Holzminden prisoner-of-war camp

Several wooden single-storey buildings in front of the barrack blocks accommodated service facilities, including the cookhouses, woodshed, bath-house, and parcel-room.

The brothers had lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for 17 years – until the spring of 1917, when the United States entered the war – and as a result Karl Niemeyer spoke American English.

Two "celebrity" prisoners who appear to have been singled out for harsh treatment were William Leefe Robinson (who had shot down a German airship over Britain, and who spent much of his time at Holzminden in solitary confinement), and Algernon Bird, the 61st victim of Baron von Richthofen.

[14] Robinson died in England in December 1918 from the effects of the Spanish flu pandemic but the Daily Express was in no doubt that he was "in reality driven to death by the notorious Niemeyer....

[15] One deprivation suffered by the prisoners was a poor diet, although again this must be seen in context: as a result of the economic blockade of Germany, little food was available locally even for the civilian population.

[16] Prisoners were often able to use items of food to bribe their guards in return for lenient treatment or contraband equipment; while at other times they made a point of taunting their captors with the superiority of their material welfare, for example by drawing their full ration of German black bread only to burn it.

[17][18] Before the prisoners left the camp in December 1918, they made a bonfire of the furniture and everything else combustible: "it was a splendid sight and the Germans could only stand by helplessly, condemning the waste".

[22] James Whale found the amateur theatricals, in which he participated as an actor, writer, producer, and set designer, "a source of great pleasure and amusement" and the audience reaction "intoxicating": it was his introduction to stagecraft, and he went on to become a leading Hollywood director.

Techniques included cutting through the perimeter fence and walking through the gates disguised as German guards, civilian workers, or (on at least one occasion) a woman.

Eighty-six officers were on the list of those waiting to escape but on the night, the tunnel partially collapsed on the thirtieth man, leading to the abandonment of the enterprise.

[28] Among them was Colonel Charles Rathborne, the Senior British Officer in the camp, who – on account of his good German – was able to travel by rail without arousing suspicion, and managed to cross the Dutch border after only five days.