[@tomhanna8508]

Jon Hart Did you notice the nicely authentic touch of the Kreta wristband?

[@jonhart7630]

@@tomhanna8508 The Battle of Crete where General Freyberg managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[@Rendell001]

@@jonhart7630 It's surprising that Freyberg didn't appreciate how vital the airfields would be to the whole battle...

[@vanpallandt5799]

@@tomhanna8508 though they got the waffenfarbe wrong and also the shield was too high up i think - usually worn lower down on arm about level with upper breast pocket (ie top of shield level to top of pocket)

[@davejackson2190]

Also the close combat clasp below his ribbon group.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Mohn was one of the good German characterisations in Colditz but the series became notorious for indulging in inaccurate cliches displayed on both sides. By the end everyone praised the sober attitude of Hauptmann Ullmann who was played by a German faced with the excess and inauthenticity depicted in other parts.

[@Edward1312]

Mohne's decorations are a ludicrous flight of fancy. No Luftwaffe fallshirmjager officer had such an array, wound badge in gold, close combat clasp in gold, these in themselves were rarer than the knights cross! But with the German Cross in Gold, knights cross with oakleaves and swords on top, its unheard of the history of the Luftwaffe to have such a mixture of such high honours!

[@raseli4066]

The Wound badge in gold was probably given because of his injury to the stomach. He would automatically get the close combat clasp because he had the german cross in gold with oak leaves and swords.

[@esajuhanirintamaki965]

Was herr Major Mohn a real Fallschirmjäger at all (he wore a paratroopers badge)? His collar badges were black, which mean construction troops. In reality Fallschirmjägers had YELLOW collar badges as had flying personnel! Major Mohn had first class iron cross, but where was his ribbon of second class iron cross? This ribbon were carried in uniform jackets button hole, second from above. German cross was filling gap between 1. class Iron cross and Knights cross. And the prisoners in this serie: they were like too-well-fed schoolboys in immaculate parade uniforms planning escape from dormitory accommodation in Spanish tourist trap! And Mohn's knights cross? No one parachute officers were acted so brilliantly in combat, that he would earn oakleaves AND SWORDS??? It could be possible in Stalingrad, but...Even in Eben - Emael fortress in Belgium 1940? Major Mohn had cuff - title "Kreta". The Crete operation were very heavy for German paratroops, it took very severe death toll among "jerries", so Luftwaffe paratroopers were rarely used in latter part of WW2. (Waffen-SS had their own paratroopers too.) I don't understand Major Mohn's golden wound badge, without any marks could be seen of his wounds? Golden badge meaned for instance blindness or losing arm or foot. He didn't limp when walking... Severe wound in stomach? Hmm. In those years before penicillium, shooting wound in stomach meaned usually sure death...? Anthony Valentine acted very well, thanks for it. Hauptmann Ullmann was good prototype of German infantry officer too. But herr Hauptmann, where was his decorations? I knew, this TV-serie was made by brittischers, who had stiff upper lip. Oh, those wicked Huns, how they even dared?

[@Astro_Gardener]

Great series, remember it well as a child all those years ago!

[@AnoNymous-el7tu]

Briljant actors!

[@andrewganley9016]

The series picked up big time with the arrival of Anthony Valentine

[@arthursteven5601]

Total agree in my opinion he was best actor in the programme

[@arthursteven5601]

Series lol he was a wonderful actor I enjoyed everything he did

[@glynnevans1851]

@@arthursteven5601 Hello Arthur, Quite agree with you sir and a Momentous actor. It Beefed up the series no end also Bernard Hepton played a excellent part too. This series reminds me of the time n Fab to be young and luvly memories of my parents too. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🕊🕊🕊

[@arthursteven5601]

Also special mention to the hard but kind big german actor who was 2nd in command to the major

[@glynnevans1851]

@@arthursteven5601 Cheers for your reply Arthur, He was also very professional and Jack Hedley who played the British commanding officer Preston. May I ask were R U from sir. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🕊🕊🕊

[@markmace3370]

great programme those were the days chips only 2pence a bag .the waltons ect.

[@mkrbrtsn1]

Escape officer should go to the man with the best moustache!

[@banjoboy1941]

Why would anyone surround his pie hole with hair?

[@majorhorstmohn709]

Come come we are all knowing who has the best moustache yes? admittedly it was a tiny one I understand this of course but he's a great man

[@ou8my58]

OMG this is awesome, i haven't seen this series in years. I used to watch this and another BBC WW 2 one that wasn't as well known. Toms War was the title and it was about a 14 yr old boy who lived by the moors and was always watching for German spies or what ever along his part of the English Channel coast line. Any way thanks for this upload,, definitely a new subscriber here, Thanks again :-)

[@dotdoughty5504]

Great. Series. Loved it.

[@zanegrey4720]

A great series and all good actors.

[@Goatboysminion]

Jesus, I haven't watched this since I was a kid!🤣

[@JesusChrist-ir1td]

Nor have I! ;-) ... and thanks for telling us. What did you think of it back then and now?

[@Goatboysminion]

@@JesusChrist-ir1td Loved it. Then and now.

[@TheWelwyn21]

That was really good. i remember watching it with Mum and Dad. What happened to good TV

[@AudieHolland]

*Colditz: Escape Academy* We don't accept just anyone, you know. You must have proven yourself to be capable of masterminding and escaping, simple, level 1 POW camps. Repeat offenders have preference. At Colditz Academy, you will learn how to get out of level 10 prisons!

[@zabdas83]

Everything about this series is 'bang on old boy!' The script, acting, accents and screen play are all excellent. Nothing like the crap churned out now. . .

[@colinp2238]

Anthony Valentine was good at playing those roles, I remember he was Toby Meres in Callan With a similar attitude to Mohn. It was as if he despises everyone. Sadly he passed away in 2015. He played other roles, the jewel thief in Raffles, a more refined character and in Minder he played a gambler. Anthony was a child actor and dancer and appeared in many films and TV shows.

[@rolfagten857]

Mr. Valentine acted the same as in the SS Major Volkmann role in "Escape to Athena" (1979)

[@romancatholicword528]

I love this series I was not even born when this came out. I was born 1989. My favourite character is Colonel Preston.

[@magicwandfour]

Small inaccuracy- the dialogue reveals that major mohn won the knights cross with oak leaves but the medal he wears ( at the base of the throat) is the knight cross with oak leaves and swords which is the next higher award

[@johnking5174]

This has been noted for years, it was simply a mistake by the production team at the time when this was filmed in 1973.

[@Savchenkov1]

More than a few inaccuracies, as he is supposed to be a Fallschirmjager, which would denote a waffenfarbe of "Yellow". Not so.

[@vanpallandt5799]

@@Savchenkov1 yes..that was a bit of a minor howler....if the designer is going to do a LW uniform, surely its as easy to get the Waffenfarbe right as it is to get it wrong - plus the yellow is surely more photogenic. Kreta shield should also be lower down on the arm i think

[@TimLondonGuitarist]

just watched the whole of Raffles, starring A Valentine...keep expecting him to drop his disguise & steal some diamonds !

[@vintagebrew1057]

One of our best actors and sadly missed. Started out as a Tap Dancer!

[@TimLondonGuitarist]

@@vintagebrew1057 Glad he got over it. Ernie Wise started as a tap dancer...