Devizes Plot: Difference between revisions
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The '''Devizes plot''' was a plan for approximately |
The '''Devizes plot''' was a plan for approximately 7000 German [[prisoners of war]] held at [[Le Marchant Barracks]] to escape and attack [[London]]. Conspirators planned the breakout for a date close to Christmas 1944, in the belief that Le Marchant would have less guards due to Christmas festivities. The plot was foiled after german-speaking American soldiers visited Le Marchant and overheard a prisoner talking about the "arms store" of the camp. The conspirators were subsequently sent to [[Cultybraggan Camp]] in [[Comrie, Perth and Kinross|Comrie]] where they murdered [[Feldwebel]] Wolfgang Rosterg, who they wrongly believed had been an informant of their plans to the British authorities. Six prisoners were convicted of Rosterg's murder, of which five were [[hanging|hanged]] at [[Pentonville Prison]] in the last such mass-execution of Britain. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Britain had seen its PoWs attempt to escape numerous times; the vast majority of these ended in failure. 97 Italian PoWs had successfully escaped from a camp in [[Ayr]] close to the time of the Devizes plot, but were recaptured.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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The escape attempt was led by Warrant Officer Erich Pallme-Koenig.<ref name=":1" /> Koenig sent a scouting group of prisoners led by Rolf Herzig to survey the surrounding area for usable [[Aerodrome|airfields]], the group successfully cut through the [[perimeter fence]] with homemade [[Diagonal pliers|wire cutters]] to achieve this goal. Upon return to the camp two days later, the group claimed to have been lost in the local countryside due to a [[British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War#Other defensive measures|the removal of roadsigns]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Valerie |title=Camp 21 Comrie |publisher=Whittles Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=9781849952279 |pages=81}}</ref> |
The escape attempt was led by Warrant Officer Erich Pallme-Koenig.<ref name=":1" /> Koenig sent a scouting group of prisoners led by Rolf Herzig to survey the surrounding area for usable [[Aerodrome|airfields]], the group successfully cut through the [[perimeter fence]] with homemade [[Diagonal pliers|wire cutters]] to achieve this goal. Upon return to the camp two days later, the group claimed to have been lost in the local countryside due to a [[British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War#Other defensive measures|the removal of roadsigns]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Valerie |title=Camp 21 Comrie |publisher=Whittles Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=9781849952279 |pages=81}}</ref> |
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Koenig planned for the escape to happen close to [[Christmas]], 1944.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The conspirators believed that there would be less guards in the camp, and the remaining guards would be distracted due to the festivities.<ref name=":0" /> It was estimated that 7,000 PoWs could escape from Le Marchant, who would proceed to seize [[RAF Yatesbury]] and gain access to equipment such as [[Military aircraft|aircraft]] and [[Vehicle armour|armoured vehicles]].<ref name=":1" /> The prisoners would then liberate more PoWs held at another camp in [[Sheffield]].<ref name=":1" /> |
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==Discovery== |
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| ⚫ | The British first became aware of the plot through two |
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The ultimate goal of the plot was to attack [[London]], thereby stalling the Allied advance on Germany.<ref name=":1" /> |
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==Discovery and British response== |
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| ⚫ | The British first became aware of the plot through two German-speaking Americans who were visiting Le Marchant, who overheard Koenig say "The arms store is the key."<ref name=":1" /> The Americans reported this to the chief interpreter of the camp, who ordered the re-interrogation of the prisoners in the scouting group.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Valerie |title=Camp 21 Comrie |publisher=Whittles Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=9781849952279 |pages=82}}</ref> [[Covert listening device|Covert listening devices]] placed around the camp were re-activated, which gave away details of the plot to the camp's commanders.<ref name=":1" /> |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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Revision as of 16:27, 10 May 2024
The Devizes plot was a plan for approximately 7000 German prisoners of war held at Le Marchant Barracks to escape and attack London. Conspirators planned the breakout for a date close to Christmas 1944, in the belief that Le Marchant would have less guards due to Christmas festivities. The plot was foiled after german-speaking American soldiers visited Le Marchant and overheard a prisoner talking about the "arms store" of the camp. The conspirators were subsequently sent to Cultybraggan Camp in Comrie where they murdered Feldwebel Wolfgang Rosterg, who they wrongly believed had been an informant of their plans to the British authorities. Six prisoners were convicted of Rosterg's murder, of which five were hanged at Pentonville Prison in the last such mass-execution of Britain.
Background
Britain had seen its PoWs attempt to escape numerous times; the vast majority of these ended in failure. 97 Italian PoWs had successfully escaped from a camp in Ayr close to the time of the Devizes plot, but were recaptured.[1]
Plot
The escape attempt was led by Warrant Officer Erich Pallme-Koenig.[2] Koenig sent a scouting group of prisoners led by Rolf Herzig to survey the surrounding area for usable airfields, the group successfully cut through the perimeter fence with homemade wire cutters to achieve this goal. Upon return to the camp two days later, the group claimed to have been lost in the local countryside due to a the removal of roadsigns.[3]
Koenig planned for the escape to happen close to Christmas, 1944.[2][1] The conspirators believed that there would be less guards in the camp, and the remaining guards would be distracted due to the festivities.[1] It was estimated that 7,000 PoWs could escape from Le Marchant, who would proceed to seize RAF Yatesbury and gain access to equipment such as aircraft and armoured vehicles.[2] The prisoners would then liberate more PoWs held at another camp in Sheffield.[2]
The ultimate goal of the plot was to attack London, thereby stalling the Allied advance on Germany.[2]
Discovery and British response
The British first became aware of the plot through two German-speaking Americans who were visiting Le Marchant, who overheard Koenig say "The arms store is the key."[2] The Americans reported this to the chief interpreter of the camp, who ordered the re-interrogation of the prisoners in the scouting group.[4] Covert listening devices placed around the camp were re-activated, which gave away details of the plot to the camp's commanders.[2]
Aftermath
Anyone suspected of involvement in the Devizes plot was sent to Cultybraggan Camp,[2] one of two maximum-security PoW camps in Britain at the time.[5] Approximately 30 prisoners were transferred from Le Marchant to Cultybraggan by bus.[6] Among the people sent to Cultybraggan was Feldwebel Wolfgang Rosterg, who worked as an interpreter at Le Marchant.[1] Rosterg was a prisoner with known anti-Nazi views, openly speaking out against the Nazi Party,[1] and it is likely that he was moved to Cultybraggan due to a clerical error.
Lynching of Wolfgang Rosterg
Conviction of Murderers
A military court in London tried eight prisoners for the murder of Rosterg, with the majority pleading not guilty.[2] The prisoners argued that Rosterg had deserved to be killed for being a traitor to Germany, with the defending officer referencing a similar case where British PoWs held at Breslau had also killed an officer who they believed had betrayed escape plans to the German authorities. No action had been taken against the British PoWs involved in the Breslau lynching.[1]
The judge preceding over the case accepted that Rosterg would have been seen as a bad soldier deserving of contempt from the Germans' point of view. Two prisoners were acquitted, one was sentenced to life imprisonment and the remaining five were sentenced to be hung. The executions were carried out at Pentonville Prison, the last such mass-execution in Britain.[1]
In popular culture
The death of Rosterg was formed part of the plot of "Black Camp 21", a 2018 novel by Bill Jones. Jones was inspired to write the book, having slept in a Nissen hut at Cultybraggan as a child.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g McKie, David (2004-12-23). "A grisly Christmas tale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Cowen, Lewis (10 July 2008). "Grisly tale of revenge". The Gazette and Herald. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Valerie (2017). Camp 21 Comrie. Whittles Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 9781849952279.
- ^ Campbell, Valerie (2017). Camp 21 Comrie. Whittles Publishing. p. 82. ISBN 9781849952279.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Comrie, Cultybraggan Former Cadet Camp, Huts 19 and 20 (Guard's Block) and 44, 45, 46 (Category A Listed Building) (LB50471)". Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Valerie (2017). Camp 21 Comrie. Whittles Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 9781849952279.
- ^ Bryce, Tracey (22 October 2018). "Writer unravels mystery of Nazi's death behind the wire in little known Scottish prisoner of war camp". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 9 May 2024.