Oflag XVII-A

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Oflag XVII-A, was a German Army prisoner-of-war camp in World War II for officers. It was located between Edelsbach and Döllersheim in north-western Austria. Döllersheim village had been taken over by the German army and an artillery training area established in 1939. All the inhabitants were moved away.

The camp guards were mainly Austrian army veterans and conditions in this camp were better than in many other POW camps in Germany. A university was operated by prisoners, and many obtained their degrees in captivity. The university was directed by Jean Leray, a French mathematician. A clandestine film about the camp was created by the prisoners, called "Sous Le Manteau". The director was Marcel Corre.

[edit] Timeline

June 1940 - The camp was built within the Germany artillery area to house officers, principally French, captured in the Battle of France. Approximately 6,000 officers and orderlies were located in the camp.
September 1943 - 131 French officers escaped from the camp. Only two succeeded in evading recapture - this was one of the largest camp escapes.
9 May 1945 - the camp was liberated by the Red Army