Lt Gunther Pluschow

[Coburg]

Not strictly medal related, but a great Imperial German story.

I have just started a new job with North West Leicestershire District Council.

I was amazed this week to see the council had published a small booklet about Gunther Pluschow who escaped from Donington Hall during WW1 as a POW and made his way back to Germany, the only soldier to do so in both world wars. It is a fascinating story of this Lieutenant of the Imperial German Navy who found himself in Tsingtao China under siege from the Japanese Navy, He crossed China using disguises, to a ship which took him to the USA and then back to Europe, only to be arrested on Gibraltar. Ten days later he was in England and transferred to a prisoner of war camp at Donington hall which is on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border and still stands today. He escaped over the wire fences after planning with a fellow English speaking POW. They walked to Derby railway station and split up. His comrade was arrested but Gunther made his way to London by train and after visiting many sights in the capital bordered a Dutch ship SS Prinses Juliana at Gravesend and landed in Flushing after hiding on deck in a lifeboat. He dodged the border guards and finally made it home becoming a national hero.He received the Iron Cross from the Kaiser. He was killed in an air crash in Argentina on January 28th 1931.
A great story I knew nothing of and one I was pleased to see published by the District Council.

There was one that got away!!!

Jim

[tystgaard]

Interesting

Interesting, did not know this story.
In WW2 KC Ace - Franz Xaver Baron von Werra
was shot down over Britian and later escaped
from a POW Camp in Canada. He returned to
Germany and was awarded the knight cross.
Sadly he was KIA the next year - 1941.

BR
Nicolai

[Valter Gorenc]

A great story, I wasn't aware of it either. Thanks for posting! I really like the idea of addint illustrations to the booklet, as original photos are obviously none available. Drawing style resembles my of Tin-Tin, and that style fits perfecty IMHO.

Another great escape story I really enjoyed reading is that of Julius Lauterbach.

Here's a short excerpt:
http://historum.com/general-history/...auterbach.html

There's a good, although a bit non-standard book about Lauterbach's adventures

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/165441.Rogue_Raider

It's out of print, but you can get it cheaply from used books stores like awesomebooks.

[wayne gosley]

An IPEC journey across the world, and what an adventurous spirit,

[Brian L.]

Interesting, did not know this story.
In WW2 KC Ace - Franz Xaver Baron von Werra
was shot down over Britian and later escaped
from a POW Camp in Canada. He returned to
Germany and was awarded the knight cross.
Sadly he was KIA the next year - 1941.

BR
Nicolai

The 1957 movie, The One That Got Away, starring Hardy Kruger is about von Werra's escape including his famous walk across the frozen St. Lawrence River to NY State.
It was one of my favorite movies as a kid.