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The 21 Escapes of Lt. Alastair Cram
A genuinely new World War II story, this is a riveting account of the wartime exploits of Alastair Cram. Cram was taken prisoner in North Africa in November 1941, which began a long odyssey through 12 different POW camps, three Gestapo prisons and one asylum. He fled his captors no fewer than 21 times, including his final successful escape from a POW column in April 1945. Perhaps the most dramatic of his attempts was from Gavi, the "Italian Colditz." Gavi was a maximum-security prison near Genoa for the pericolosi, the "most dangerous" inmates because of their perpetual hunger to escape. It was here that Alastair met David Stirling, the legendary founder of the SAS, and cooked up the plan for what would become the "Cistern Tunnel" escape, one of the most audacious but hitherto little-known mass escape attempts of the entire war.
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 7, 2020
Great book about one man's dedication to escape from his enemies in Italy and Germany during World War 2 when he was a POW. The author does really well to intertwine the many colorful characters whom Lt. Cram crossed paths with during his stay as a POW and also includes their many escapes and adventures. This book is about daring and courageous men and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in adventure stories, as this book will also lead you to many new titles to read.
March 10, 2021
Povestea lui Alastair Cram este una interesantă, doar că eu sunt sceptică. Nu înțeleg cum de a reușit să fugă de atâtea ori și nu a fost ucis. În afară de jurnalele lui și mărturiile câtorva oameni, nu am citit să fi existat dovezi ale faptelor sale. În plus, nici pe el nu am reușit să îl înțeleg. Evada doar de dragul fugii, chiar dacă acolo nu era în pericol. Ba chiar el scrie în jurnalul său că în unele locuri era tratat ireproșabil, dar el avea nevoia asta (bolnavă, aș zice eu), să își riște viața. A fost o lectură interesantă, dar scriitura încărcată de detalii inutile a făcut-o mai dificil de parcurs și nu am reușit să o apreciez pentru că nu am putut să îi înțeleg gândirea lui Cram și tendința sa aproape obsesiv-compulsivă de a fugi. Vă las mai jos un fragment din jurnalul său, ca să vă faceți o idee despre ce avea el în minte. Recenzia aici: https://bit.ly/3hQCm5Z.
,,Nimic nu reliefează cu mai multă cruzime pierderea libertății ca zgomotul unei uși închise, zăngănitul zăvoarelor și al cheilor răsucite în broască, ecoul pașilor pierduți pe coridor, tăcerea și singurătatea... Ideea unei noi captivități este cumplit de amară, dar nu simți imediat gustul dezamăgirii, ci mai degrabă o senzație de ușurare după o perioadă de încordare. Abia atunci realizezi că zile de-a rândul ai trăit, clipă de clipă, cu nervii întinși ca un arc, cu urechile ciulite și ochii mereu în patru. Trupul și mintea, mânate de forțe cu adevărat fantastice, au reușit să adune resurse uluitoare de energie și putere, înfruntând stihiile naturii, escaladând versanți, urcând dealuri și munți. Zi și noapte, ai trăit în pielea unui alt personaj, gândind și vorbind cu mintea și cu glasul altcuiva. E minunat să-ți recapeți identitatea. Odihna și noaptea minții. Apoi simți iar gustul amar al conștientizării. Iar spiritul neliniștit și iscoditor începe să-ți dea din nou târcoale și te apuci să explorezi fiecare cotlon al celulei. Totul în zadar.''
,,Nimic nu reliefează cu mai multă cruzime pierderea libertății ca zgomotul unei uși închise, zăngănitul zăvoarelor și al cheilor răsucite în broască, ecoul pașilor pierduți pe coridor, tăcerea și singurătatea... Ideea unei noi captivități este cumplit de amară, dar nu simți imediat gustul dezamăgirii, ci mai degrabă o senzație de ușurare după o perioadă de încordare. Abia atunci realizezi că zile de-a rândul ai trăit, clipă de clipă, cu nervii întinși ca un arc, cu urechile ciulite și ochii mereu în patru. Trupul și mintea, mânate de forțe cu adevărat fantastice, au reușit să adune resurse uluitoare de energie și putere, înfruntând stihiile naturii, escaladând versanți, urcând dealuri și munți. Zi și noapte, ai trăit în pielea unui alt personaj, gândind și vorbind cu mintea și cu glasul altcuiva. E minunat să-ți recapeți identitatea. Odihna și noaptea minții. Apoi simți iar gustul amar al conștientizării. Iar spiritul neliniștit și iscoditor începe să-ți dea din nou târcoale și te apuci să explorezi fiecare cotlon al celulei. Totul în zadar.''
July 26, 2021
This is a true story. And not just of one man’s hare-brained schemes. It centres on the years of captivity Alistair Cram endured, but at the same time details the exploits of other fully-paid-up members of the Mad-Hat- Houdini-Club that Lt. Cram spent time with.
I tried to understand what drove these men to take such risks and thought hard about the justifications made by them; I find it impossible.
Before the war and joining up, many seemed to be the average citizen: lawyers, accountants and such.
In my review of ‘Soldier in the Circus: How to Survive Five Years as a Prisoner of War’, by Rifleman Edward ‘Ted’ Lyme, I highlight how he was confined to a STALAG (a POW camp for non-commissioned ranks), not an OFFLAG (a camp for OFFICERS). OFFICERS are not subjected to twelve- hours of forced labour every day, a diet of one slice of bread and a bowl of vegetable water per day and sleeping with fifty others on a wooden shelf without pillows and blankets and without heating. As he so painfully explains, ‘Where would we get the time or the energy to contemplate escape. Our only thoughts were how to survive today and hopefully make it to tomorrow.’
I can only remain in awe of the courage of these would-be escapees, but at the same time, say, “The devil makes work for idle hands.”
I will accept that it is a duty to attempt escape and a duty to cause as much disruption to the enemy’s fighting force as possible. Is it not, just as much, a duty to survive and so be able to recount the horrors, the crimes, the injustice put upon prisoners and civilians alike.
I was brought close to tears when reading the accounts of non- commissioned men (The Long Road Home: An account of the author's experiences as a prisoner-of-war in the hands of the Germans during the Second World War) and (Soldier in the Circus: How to Survive Five Years as a Prisoner of War). When reading of life in an OFFLAG, I find that non- commissioned men were confined in the same camp as these officers (in separate barracks): as orderlies, so as to wash and iron their clothes, polish their boots, clean their rooms, change their bedding: pillows, sheets and blankets. BEDDING!! Edward ‘Ted’ Lyme would argue that a scrap of hessian from a potato sack was the nearest he might ever get to owning a blanket.
I accept that it is difficult to endure captivity, regardless of the comforts permitted, but to persist in an adventure that you can foresee as something that might just as easily result in a violent backlash? It can be seen that many of these officers were intelligent men; did they not think of the consequences that may come their way? Fifty allied airmen were
executed after they escaped from STALAG LUFT III (an officer only camp for airmen). The film ‘The Great Escape’ is based on this tragedy.
A real eye-opener for me. I am thankful of reading this. It underlines the raw truth of how life in a POW camp as an American or British and Commonwealth officer was entirely survivable and pretty much a blast: more than enough Red Cross parcels to sink a battleship. Money sent by family and friends. At one point they make illicit hooch.
I have never in my life been confined. Not even sent to my bedroom as a child. I cannot pass judgement. But, and maybe I am just a little tarnished from reading previous books written by enlisted men, these officers knew of the brutality inflicted by the Germans. This book admits as much. Did not the orderlies, transferred from STALAG confinement, tell these officers of how much risk their adventures put upon other, less fortunate, POWs?
I am sadly left with the impression that escaping was simply a game that we must win, so as to prove to the enemy we can.
Lt. Alistair Cram was an accomplished mountaineer. I have heard people justify an obsession with climbing: “It is a physical, mental and emotional challenge.” “It forces you to face danger.” “It is a battle you enter, knowing you must win or die.”
I tried to understand what drove these men to take such risks and thought hard about the justifications made by them; I find it impossible.
Before the war and joining up, many seemed to be the average citizen: lawyers, accountants and such.
In my review of ‘Soldier in the Circus: How to Survive Five Years as a Prisoner of War’, by Rifleman Edward ‘Ted’ Lyme, I highlight how he was confined to a STALAG (a POW camp for non-commissioned ranks), not an OFFLAG (a camp for OFFICERS). OFFICERS are not subjected to twelve- hours of forced labour every day, a diet of one slice of bread and a bowl of vegetable water per day and sleeping with fifty others on a wooden shelf without pillows and blankets and without heating. As he so painfully explains, ‘Where would we get the time or the energy to contemplate escape. Our only thoughts were how to survive today and hopefully make it to tomorrow.’
I can only remain in awe of the courage of these would-be escapees, but at the same time, say, “The devil makes work for idle hands.”
I will accept that it is a duty to attempt escape and a duty to cause as much disruption to the enemy’s fighting force as possible. Is it not, just as much, a duty to survive and so be able to recount the horrors, the crimes, the injustice put upon prisoners and civilians alike.
I was brought close to tears when reading the accounts of non- commissioned men (The Long Road Home: An account of the author's experiences as a prisoner-of-war in the hands of the Germans during the Second World War) and (Soldier in the Circus: How to Survive Five Years as a Prisoner of War). When reading of life in an OFFLAG, I find that non- commissioned men were confined in the same camp as these officers (in separate barracks): as orderlies, so as to wash and iron their clothes, polish their boots, clean their rooms, change their bedding: pillows, sheets and blankets. BEDDING!! Edward ‘Ted’ Lyme would argue that a scrap of hessian from a potato sack was the nearest he might ever get to owning a blanket.
I accept that it is difficult to endure captivity, regardless of the comforts permitted, but to persist in an adventure that you can foresee as something that might just as easily result in a violent backlash? It can be seen that many of these officers were intelligent men; did they not think of the consequences that may come their way? Fifty allied airmen were
executed after they escaped from STALAG LUFT III (an officer only camp for airmen). The film ‘The Great Escape’ is based on this tragedy.
A real eye-opener for me. I am thankful of reading this. It underlines the raw truth of how life in a POW camp as an American or British and Commonwealth officer was entirely survivable and pretty much a blast: more than enough Red Cross parcels to sink a battleship. Money sent by family and friends. At one point they make illicit hooch.
I have never in my life been confined. Not even sent to my bedroom as a child. I cannot pass judgement. But, and maybe I am just a little tarnished from reading previous books written by enlisted men, these officers knew of the brutality inflicted by the Germans. This book admits as much. Did not the orderlies, transferred from STALAG confinement, tell these officers of how much risk their adventures put upon other, less fortunate, POWs?
I am sadly left with the impression that escaping was simply a game that we must win, so as to prove to the enemy we can.
Lt. Alistair Cram was an accomplished mountaineer. I have heard people justify an obsession with climbing: “It is a physical, mental and emotional challenge.” “It forces you to face danger.” “It is a battle you enter, knowing you must win or die.”
September 10, 2018
This is the one and only book (so no series) and is a wartime book.It was an incredibly exiting fictional war story of leitenant Alister Cram and all of his comrades met along the way from south-african diamond miners gone fighter pilots to MI9 opretives its full of amusing escapes ruthless gaurds and brave locals its a real page turner and really pulls the reader in the ending is good and all in all its a lovely book definatly recommed it.
June 5, 2019
Bellissimo libro. Sarebbe buono farlo leggere a scuola.
January 26, 2021
One of the most incredible individual stories from the Second World War - pure adventure and indomitable spirit. I have no doubt that Lt. Alistair Cram's war will eventually be adapted for the silver screen, though before the title rolls it will need to be written in bold - 'This is a true story. Every word'. Few would credit such a fantastic narrative if the story was fictional.
Perhaps the most fascinating chapter is that which focuses on 'The Cistern Tunnel' from 'the Italian Colditz', Gavi near Genoa, Piedmont. Whilst 'The Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III is a part of British popular culture and a byword for plucky resistance, the escape plan that was hatched in the 1000 year old castle involving swimming, tunnelling through solid rock, cutting through electrified wire and abseiling deadly drops during a storm, is one that deserves a lot more recognition. Surely that is enough to tempt someone to read this book, besides the other twenty escapes of Lt. Cram!
David Guss is an excellent storyteller, building suspense and layering on detail through numerous perspectives of fellow prisoners. The level of research is very impressive, and shows in the passion with which the narrative is delivered. It is almost as if Guss shadowed his hero from capture in Sicily to being picked up by the US 3rd Armoured Division in the dying days of the war in Bavaria, so meticulous is the detail. Summing up the extraordinary life Lt. Cram, an introverted man who largely kept to himself, Guss writes:
'Few knew who he was, and even fewer had any idea of the many extraordinary things he had done. No one noticed him striding down Princes Street, just another elderly gentleman out for a constitutional. He neither gave interviews nor even wrote about his adventures. Those who met him in Africa, or later in Scotland, were stunned when they read obituaries following his death in 1994. Yes, they knew he had been a hero of some sort during the war, and that he preferred not to speak about whatever it was he had done. None of them, however, knew anything about the Baron and the daredevil escaper, the prisoner marked for death who had slipped through the hands of the Gestapo a half-dozen times, the commando who went back to Germany to find the guilty ones and make them pay, the judge who stood up and denounced his fellow countrymen when they behaved in the same way. It was all a revelation about a quiet Scotsman who preferred not to call attention to himself.'
Perhaps the most fascinating chapter is that which focuses on 'The Cistern Tunnel' from 'the Italian Colditz', Gavi near Genoa, Piedmont. Whilst 'The Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III is a part of British popular culture and a byword for plucky resistance, the escape plan that was hatched in the 1000 year old castle involving swimming, tunnelling through solid rock, cutting through electrified wire and abseiling deadly drops during a storm, is one that deserves a lot more recognition. Surely that is enough to tempt someone to read this book, besides the other twenty escapes of Lt. Cram!
David Guss is an excellent storyteller, building suspense and layering on detail through numerous perspectives of fellow prisoners. The level of research is very impressive, and shows in the passion with which the narrative is delivered. It is almost as if Guss shadowed his hero from capture in Sicily to being picked up by the US 3rd Armoured Division in the dying days of the war in Bavaria, so meticulous is the detail. Summing up the extraordinary life Lt. Cram, an introverted man who largely kept to himself, Guss writes:
'Few knew who he was, and even fewer had any idea of the many extraordinary things he had done. No one noticed him striding down Princes Street, just another elderly gentleman out for a constitutional. He neither gave interviews nor even wrote about his adventures. Those who met him in Africa, or later in Scotland, were stunned when they read obituaries following his death in 1994. Yes, they knew he had been a hero of some sort during the war, and that he preferred not to speak about whatever it was he had done. None of them, however, knew anything about the Baron and the daredevil escaper, the prisoner marked for death who had slipped through the hands of the Gestapo a half-dozen times, the commando who went back to Germany to find the guilty ones and make them pay, the judge who stood up and denounced his fellow countrymen when they behaved in the same way. It was all a revelation about a quiet Scotsman who preferred not to call attention to himself.'
January 21, 2022
What an interesting and true story this is. Despite having read numerous WWII escape books, I had never come across Lt Cram's name before. Unlike a novel where the author can build suspense to the final conclusion, this was a tedious story but then one can only imagine the tedium one must suffer first as a prisoner of war (the enemy was not going to provide entertainment) and then as a 'failed' escapist twenty times. How any human can suffer that sort of disappointment is beyond me. This books takes you beyond the war and into what Alistair Cram did with his subsequent life and is, if anything, even more fascinating and well worth the read.
October 17, 2023
A guy who needs to escape 21 times is not so good at not getting found! An interesting enough read but came repetitive, as you’d expect with 21 escapes to chronicle!
December 19, 2019
An incredible and yet 100% true account of the brave men from Gavi, one of which was my beloved grandfather John Forsdick who helped provide research input and is featured in a few chapters. It moved me knowing these were the men with whom he lived and circumstances he survived.
January 27, 2020
Excellent, this is about more than just the methods of escape. Yes it does get philosophical and metaphysical in places, but since these are mostly the sections from the diaries, this is the personal account.
Alastair Cram survived, when many others didn't, "luck, the escapers greatest help".
Alastair Cram survived, when many others didn't, "luck, the escapers greatest help".
June 27, 2018
The extraordinary story of a remarkable man.
January 9, 2019
If you grew up, like me, watching 'The Great Escape' then read this version of one man from Scotland's very similar experience! I know so many things I never knew before!
February 12, 2019
It was ok in a way that it covered some escapes already read about
July 3, 2019
Prolly 4.5. Loved this book of real heroes and some memorable characters whose like will never be seen again.
If you love WW2 stories then this is for you.
If you love WW2 stories then this is for you.
August 4, 2019
Normally I love escape story’s. But I just couldn’t get into this one at all.
August 17, 2019
Brilliantly researched and told.
Alastair Cram led an amazing life and had astounding mental as well as physical strength.
Alastair Cram led an amazing life and had astounding mental as well as physical strength.
October 11, 2019
An interesting book. Unfortunately I could not get into the story and somewhat unusually this is one that I could not finish.
Currently reading
March 14, 2021DNF
October 18, 2021
An incredibly determined man who wanted to escape at all costs.
November 19, 2023
Fascinating story of a repeat escaper from PoW camps in Hitler’s War.
September 17, 2024
Gripping story line well documented and researched.
July 16, 2019
I loved this book for purely sentimental reasons. My grandfather on my maternal side John Forsdick was one of the intrepid repeat POW escape artists known as the “pericolosi” held captive at Gavi Prison, amongst other camps and to have him mentioned was deeply moving for me. He passed away with so many noble and brave secrets as many of that generation did.
January 24, 2021
Really interesting story, I was really looking forward to reading it and Ive tried 3-4 times none of the information is going in and its written like a text book.
Well done to LT Alastair Cram though.
Well done to LT Alastair Cram though.
June 23, 2019
An excellent read and very well researched. Alastair Cram was a remarkable man who deserves to be remembered. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WWII.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews