Colditz TV Series S02-E13 - *Liberation*

[@Londonfogey]

I have enjoyed this series immensely - very well written and acted. As someone below points out however, what a shame that we have to go back 45 years to find TV worth watching. A series like this would never be made today, more's the pity.

[@anthonybrogan390]

It is a marvelous show, but it is not true that there are no good TV series today, There was also a lot of crap TV back in the seventies. It's like saying there's no good music any more. There will always be good music and crap music.

[@Bootmahoy88]

It's a superb series with exemplary performances. I've watched it through several times. Yet, one aspect has always bothered me, the same aspect that bothered me with the film 'Enemy At The Gates,' The accents. It was difficult to distinguish Russians from the Germans in the film. Here, in the series, the Germans and English.

[@frostyfrost4094]

At least l have done all my home work this time

[@kilowhiskeyalpha6078]

I remember a contemporary show of this called crossroads, so it wasn't all good back then.

[@GrandPrixDecals]

@@frostyfrost4094 lol I was allowed to stay up an hour later than normal to watch this.

[@kunle1928]

Jack Hedley as Preston doesn't seem to get much of a mention. Absolutely superb throughout the series. A seriously underrated actor.

[@albaproductions9602]

Still going strong at 90.

[@cormacjones12]

RIP to the man as he has passed away today at the age of 92yrs

[@peterdixon7734]

He raised the tone of the entire decade.

[@stephenandrews4120]

Uyy

[@pandorazbox9659]

Well said

[@pandorazbox9659]

I was very young when this first aired. It gave me a lifelong fascination with why humans wage war and how the human spirit reacts. A marvellous tv series. Thank you for letting me appreciate it once again.

[@ciaran6171]

Watched this entire series (both) during Lockdown 2020. Sadly felt as if my world now is smaller than Colditz Castle was then. The men of Colditz were utter heroes, whom we would do well to always remember. Strange to add that Bernard Hepton was mind-blowing in this. His Kommandant is one of the most complicated, sympathetic characters I have ever seen on television.

[@goldgeologist5320]

This was a great series. A gem that I did not know existed. Guess it did not make to U.S.A. Thanks for posting! I would like to remember and honor that generation including my father who served in the ETO, my uncles in the Pacific, and my good friend’s father that was a WW2 B-17 waist gunner, who was shot down and spent time in a German prisoner of war camp. I thank all of you that served so I may have the life I have.

[@MrMuskegman]

When this first aired on tv in the 70's I was a bit too young to really appreciate it. Now I am older I have had a chance to realize what a real masterpiece this was. A well made realistic series. Fantastic.

[@sartainja]

Great entertainment.

[@chantalsscaleisafibber]

Samme as me

[@kenreeve6549]

same here

[@patkearney9320]

Me to I'd the big lads In school talk about it.

[@SiliconBong]

*watched it in the early eighties, never appreciated just how subtle the intro theme is.

[@ianluna1223]

What an incredible actor Bernard Hepton was; always instilling his roles with great emotion.

[@bkkbound]

Outstanding drama..feels like a privilege to have watched it..

[@rogerholdsworth7712]

Bkkbound Feels like a privilege because we're so used to being fed dumbed down drivel from the States

[@tonyanderton3521]

I'm sad that this fantastic series has now come to an end for me. It's outstanding drama in every way. I agree with many of the other contributors here, it's a real privilege to have been able to watch it. I was aged 13-15 when it was first broadcast but now I appreciate the subtleties of plot and characterisation much better. A real masterpiece of 1970s British TV drama.

[@PolakInHolland]

Watched the entire thing from start to finish in 3 days. Very well done series. Pity the Poles were moved, they deserved to be the first out of that gate having sat there since the start of the war.

[@pommyyep1020]

bloody brilliant. now this was really well done, not like the crap of today. i now have watched every episode and loved them all. whoever put them on here, a hearty well done.

[@sartainja]

Great show. It is ashamed that we have to watch a show that is 45 years plus for entertainment.

[@andysmith1958]

Off from work at the moment and just watched all 28 episodes in the last week and thoroughly enjoyed them.i did see them originally when they first came out ,I was a lad of 14 then.wheres all that time gone?

[@stevev3664]

supernumery While I understand that the pretence of madness was in order to escape, I found the manipulation of the German soldier’s emotions and distress caused to him and others to be a particularly cruel thing to do. The effect on the soldier whose brother was in a mental institution was particularly heartbreaking.

[@stevev3664]

Simon England I was born in 1952. The behaviour of that POW was not justified because it achieved nothing while inflicting unnecessary suffering on others.. He ended up in a mental institution in England. It did nothing to help the war effort. You will note that in the episode the British officer in charge forbade any further attempts using that method. He was obviously as disgusted and distressed by it as I was.

[@stevev3664]

@Simon England Yes I agree with you.

[@TheSpritz0]

As a young man growing up in Winnipeg I used to watch these shows (in re-run in the early 1980's) on Saturdays at my Grandmothers apartment on Pembina Highway. They were WELL acted and scripted, and I cherish the memories of having tea and biscuits with Granny!!

[@aceroadholder2185]

A gentleman I worked with years ago with was taken prisoner by the Germans at Kaserine in North Africa. He said the scariest moment of the war for him was three days before they were liberated. They were being marched overland to stay ahead of the Russians. Their column met up with an SS unit on the road. The SS said they were going to execute the prisoners. Their German Army guards pointed their rifles at the SS and told them to leave or else.The SS men turned and left. He said he would not have made it if their guards hadn't saved them.

[@daleburrell6273]

I SUSPECT THAT THE ACTIONS OF THE GERMAN ARMY GUARDS WERE INFLUENCED BY THE FACT(S): 1- THE GERMAN ARMY GUARDS KNEW THAT THE WAR WAS LOST, 2- THE GERMAN ARMY GUARDS SAW NO POINT IN INFURIATING THE ALLIED ARMY FORCES, AND THEN EXPECT TO SURRENDER TO THE ALLIED FORCES, AND, 3- THE GERMAN ARMY GUARDS KNEW THAT THE SS WOULD JUST AS SOON SHOOT THEM, AS THE SS WOULD SHOOT THE ENEMY!!!

[@michaelswallow7399]

@@daleburrell6273 WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING?

[@michaelswallow7399]

Ah. The 'Clean Wermacht' myth. Alive and strong

[@daleburrell6273]

@@michaelswallow7399 ...FOR THE HELL OF IT-(?)

[@SOffenbach]

@@daleburrell6273 Upper case or capital letters is considered yelling in computer language. Fyi, no disrespect.

[@asc.445]

The theme tune brings back all the distance memories to me. I was always sent to bed before this came on, but I could hear the TV down stairs. Its only now, nearly 50 years later, I've put pictures to the sounds.

[@comedywriter8408]

I remember watching this as a teenager, with my father. Who like all of my friends, our father's all served in the second world war. Thinking back now, my father was only 17, when he joined the army in 1939, and yet none of his children thankfully had to go through a similar experience. It makes me appreciate the sacrafice that my father's generation made to ensure the safety and well being of future generations.

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

well said, that generation had guts.......and backbone

[@MrGymm56]

This series prompted me to visit the castle in 2016. I was lucky to have the head guide give me a personal tour. He had the keys for everywhere! There's a chart showing the nationalities home runs. Brits are average but 'attempts' outnumber the next best by very many indeed. It shows their determination and courage.

[@AudieHolland]

The main thing the British had against them was the fact none, save one or two, could speak German. Dutch escaped POWs from Colditz had a much better chance of remaining outside because most knew enough German to pass for one.

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

wow lucky u,id love that

[@SOffenbach]

Was the glider still there?

[@daleburrell6273]

@@AudieHolland ...THAT'S THE TRUTH-!!!

[@richardrichard5409]

@@AudieHolland and more obviously their countries were occupied so to see for example Dutch, French, Belgium anywhere in Germany was an everyday occurrence, whilst they they worked for the Reich. An English speaker was at a disadvantage from the off.

[@kashyap3120]

Commandant is outstanding. Ethical , straight forward. The conversations between the commandant and caption are of highest professional order. The language is wonderful to listen. Must watch series. Many thanks to BBC , producers, actors, directors.

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

Excellent series, such a pity that it has been mainly forgotten

[@63snampook]

Thank you for this. This series of "Colditz" was something I was allowed to watch by my parents, when it was broadcast on Dutch tele in Holland, although I was barely a teenager at the time. I hadn't watched any of this again until this evening in half of January 2022.........48 years later, no less. Realizing this, I just wonder how can it be that time passes so quickly.......

[@dindinprivate3477]

This is the third time that I have watched this series from beginning to end. It still effects me deeply. The marvelous actors, the great story line, the well done script, the direction, ALL combined to make a very superior series. I'm sorry it is over once again.

[@mammasbabas]

Wow! Bur Wow! I have just binge-watched this fantastic series. OMG superb acting. brilliant scripts. I am in love with all the characters. Why don`t they make TV like this now? I have looked up all the actors and I am devastated to find most of them are dead or in their 80s. Still there are some series from back then with some of the actors in them. Thank you, thank you for this.

[@brucebird133]

Agree on all points !!!!!

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

I did the same binge watched and you are right it is fantastic, I am like obsessed with the series , but how sad that all the actors are either dead or old, a person can not believe it in my mind they are still young and strong and such heroes!!

[@roberthaworth8991]

In the mid-'80s I won a copy of the boardgame, "Escape from Colditz" after winning a Colditz tournament at a US game convention, and P.R. Reid personally presented the copy to me.

[@malcolmthompson597]

Well done. Loved that game.

[@Sludgepump]

Wow, what a huge honour!!

[@johnmanning5568]

@@Sludgepumpabsolutely. He was a true gentleman.

[@richardtaylor3280]

I hope he signed it for you

[@banjoboy1941]

The last three episodes of this series were the best. Not a lot of talk and schemes about escaping but a lot of dialogue between characters. Preston and the Kommandant made this series as well as Ulman.

[@johnking5174]

Bernard Hepton as the Kommandant and Jack Hedley as the colonel were fantastic. Hans Meyer was perfect as Ulmann.

[@brucebird133]

@@johnking5174 Was there a bad actor in the whole series! Im still dazzled by how good it was.!

[@glynnevans1851]

@@johnking5174 Hello John, I agree with you and a Momentous series. I watched it first time round in my early teens and was hooked also have been fascinated by the real escape attempts. When I retire I hope to visit Colditz castle. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands 🤝

[@jimburg621]

The last scene, where they leave, knowing these actors are looking at a set, ending a series, job well done!

[@alcook7834]

Great series. Superb acting and historical depiction of the war and life as a POW in Colditz. The closer to the end of it, the more I knew I would miss it.

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

True, when I had finished watching it it felt as if old friends had gone away - for a few days i was absolutely obsessed by it........

[@richardpearson7775]

they dont make tv like that anymore. good series.

[@gaius_enceladus]

The best WWII drama series EVER. Nothing else even comes close.

[@inspirewisdom]

The last time Herr Kommandant and Colonel Preston would say their goodbyes was very moving!. They behaved as true military officers and gentlemen amongst the Nazi barbarity.Even though I am British, the Kommandant proved to me that not all Germans were Nazis. A great series.

[@malcolmclements9254]

It's quite clear Hitler, his immediate staff, the SS and the Hitler youth were Nazis, all others were simply soldiers carrying out orders, a lot of them disagreeing or questioning actions of the Fuhrer but obviously silently.

[@johnpeate4544]

@@malcolmclements9254 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth_of_the_clean_Wehrmacht

[@daleburrell6273]

@@malcolmclements9254 ...IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE COMMANDANT WAS AN ARMY OFFICER WHO SERVED DURING WW1- HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER.

[@wheelinthesky300]

Most Germans who were not Nazis didn't too much to oppose the Nazis.

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

@@wheelinthesky300 it’s easy for you to be flippant and highly critical. Most of the Germans during WWII who decided to question the Nazis ended up executed or in concentration camps.

[@hermette]

Thank you so much for sharing this series. This is now one of my all-time favorites. The ensemble cast was brilliant. I will miss Carrington, Carter, Brent, Player, and the Kommandant!

[@inspirewisdom]

The Kommandant aka Bernard Hepton acted the Classic German Officer!, Infact if any film wants to produce a WW2 movie or TV Series, they should refer to the Kommandant and also the British Officers Colonel Preston, Carrington etc. Brilliant acting on all sides.Even Major Mohn the Nazi Officer acted truly to the fanaticism of that period in Germany.

[@neville132bbk]

and Ullmann

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

it is as if they become one's personal friends!!!! I find myself wondering things like are they ok, and what are they doing, how is Cathy - lol all the characters came alive for me and I miss them!!

[@alwaysangry2241]

This episode aired on the BBC after i emigrated to Canada in 1973 i have not seen it until now 43 yrs later thank you Apophis XI

[@dalemcilwain]

I was way too young when this series premiered. First time watching it and I was amazed by the all star cast. World class actors and legends! First time watching the series. I will watch it again. An absolute banger of a tv series.

[@kitwalker2968]

Just crash watched Series 1 & 2. Totally got me in, thoroughly enjoyed every episode. Fantastic acting.

[@johnking5174]

It was a great series wasn't it? It is a shame it has not been repeated on television for ten years or so.

[@daleburrell6273]

...AND IT WAS PRETTY GOOD, TOO-!!

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

@@johnking5174 it is it is such a sad, sad state of affairs that heroism like that has mainly been forgotten, we can not imagine what it must be like to be so patriotic and obsessed with gaining our freedom at all costs

[@tofty21]

A brilliant series and very difficult to portray the real horror. When my Grandad was liberated he had not eaten for three weeks and was extremely weak. Obviously this would be very difficult to replicate on a tv show.

[@mr_dillus]

Fantastic series. Gotta love the Kommandant!

[@daleburrell6273]

YOU BETCHER LIFESAVERS!!!

[@richardrichard5409]

Really why, withheld Red Cross parcels and medical supplies, approved the court martial of prisoners for petty offences, only turned when he knew which side his bread was buttered......

[@timengineman2nd714]

@@richardrichard5409 No, if you watched where the Flight Lt. was being courtmartialed, once the Kommandant learned that they were going to sentence the British Officer to death he worked hard between the scenes to prevent it!!! And then he made sure that the Doctor who insisted that the officer be charged for not saluting him was transferred! And the transferred was done in such a way that the next commanding officer for the doctor knew that the man was transferred in disgrace!!

[@andoni123]

@@richardrichard5409 nonsense

[@HandGrenadeDivision]

Just finished my second binge viewing of the entire series, can't add much more to the comments that haven't already been said, other than to comment on the Kommandant's departure from the series. 45:06 - he exchanges a moving, thoughtful exchange with the SBO, reinforcing their mutual respect, the irony of the turned tables, and how much they have changed over the years through their personal losses, grief, and duties to the prisoners. 45:22 the dignified Kommandant is marched off, head held high, until he slams into an American in the act of stealing his portrait of Hitler. 45:25 the last close-up of the Kommandant for the series. Annoyance? Confusion? Grief? Fear for the future? All of the above? Wonderful work.

[@pauldrakecomet]

In 1995 whilst doing roof repairs workmen found a radio setup in the roof totally in tact. I saw this at Colditz on a recent visit. The courtyard is much bigger than the one used in the BBC series. No internal filming was done at Colditz. The main reason for this was Colditz was painted to its original colours from 100s years previous. Which are white and yellow. This does not fit in with the WW2 theme hence why they used a castle in Scotland

[@maninthestreet01]

...and Colditz castle was in DDR (East Germany), under communist rule.

[@bradmitchell1835]

A wonderful recapitulation of the spirit, ingenuity, resourcefulness and comradeship of the British, French prisoners of war in the 5 year captivity in Colditz.

[@joewilson3575]

This has been a damn good show, which I am certainly going to watch again, but it's a shame it's over I've fallen in love with the characters just like I did with Wings and Piece of Cake.

[@kenreeve6549]

Thoroughly recommend the full series great cast , acting and authenticity ,a little dated but it is over 45 yrs old ! Brilliant thank you , makes you realise what a sad state of affairs modern tv has become

[@credibilityimyawning]

One of the classics that deserves it's reputation. Bloody good show all round.

[@jimbrechin1089]

A great series with many great performances - Bernard Hepton stands out. Thanks for uploading.

[@carich09]

I really enjoyed this programmer really motivational and inspired, especially when they both said goodbye officers, german and british

[@artvandelay8830]

Thank you, for sharing this amazing series, Apophis. I wasn't even born when it was on tv. I remember having seen the opening on television when I was a child in some rehash. Nostalgia made me see it. I don't regret it at all. This series is one of the best I've seen in my entire life. It has a real screenplay, amazing actors and an unforgettable background. Thank you so much.

[@alanheseltine6782]

Great to see this series again after all these years, I even had the board game when I was growing up, great memories. Thanks to the uploader.

[@brucebird133]

Just watched through to this episode - MIND BLOWINGLY OUTSTANDING!!!! The scripts, the acting, the scenery etc... Just so enjoyable to watch. You cant imagine what these poor bastards went through in real life in the place - which would have been hell compared to what you see in the show. This was a MAGNIFICENT series. I really wish UK would start pumping out more shows like they did in teh 1970's and 80's where they destroyed the hollywood rubbish. Thank you for uploading it.

[@soapman8311]

Missed this Series when it originally came out. Have now watched it three times. Love it. Just GREAT. !

[@adamjones2025]

I was born in the very early 80s and LOVED this series immensely.

[@pauldrakecomet]

I stayed at Colditz castle last night. Fantastic

[@ABC_DEF]

Are you still there? Or did you escape?

[@spudpud-T67]

@@ABC_DEF No vun eskapes vom Coldiz

[@pilotnelson4507]

Having direct relatives on all sides... They played this well. Thank you all...

[@halcyon289]

Well that was one heck of a great series. Great acting all round and nice to see the great Ed Bishop in the final episode. Thank you so much for the upload.

[@malcolmclements9254]

Captain Straker in Gerry Anderson's UFO.

[@halcyon289]

@@malcolmclements9254 The man himself.

[@daleburrell6273]

@@malcolmclements9254 ...and he provided the voice of Captain Blue- in "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons!!"

[@pix046]

44:05 A fantastic conversation between the Colonel and the Kommandant. The Colonel reminds me a bit of Col Nicholson from The Bridge On the River Kwai. In the nicest possible way.

[@ABC_DEF]

Stiff upper lip.

[@guilhermegoncalves110]

Quite moving as well, for those who had watched the whole series. At least for me.

[@TwinJalanugraha]

@@guilhermegoncalves110 It was very sad when he told his wife that they were all alone in this world...

[@lakedistrict9450]

Really enjoyed revisiting this after a lifetime. On reflection it has more than a few boarding school parallels.

[@cboffard8350]

It certainly does

[@homebasebelgium359]

One of the best WWII series I've ever seen!

[@alward9901]

I thank you all for this production. One word excellent. And every one else have covered it all in comments . It must have been great for that generation to hear the WAR IS OVER . Like my parents.

[@meriamhenry1275]

Thank you so much to all the uploader...thank you for sharing it us the whole episodes of Colditz...I watch this when I was 10-11yrs old but not all.......thnx again.

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

I am so glad I found this series, binge watched it and think I am going to watch it again, I miss the characters it is as if they have become my friends their acting is so believeable and I find myself wondering the whole time where they are now, what happened to their families that we got to know about, like Cathy, only to realise that most of them are most probably either very old or even dead - so sad. Thank you for uploading

[@JohnSmith-fc1yj]

A brilliant series and a fitting final episode. Excellent acting from a very good cast. For any ex-military types of course there are the usual very minor gripes - e.g. in the final scene you see a POW walking out of Colditz carrying suitcase in right hand. Even Simon hoists his kitbag onto his right shoulder; when every 'military type' knows you carry kit in your left hand leaving your right hand free to salute or return a salute. RSM's and drill sergeants beat that into your brain from Day One. It's a discipline you carry the rest of your life. However, I am willing to concede this bit of military discipline and agree with all, that this is a series that excels in all departments. Something we will doubtless watch again and again.

[@daleburrell6273]

...I'm pretty sure that formality had fallen by the wayside at Colditz: in the episode where Col. Preston arrived at Colditz, Col. Preston's batman snapped to attention- and an RAF officer said: "We don't go for that here, Corporal!"

[@medleychildress451]

and David McCallum served in the British Army's 3rd Battalion the Middlesex Regiment, he should have remembered where his kitbag went

[@JohnSmith-us2jx]

One of my all time favourites, right down to the theme music by the great Robert Farnon.

[@psychoticfox1965]

thank you for uploading this , brilliant.

[@bmac63]

Thank you for posting this incredible series, was 9 when the first series mid 70s aired and loved it then, read many books about Colditz thanks to Pat Reid and Airey Neave etc and have many fond memories re watching this...outstanding cast and actors...cheers from New Zealand

[@michaelt3798]

Just binge watched the series. So many emotions. Truly exemplary.

[@CPWebster]

what a fantastic series this was. I remember watching it first aired in the 70s and it is still brilliant - indeed they just don't make tv like this anymore.

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

what impressed me is that it just did not age, what was good in the 70's is even fantastic now in 2022

[@weechid9784]

Isn't it strange how the memory plays tricks. I was convinced that Shaw left via his glider after liberation - just to show that it would work and i was certain that Mohn was killed in the penultimate episode. thouroughly enjoyed watching it again and seeing some of my very young teenage crushes. Thanks for posting.

[@johnking5174]

Mohn is last seen escaping the castle, but we never saw him get killed or anything else, he simply vanishes into the darkness.

[@weechid9784]

@@johnking5174 Yes - but I would have sworn that we saw him get shot or stabbed or something.. Weird how memory works. I must find some other old series and see if they are as I remembered them,

[@jonerickson2358]

There was an American movie staring Doug McClure about the glider and an escape. It was not a very good movie, not very accurate. There are also several KZbin videos; one of a group of Brits who built an exact replica of the glider and flew it many years later.

[@keithashley6298]

A magnificent series, superbly acted, i doubt very much if anything like this could happen again. Bravo.

[@daveinthephillipines7055]

A brilliant series watched it whenit first came out and now 50 years later i realise just what a well told story

[@zdenekmarek3843]

Somewhere I got imformation that the remains of two gliders were found under a roof of the Castle 30 or so years later.(One was still uncompleted) I believe part of the Castle is a museum of the POW period. Also told it was well worth visiting.Remember amongst prisoners were Douglas Bader and Airienieve (excuse my spelling=I have parked under Houses of Parliment where Airienieve was murderd -so sad !) Airie made several escapes and attempts !

[@jamescypler4599]

And he did get back to england as well

[@f.dmcintyre4666]

Wow, just finished watching this, I have watched this over the last week or so, it's been fantastic, great ending, thanks to Wayne and others who have put this up for us, made me think of what it would have been like for everybody at the end of the war. Long Live Freedom..............Thanks again................

[@misternewoutlook5437]

The one thing about this series you don't really notice is that there is little, if any, incidental music. At least, I don't recall much except for the opening and closing theme. It made the series better without that stuff. Unfortunately for many, this series remains lost in obscurity. However, for those who discover it, there's a real gem to binge upon.

[@neville132bbk]

One of the the Best Things about it..Nooo background music.

[@Albukhshi]

Now that you mention it, I don't recall any background music beyond the beginning and end!

[@gazza2933]

Superb series from the BBC. Certainly one for the archives.

[@mhthmusicvideos]

No matter how many times I've watched the series, I always have a big lump in my throat at the end of this last episode.

[@jeffo3393]

Great series, well written and acted. Worth watching again as i watched the original series when released many years ago.

[@barrybernstein9049]

- Tweedle dum-=- One of the finest dramatic episodes of Coldidz in yje history of television drama..

[@MrGymm56]

Watching this when it aired inspired me to want to visit. A couple of years ago I did. The guide I had there had the keys for everywhere. Amazing. One solitary confinement room overlooks the town. Apparently seeing 'normal' life gave inmates a tonic. Roaming around brought back memories of this series. Go and visit the place!

[@wendynadin3685]

I have really enjoyed this series,the actor who played the commandant was great. The actor who played Ullman showed that there was a humane side to him. Sadly a lot of the cast have passed on I could watch this series again.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@daleburrell6273]

...THAT'S THE TRUTH-!!!!

[@linspuk]

I've just watched this series for the first time since it was originally aired, and really got engaged with it. Great series. I was fortunate to know one of the prisoners who built the glider in the attic, thoroughly nice self-effacing chap who kept on flying well into his 80's (he had a little Jodel aeroplane). It felt like a connection to this story.

[@ingridmontblanc]

fijn om dit weer eens te zien na zoveel jaar

[@chicagofrank2010]

Cheers for posting this series. I have never seen before. I saw all of series one about half of the 2nd

[@johnking5174]

14:35 - This little scene is accurate in portraying the German army fears of having to surrender to the Russian forces. Every German soldier knew how much the Russians hated the Germans, and so were desperate to surrender to the British, French or American armies, who they knew would in the majority of cases treat the Germans better under the Geneva Convention. You can sense this in the fear of the Kommandant here.

[@daleburrell6273]

YOU'RE OVERLOOKING THE FACT THAT THE FRENCH HATED THE GERMANS ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE RUSSIANS!!! ONE DIFFERENCE, WAS THAT FRANCE WAS A SIGNATORY OF THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS- WHILE RUSSIA WAS NOT!!!

[@malcolmclements9254]

The Russians lost 20 million to the Germans and in the final days the Germans knew it, and feared it.

[@PeterSodhi]

The German genocidal war in the East led to the deserved retribution by the Russians who almost single handedly won WWII.

[@gagasmancave8859]

Hell the Germans would have surrendered to the salvation army rather than the russians

[@timengineman2nd714]

@@malcolmclements9254 Yes, and no! Some of those deaths were actually the work of Stalin and his NKVD!!! Also, he let areas of the S.S.R. suffer under starvation because he thought they didn't fight the "Racists" as much as they should have!

[@keithashley6298]

A magnificent series, very well acted.

[@annzwarych3577]

Amazing series in every way . Watched it in the 70’s . Enjoyed it so much again! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@iainatkinson9239]

A totally brilliant series that would never be made today, was lucky to watch some of it when I was a child ( some episodes were deemed not suitable viewing!) but still totally brilliant in 2022 the board game was also excellent

[@davidjarvis6411]

Wonderful end to a great television series. Thank-you so much for uploading this. Now going to buy the DVD! :)

[@davidfelix2594]

Why would you do that when you can watch it here for free?

[@billb2479]

Great series

[@chatkeow]

Bernard Hepton was simply outstanding

[@genlob]

Well, that was a wonderful series. So many top class performances, it's hard to pick a favourite. Wagner's understated delivery, Valentine's barely suppressed mania, Meyer oozing class from every pore, and Hedley's incredible Col Preston. "The first condition will be - the defence and administration of this castle pass under our control effective as of this moment."

[@susanbeaumont6063]

Wonderful Series. Thank you so much.

[@drubber007]

Such a classic this is. As many others have said, they simply don't make TV like this anymore. Today's dross is dross.

[@cooperjason1315]

Brilliant. The whole series 1+2 are masterpieces .

[@dindinprivate3477]

A great series. Thank you for posting it.

[@johnavery3941]

Well I came across this 3 weeks ago having watched it the first time over 40 years ago with my grandfather, have watched all the episodes almost back to back, great acting ,great stories and great memories, they do not do real drama like this any more for sure

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

I remember this when it was first repeated on UK Gold back in 1993 and I must have watched every single episode. As for when it first aired, I'd not long turned three.

[@dhdavidholloway]

I watched this when I was younger as it aired in U.K. and now watch it once a year as it was such a good series. Excellent music for the intro

[@cctn2012]

Great series to this day!

[@indigogolf3051]

I haven't seen this since I was a kid. Looking at it now, what a superb pair of actors Bernard Hepton and Jack Hedley. I looked up Jack Hedley and see that he died only 7 weeks ago in Dec 21, damn that made me feel sad.

[@christoph404]

very well written and acted, I remember watching it on TV when I was a schoolboy, the cast and crew came to my home town of Stirling in Scotland to do some location filming in the courtyard and exterior of Stirling Castle, most of the series was obviously filmed on a studio set but there was a fair amount done at Stirling Castle which looks a bit like Colditz !!

[@timfronimos459]

Thank you WayneG for posting. I haven't seen this its initail broadcast 50 years ago. I watched thsi my father and uncle when I was seven years old.

[@davemunch999]

The real Ulman (Reinhold Eggers) spent 10 years in a Russian prison after the war . . . Great series but after 5 years inside their uniforms were still brand new

[@joewilson3575]

Durrington Dave Did he come out all right? He seemed alright in the show, in factI rather liked him. If he was like this in real life I'd hope nothing too bad had happened to him.

[@brain8484]

Durrington Dave yes they all looked in good health too

[@inspirewisdom]

Thanks for that share!. he must have seen the horrors of the Eastern Front.

[@DieyoungDiefast]

@@joewilson3575 After the liberation of Colditz Castle by the U.S. Army, Eggers retired from active service and returned to his post as a teacher in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, as he was able to prove that he had never joined the Nazi Party. He became a headmaster, and then a lecturer at Halle University. In September 1946, as he was in the Soviet Occupied Zone, he was arrested by the Russians and questioned about Gestapo agents in Colditz. Charged with crimes against humanity, spying and supporting a fascist regime, he was sentenced to ten years labour. This was spent in Sachsenhausen and then Torgau Prison.[3] During the years after this, Eggers was active in meeting with former Colditz inmates and writing his memoirs. He retired to live by Lake Constance, where he died in 1974, aged 84.[3]

[@keninblack]

Watched this series for the first time recently. Fantastic and gripping. The only thing that was missing was an epilogue. Would have been great to find out what happened to all the characters in the series.

[@markypatt8340]

Just thinking that myself

[@daleburrell6273]

...well, "ya can't please EVERYBODY!!!"

[@keninblack]

@@daleburrell6273 lol, very true!

[@md-thecleverandplayful4597]

Outstanding.... It wasn't appropriated by me in my youth, thank you, it is now. 👍

[@xochitl9161]

Excellent series ! Superb acting !

[@TankUni]

VE Day was less than 30 years before this episode was shown. Older actors such as Jack Hedley, had direct experience of wartime, while the younger actors such as McCallum, went through National Service. This experience of the war and military life, cast a long shadow on British drama.