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OFFICIAL GERMAN NOTICE POSTED IN ALL COMPOUNDS
STALAG LUFT III - 23 SEPT., 1944

Courtesy of Lt. James C. Hart




TO ALL PRISONERS STALAG III

TO ESCAPE FROM PRISON IS NO LONGER A SPORT

� � � Germany has always kept to the Hague Convention, and only punished recaptured prisoners with minor disciplinary punishments.

� � � Germany will still maintain these principles of International Law, but England has, besides fighting at the front in a dishonest manner, instituted an illeagal warfare in non-combatant zones in the form of ganster commandos, terror bandits, and sabotage troops even up to the frontiers of Germany.

� � � They say in a captured secret and confidential English Military Pamphlet:

"The Handbook of Modern Illregular Warfare"

� � � "The days when we could practice the rules of sportsmanship are over. For the time being every soldier must be a potential gangster and must be prepared to adopt their methods whenever necessary. The sphere of operations should always include the enenmy's own country, and in certain circumstances, such neutral countries as he is using a source of supply."

� � � England, with these instructions, opened up a non-military form of gangster warfare.

� � � Germany is determined to safeguard her homeland, and especially her industry and provisional centers for the fighting fronts. There fore it has become necessary to create strictly forbidden zones called death zones, in which all unauthorized trespassers will be immediately shot on sight. Escaping POW's entering such zones will most certianly lose their lives. They are, therefore, in constant danger of being mistaken for enemy agents or sabotage groups.

"URGENT WARNING IS GIVEN AGAINST MAKING ANY FURTHER ESCAPES"

� � � In plain English: Stay in the camps where you will be safe! Breaking out is now a damned dangerous act.

"The Chances of Preserving Your Life Are Almost Nil."

� � � All police and military guards have been given the most strict orders to shoot on sight all suspected persons.

"ESCAPING FROM PRISON CAMPS HAS CEASED TO BE A SPORT"



RETURN TO THE 20TH.FG � � HART BIOGRAPHY
20TH.FG POWS

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