Privates D. R. Edwards and D. Lang
ACCOUNT OF ESCAPE OF
7621381 Pte EDWARDS, D.R., R.A.O.C. AND
VX 6693 Pte LANG, D., 2/8 Bn, 6 Div, A.I.F.
We arrived at Stalag VIIA (MOOSBURG, near MUNICH) in different parties during Aug 41. In Oct 41 we were both moved to the same Arbeitskommando in the West End of MUNICH. There were about 1000 British and Australian P/W there, living in an old German barracks. Later about 500 were moved. The P/W were engaged in track repairs on the railway, work for the Municipal Council - latterly about two thirds of the men in the camp were clearing snow and demolishing buildings on the site of a new railway station between central MUNICH and the suburb of PASING. The municipal services of the city were practically run by P/W of various nationalities, some of them being used as dustmen. We both volunteered for work at the Kommando, as we thought escape would be easier from there.
We began our preparations several months before we actually escaped. Between us we collected about Rm. 330 by selling tea to the Germans. Real tea was unprocurable in MUNICH at the time, and the Germans paid Rm. 20 for a ¼ lb. packet. In order to get more tea to sell to the Germans, we used to barter cigarettes with other people in the Kommando.
We were out working together, first in a saw mill and then repairing the railway track. While working on the railway we ripped a map of the German-Swiss frontier from its frame in a railway carriage. From a mechanical digger on the railway we managed to get two caps and two overcoats, which we hid in a hut. We also got two pairs of overalls from French P/W. We had picked up from French prisoners in the camp and from British P/W who had made attempted escapes a good deal of information about the best way of getting out of MUNICH by train. The British P/W who were at the Kommando waiting to go to prison in Stalag VII A for their attempted escapes, told us the exact location of the siding in which the Swiss train was made up. This siding was over a mile from where we were then working.
We discussed our escape together about a month before we actually got away. Even then our idea was to travel under the train, and we had collected a number of nets from railway luggage racks and thought of joining them into a big net to fit under the train. We collected what we thought would be sufficient food for two weeks. It consisted of tins of meat loaf, chocolate, biscuits, and raisins. A few of our closest friends knew of our plan, but most of them laughed at us.
We decided to escape on Monday 30 Mar 42. Knowing that it would be a very cold journey we put on a little extra clothing. We both had a reputation with the foreman and guard for doing precious little work and were closed watched. On the Monday we agreed that it would be better to do a little more work so as not to attract attention. In a very short time we were both unbearably warm because of the extra clothing and the fierce sun.
We usually finished work at 1745 hrs. At 1630 hrs when the guard was not looking in our direction, we walked off singly towards the latrine, which was in the opposite direction from our intended hiding place. We scrambled through a fence, hurried across a field studded with trees and clumps of bushes, scrambled through a gap in another fence, and found ourselves on a public path. We were in battle dress so we walked singly to avoid attracting attention from the people we passed. A group of German soldiers stared at us. We then made a circular movement which brought us on to the railway behind where we had been working the week before.
We hid in a railway wagon for an hour. Then, still in broad daylight, made our way to an empty shed we knew of. On the way we passed three or four railway shunters. We dived into the shed, made sure that we were not being seen. When we were safely in the attic we started mumbling and were suddenly startled by hearing the shed door opened. Immediately we became silent, and through a crack in the floor boards watched an old man walk in and round the shed. He appeared to be very suspicious, but later walked away. We then realised that we had better refrain from talking. At midnight we left for another shed where we had previously hidden food, the two caps and the two civilian overcoats. The overcoats were ragged and reached only to our knees. It was a beautiful night and as light as day.
Then at 0200 hrs (31 Mar) we made our way to the siding where we knew the trains were drawn up. At one point, to avoid passing some railway workers, we had to clamber over a wall 15 feet high. We got on to a main road, and after walking a hundred yards we reached some steps that led down to a suburban railway and siding. Halfway down the steps we passed some women and a German Soldier. A few minutes later a civilian regarded us very closely and seemed about to shout. However, we carried straight on, looking neither to right nor left, as though we were on some official business. The Civilian thereupon turned on his heel and walked away. The moon, combined with the electric lights, made the siding quite light.
After a great deal of searching we found the train labelled LINDAU and ST MARGRETHEN (four coaches LINDAU, a goods van, then two coaches ST MARGRETHEN and then the electric locomotive). It was standing alongside a long train labelled BERLIN. We quickly noticed that the ST MARGRETHEN coaches were standing in the open and that two fairly large signal boxes stood one on either side of the train and at a distance of about forty yards from it. We dived into the shadows beneath the coach directly behind the engine. This was about 0230 hrs. We could hear someone moving on the locomotive. After a thorough examination we were on the point of concluding that it was impossible to get a position under the coach. After a time, however, one of us (LANG) by taking his overcoat off managed to flatten out on a structure running parallel with one of the wheels on the right hand side of the coach facing the locomotive. Throughout the journey the wheel at times rubbed against his shoe, but did no damage. The other (EDWARDS) wriggled on to a section of the brake with his body lying parallel with the axle. A crouched position had to be maintained throughout the journey, because when his legs were straightened, the shoes rubbed the wheel. However it was possible when the legs went dead to dangle them for a short time. We then realised that we had not brought any water. Later the cleaners came (about 0530 hrs) and the train, other than underneath was searched. About 0630 hrs it moved off to MUNICH main station.
One of us (EDWARDS) then noticed that the weight of his body had a tendency partly to apply the brakes. In MUNICH station itself an engineer cursing and fuming, working for almost a quarter of an hour with five yards of one of us (EDWARDS). We thought at the time he was having trouble with the brakes.
The train at last pulled out some time after 0700 hrs, and we wrapped our scarves tightly around our throats and faces. At each station we were a little nervous because, the platforms being low, it was possible for children to see right underneath the train. This was very marked at LINDAU where the train stood in the station for roughly an hour. The brakes on one pair of wheels were partly on all the way, but at times the train reached a terrific speed. Though we were quite near, we could not see each other. It was also necessary to keep watching the brake rods, all of which moved when the brakes were applied or released.
After we had been almost 12 hours underneath, the train came to rest in the station of ST MARGRETHEN about 1430 hrs on 31 March. Here a railway worker and police official noticed a part of the clothing of one of us (LANG) alongside the wheel. The other (EDWARDS) was still undiscovered, but emerged on being told he was in SWITZERLAND. We were marched across to one of the offices where we turned out the contents of our pockets.
After questioning us at the station, the police took us to the town prison, where we had hot baths. We spent the night 31 March in cells and next morning were moved to the prison at ST GALL. Here we were questioned again. On 8 April we were moved to BERNE and questioned by a Swiss officer and on 9 April we were brought to the British Legation. The Swiss police treated us well.