WW2 Bunker
The One that Got Away
The One that Got Away
Author: Kendal Burt and James Leasor
Condition: Like New
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The One That Got Away recounts the remarkable wartime exploits of Franz von Werra, a Luftwaffe fighter pilot whose capture over Britain spawned a series of audacious escape attempts. Set against familiar British countryside and involving ordinary citizens—police, soldiers, shepherds, bus conductors and booking clerks—the narrative, reconstructed from von Werra’s own account, interviews and contemporary sources, offers a rare German point of view on POW life, interrogation, sea and rail transfers to Canada, and the ingenuity and determination that enabled one of the most ingenious returns to Germany during WWII.
This Pen & Sword Military Classics edition (ISBN 9781844154371) by Kendal Burt and James Leasor is a tightly focused wartime biography and prisoner‑of‑war escape narrative notable for its detailed chronological reconstruction and documentary basis. The work is valuable to air‑war and POW researchers and enthusiasts; editions may include maps/route sketches of the escape journey and supporting archival material, underscoring the book’s historical significance as the first full account of von Werra’s story.
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Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Core bibliographic details
The One That Got Away
Authors: Kendal Burt; James Leasor
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military Classics
ISBN: 9781844154371 (Pen & Sword edition)
Type of book
Wartime biography
Individual soldier biography
Prisoner‑of‑war escape narrative
Main subject / person
Franz von Werra (1914–1941)
German Luftwaffe fighter pilot
German prisoner of war in Allied hands
World War II context
World War II (1939–1945)
Air war over Britain
Theater(s) of war / geography
Western Front air war (Germany vs. Britain)
United Kingdom – POW camps and interrogation centers
Canada – German POW camps and transfer of prisoners
Germany – return of escaped POW
Nations and belligerents
Germany (Wehrmacht / Luftwaffe)
United Kingdom (British armed forces; RAF opposition; POW authorities)
Canada (Canadian military authorities; POW system)
Allies vs. Axis – prisoner‑of‑war handling
Military branches and focus
Luftwaffe (German Air Force)
RAF fighter opposition (contextual)
Prisoner‑of‑war administration and camp guards (British and Canadian)
Aircrew survival and captivity
Key themes / subjects
Prisoners of war – German airmen
POW escapes and escape attempts
Escape and evasion tactics
Interrogation of aircrew
Security and surveillance in POW camps
Identity and forged documents during escape
Psychology of captivity and determination to escape
Individual initiative and ingenuity in wartime
Operations / events referenced
Luftwaffe fighter operations over England
Downing and capture of German fighter pilot over Britain
Transfer of German POWs from Britain to Canada by sea during WWII
Weapons, vehicles, and technology
RAF fighter aircraft (opposing aircraft mentioned contextually)
POW transport by ship (Atlantic troopship/transport of prisoners from UK to Canada)
POW transport by train (Canadian rail transport of prisoners)
Notable figures (as featured in the book)
Franz von Werra – central figure
British interrogators and camp commandants (named and described in narrative)
Content characteristics
Narrative historical account based on interviews, documents, and contemporary sources
Detailed chronological reconstruction of von Werra’s capture and escapes
Visual and supporting material
May include maps/route sketches of escape journey (noted in some descriptions of the work as an escape narrative)
Library / cataloging style keywords (WWII‑specific)
World War II – prisoners of war – Germany
World War II – prisoners of war – Great Britain
World War II – prisoners of war – Canada
Prisoner‑of‑war camps – Great Britain
Prisoner‑of‑war camps – Canada
Prisoner‑of‑war escapes – history – 20th century
Airmen – Germany – biography
Fighter pilots – Germany – biography
Military biography – Second World War
Escape stories – nonfiction
Audience / use
WWII air war researchers
POW escape and evasion studies
Biographical studies of Luftwaffe personnel
Book Condition: Like New
Book Condition: Like New
You’ve reached the divisional archives. Whether you are looking for the technical blueprints of a Panzer, the gritty memoirs of an infantryman, or a bird’s-eye view of the Pacific Theater, we’ve got your intel right here. Our collection ranges from technical specs and biographies to rare photo journals and historical novels.
Before you enlist a new title into your personal library, check the Condition Report below to see how much action these volumes have seen:
New: Fresh Out of Bootcamp
Flawless and untested. This book is in pristine, new condition and ready for its first assignment.
Like New: Light Combat Experience
Almost new and in great shape. It has clearly been read before and is ready to fight again, but it shows very little wear from its time in the field.
Good: A Few Scars or Shell Shock
A reliable veteran. The book might have some bent corners or a dust cover with a few scratches, but it’s still sturdy and standing tall.
Fair: Battle-Hardened
Visible signs of a long campaign. Expect some stains, bent pages, and perhaps some minor tears on the cover. It’s seen the trenches, but the intel inside is still solid.
Poor: Survived Iwo Jima
This one has been through the meat grinder. It carries noticeable damage, heavy staining, or significant wear—but like any old soldier, it would love to be read one last time before it retires.
