The Great Escape
Littlehampton-born RAF Flying Officer Leslie Speller spent 3
years at Stalag Luft III, the Prisoner of War camp made famous by
the 1963 film ‘The Great Escape’. He helped dig the tunnel ‘Harry’
used in the mass escape. Students are encouraged to use the
historical evidence provided by Leslie’s documents and other
accounts of life in the camp with that of the Hollywood film. How
accurate is the film?
Download and use the following resources in the classroom.
Multiple copies of any of this documentation may be made for
educational use.
DVD of ‘The Great Escape’ Film
The County Library Service has DVD copies of the film which can
be hired for a small charge: Search Library
Catalogue
Alternatively, you can buy a copy from various online retailers
including Play.com or Amazon.
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1. Scheme of work
2. Summary of Leslie Speller's life
3. Worksheet
4. Summary taken from Wikipedia
5. Source A - Leslie Speller talks about life in the camp and The Great Escape
6. Source B - The British Prisoners of War Association news sheet
7. Source C - Stalag Luft III prisoners' huts
8. Source D - Inside Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp
9. Source E - Letter to German guard
10. Source F - Service of remembrance June 1944
11. Source G - Letters from first days in the camp
12. Source H - Letter from Leslie Speller to Eileen Stone describing life in the camp
13. Source I - Digging the tunnel from Spotlight on Stalag
14. Source J - Cross section of tunnel from Escape to Danger
15. Source K - historyonthenet.com
16. Source L - IWM image of men in Stalag Luft III tending a garden
17. Source M - News Chronicle report describing the escape - date unknown
18. Source N - Great Escape article from Mail Online
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