Project ManagementProject Managementandand

The Great EscapeThe Great Escape

ByBy

Kurt AckermanKurt Ackerman(732) 583-5816(732) 583-5816

kurtack@optonline.netkurtack@optonline.net

Who were the Stakeholders Who were the Stakeholders in this Project?in this Project?

• The Prisoners.The Prisoners.

• The Guards.The Guards.

• The Guards’ Administrators.The Guards’ Administrators.

• The Allies.The Allies.

• The Third Reich.The Third Reich.

What were the three escape What were the three escape projects names? projects names?

• The tunnel “Tom”.The tunnel “Tom”.

• The tunnel “Dick”.The tunnel “Dick”.

• The tunnel “Harry”.The tunnel “Harry”.

Why three of them?Why three of them?

• So that the prisoners would have So that the prisoners would have alternate options if one was discovered, alternate options if one was discovered, or if other problems presented or if other problems presented themselves (Risk Management).themselves (Risk Management).

The Scope ConstraintThe Scope Constraint• Tunnels needed to be dug far enough to Tunnels needed to be dug far enough to

escape the compound. The tunnels needed escape the compound. The tunnels needed lights, air, wall and ceiling support. lights, air, wall and ceiling support. Excavated dirt needed to be disposed of in a Excavated dirt needed to be disposed of in a clandestine manner. Papers needed to be clandestine manner. Papers needed to be forged. Civilian clothes needed to be forged. Civilian clothes needed to be procured and tailored. Maps were needed, procured and tailored. Maps were needed, as were train schedules. Languages needed as were train schedules. Languages needed to be learned - or unlearned.to be learned - or unlearned.

The Cost ConstraintThe Cost Constraint

• Items were stolen. Items were made Items were stolen. Items were made from what was available, Guards were from what was available, Guards were bribed and items bartered. Guards were bribed and items bartered. Guards were also blackmailed into supplying also blackmailed into supplying resources.resources.

The Time ConstraintThe Time Constraint

• The timetable was quite extensive. It The timetable was quite extensive. It took over a year, nearly two, for the took over a year, nearly two, for the tunnels to be ready. Their timetable was tunnels to be ready. Their timetable was altered a little when one tunnel was altered a little when one tunnel was discovered.discovered.

Who was the Project Who was the Project Manager?Manager?

• In real life, Roger Bushell. In the movie, Roger In real life, Roger Bushell. In the movie, Roger “Big X” Bartlett (Richard Attenborough).“Big X” Bartlett (Richard Attenborough).

What was the Security Team What was the Security Team Leader responsible for?Leader responsible for?

• Flight Lieutenant George Harsh was in charge Flight Lieutenant George Harsh was in charge of internal security. Special German guards – of internal security. Special German guards – “Ferrets” – could nose around in the “Ferrets” – could nose around in the compound for any signs of escape. Harsh compound for any signs of escape. Harsh created a log-in/log-out system (called “Duty created a log-in/log-out system (called “Duty Pilot”) to keep track of the Ferrets.Pilot”) to keep track of the Ferrets.

What was the Counterfeiting What was the Counterfeiting Team Leader responsible for?Team Leader responsible for?

• Flight Lieutenant Des Plunkett was Flight Lieutenant Des Plunkett was responsible for forgery of crucial papers responsible for forgery of crucial papers and maps. Improvisation and bribery and maps. Improvisation and bribery were used to procure maps and were used to procure maps and German IDs, from which copies were German IDs, from which copies were made.made.

What was the Clothing Team What was the Clothing Team Leader responsible for?Leader responsible for?

• Tommy Guest and his team were Tommy Guest and his team were responsible for altering the service responsible for altering the service uniforms, as well as workman’s clothes and uniforms, as well as workman’s clothes and all “civilian” attire. Service uniforms were all “civilian” attire. Service uniforms were recut and dyed, and bedding was also used recut and dyed, and bedding was also used to make clothes. These pieces were to make clothes. These pieces were concealed by carpentry professional concealed by carpentry professional “Digger” Macintosh.“Digger” Macintosh.

What was the Tunnel Team What was the Tunnel Team Leader responsible for?Leader responsible for?

• Flying Officer Wally Floody was a pre-war Flying Officer Wally Floody was a pre-war mining engineer, and was the brains behind mining engineer, and was the brains behind the tunnels. A manually operated air-pump the tunnels. A manually operated air-pump was built, wires and light bulbs were strung was built, wires and light bulbs were strung (using the German’s electricity), and (using the German’s electricity), and excavated dirt was surreptitiously disposed excavated dirt was surreptitiously disposed of around the compound.of around the compound.

What was the Financial What was the Financial Operations Team Leader Operations Team Leader

responsible for?responsible for?• Johnny Travis was in charge of scrounging Johnny Travis was in charge of scrounging

whatever was available to create “escape whatever was available to create “escape kits” and hoard “lagergeld”, which was as kits” and hoard “lagergeld”, which was as close to money as the POWs were allowed close to money as the POWs were allowed to have. Train tickets, travel passes, and to have. Train tickets, travel passes, and even a camera were procured.even a camera were procured.

What were some project What were some project controls?controls?

• The X Committee, which organized the The X Committee, which organized the plan, could approve or reject any other plan, could approve or reject any other escape plans. Secrecy was important. escape plans. Secrecy was important. English-speaking Ferrets would English-speaking Ferrets would eavesdrop on the POWs. The “Duty eavesdrop on the POWs. The “Duty Pilot” system monitored the movements Pilot” system monitored the movements of the ferrets. Forged documents were of the ferrets. Forged documents were reviewed again and again. Prisoners reviewed again and again. Prisoners were tested on their language skills.were tested on their language skills.

Name one anticipated risk, Name one anticipated risk, and the mitigation plan.and the mitigation plan.

• Discovery of the escape plan. Bushell had Discovery of the escape plan. Bushell had been warned that if he tried another escape, been warned that if he tried another escape, he would be killed. Tunnel cave-ins were he would be killed. Tunnel cave-ins were also common; bed boards from the bunks also common; bed boards from the bunks shored tunnel walls and ceilings up.shored tunnel walls and ceilings up.

Name one unanticipated Name one unanticipated risk, and the risk response.risk, and the risk response.

• Due to the unforeseen cutting down of Due to the unforeseen cutting down of trees to make way for camp expansion, trees to make way for camp expansion, the end of the escape tunnel was 30 feet the end of the escape tunnel was 30 feet from the woods, meaning escaping from the woods, meaning escaping prisoners could be discovered when the prisoners could be discovered when the guard walked by the area. A rope was guard walked by the area. A rope was stretched from the woods to the end of the stretched from the woods to the end of the tunnel, and a tug was given when the tunnel, and a tug was given when the German sentry was not nearby.German sentry was not nearby.

What were the key What were the key deliverables?deliverables?

• An escape tunnel needed to be dug.An escape tunnel needed to be dug.

• 250 men were to attempt escape.250 men were to attempt escape.

• The Third Reich was to be distracted The Third Reich was to be distracted from their war effort as they searched from their war effort as they searched for the escapees.for the escapees.

Why were completion times Why were completion times so important?so important?

• Sentries patrolled the grounds at regular Sentries patrolled the grounds at regular intervals. intervals.

• Prisoners had to be out under cover of darkness Prisoners had to be out under cover of darkness and early enough so they could catch trains. and early enough so they could catch trains.

• Dates on the Ids were valid only for the day of Dates on the Ids were valid only for the day of escape. The escape had to be executed while the escape. The escape had to be executed while the forged format was still current. forged format was still current.

• The longer they put off the escape, the more The longer they put off the escape, the more likely the remaining tunnels would be discovered.likely the remaining tunnels would be discovered.

How were human resources How were human resources managed?managed?

• People were assigned jobs according to their People were assigned jobs according to their vocations in civilian life. vocations in civilian life.

• Graphic designers became counterfeiters; Graphic designers became counterfeiters; mining engineers became tunnel experts; mining engineers became tunnel experts; tailors designed “civilian” clothes. tailors designed “civilian” clothes.

• The biggest contributors to the project were The biggest contributors to the project were among the first out, as were German-among the first out, as were German-speaking prisoners, who were believed to speaking prisoners, who were believed to have the best chances of success.have the best chances of success.

How did they use motivation How did they use motivation and team-building?and team-building?

• The prisoners were organized as a The prisoners were organized as a community with all members invested in the community with all members invested in the well-being of the rest of their comrades. The well-being of the rest of their comrades. The men pooled their rations, lagergeld, and men pooled their rations, lagergeld, and other precious items, so that all made a other precious items, so that all made a contributioncontribution..

The FiftyThe Fifty J5233 F/L Henry J J5233 F/L Henry J Birkland - Birkland - 61053 F/L E Gordon 61053 F/L E Gordon Brettell Brettell DFC - 43932 F/L DFC - 43932 F/L

Lester G Lester G Bull Bull DFC - 90120 S/L Roger J DFC - 90120 S/L Roger J Bushell - Bushell - 39024 F/L Michael J 39024 F/L Michael J Casey - Casey - 400364 S/L James 400364 S/L James Catanach Catanach DFC - 413380 F/L Arnold G DFC - 413380 F/L Arnold G

Christiansen - Christiansen - 122441 F/O Dennis H 122441 F/O Dennis H Cochran - Cochran - 39305 S/L Ian K P 39305 S/L Ian K P Cross Cross DFC - 378 Lt Halldor DFC - 378 Lt Halldor Espelid - Espelid - 42745 F/L Brian H 42745 F/L Brian H Evans - Evans - 742 Lt Nils 742 Lt Nils

Fugelsang - Fugelsang - 103275 Lt Johannes S 103275 Lt Johannes S Gouws - Gouws - 45148 F/L William J 45148 F/L William J Grisman Grisman - - 60340 F/L Alastair D M 60340 F/L Alastair D M Gunn - Gunn - 403281 F/L Albert H 403281 F/L Albert H Hake - Hake - 50896 F/L 50896 F/L

Charles P Charles P Hall - Hall - 42124 F/L Anthony R H 42124 F/L Anthony R H Hayter - Hayter - 44177 F/L Edgar S 44177 F/L Edgar S Humphreys - Humphreys - J10177 F/L Gordon A J10177 F/L Gordon A Kidder - Kidder - 402364 F/L Reginald V 402364 F/L Reginald V

Kierath - Kierath - P0109 Maj Antoni P0109 Maj Antoni Kiewnarski - Kiewnarski - 39103 S/L Thomas G 39103 S/L Thomas G Kirby-Kirby-Green - Green - P0243 F/O Wlodzimierz P0243 F/O Wlodzimierz Kolanowski - Kolanowski - P0237 F/O Stanislaw Z P0237 F/O Stanislaw Z Krol Krol

- - J1631 Patrick W J1631 Patrick W Langford - Langford - 46462 F/L Thomas B 46462 F/L Thomas B Leigh - Leigh - 89375 F/L 89375 F/L James L R James L R Long - Long - 95691 2/Lt Clement A N 95691 2/Lt Clement A N McGarr - McGarr - J5312 F/L George E J5312 F/L George E

McGill - McGill - 89580 F/L Romas 89580 F/L Romas Marcinkus - Marcinkus - 103586 F/L Harold J 103586 F/L Harold J Milford - Milford - P0913 F/O Jerzy Tomasc P0913 F/O Jerzy Tomasc Mondschein - Mondschein - P0740 F/O Kazimierz P0740 F/O Kazimierz Pawluk - Pawluk - 87693 F/L Henri A 87693 F/L Henri A PicardPicard Croix de Guerre - 402894 F/O John P P Croix de Guerre - 402894 F/O John P P Pohe - Pohe - 30649 Sous-Lt Bernard W M 30649 Sous-Lt Bernard W M Scheidhauer - Scheidhauer - 213 P/O Sotiris 213 P/O Sotiris Skanzikas - Skanzikas -

47341 Rupert J 47341 Rupert J Stevens - Stevens - 130452 F/O Robert C 130452 F/O Robert C Stewart - Stewart - 107520 F/L John 107520 F/L John G G Stower - Stower - 123026 F/L Denys O 123026 F/L Denys O Street - Street - 37658 F/L Cyril D 37658 F/L Cyril D Swain - Swain - P0375 P0375 F/O Pawel Whilem F/O Pawel Whilem Tobolski - Tobolski - 82532 F/L Ernst 82532 F/L Ernst Valenta - Valenta - 73022 F/L Gilbert 73022 F/L Gilbert W W Walenn - Walenn - J6144 F/L James C J6144 F/L James C Wernham - Wernham - J7234 F/L George W J7234 F/L George W Wiley - Wiley -

40652 S/L John E A 40652 S/L John E A Williams - Williams - 106173 F/L John F 106173 F/L John F WilliamsWilliams

ReferencesReferences The Great EscapeThe Great EscapeStalag Luft III, SaganStalag Luft III, SaganMarch 24/25th, 1944March 24/25th, 1944By Rob DavisBy Rob DavisRetrieved from:Retrieved from:http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gt_esc/http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gt_esc/

Remembering the FiftyRemembering the FiftyRetrieved from:Retrieved from:http://www.pegasus-one.org/pow/cSL_3_Fifty.htmhttp://www.pegasus-one.org/pow/cSL_3_Fifty.htm

Stalag Luft III PhotosStalag Luft III PhotosRetrieved from:Retrieved from:http://www.pegasus-one.org/pow/pSL_3http://www.pegasus-one.org/pow/pSL_3

NOVANOVAGreat Escape - Experts dig into World War II’s most daring and technically ingenious Great Escape - Experts dig into World War II’s most daring and technically ingenious

prison break.prison break.PBS, November 16, 2004PBS, November 16, 2004Retrieved from:Retrieved from:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/greatescape/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/greatescape/