[World War II]....

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[World War II]. Original escape map of Oflag VII-B POW camp in Eichstatt, Germany, drawn by ex-POW of the notorious Great Escape camp Stalag Luft III, 1 page (8.25 x 11.75 in.; 210 x 298 mm.), sketched in pencil on the verso of a printed order form in German headed "Chemische Werke Munchen" by Sgt. Bob Neary. Not signed. Titled in the upper left "Oflag VIIB". An unknown hand has penned in ink the name of a German news agency, "'Deutscher Maternverlag' 13.9.1944" with the remnants of a removed newspaper article. The drawing is a detailed, thoroughly labeled, aerial view depicting all structures including the guard towers, the main blocks, gardens and exercise areas. Exhibits usual folds with light soiling. Original Escape Map of Oflag VII-B POW camp in Eichstatt, Germany, drawn by an ex-POW of the notorious Great Escape camp Stalag Luft III. Sgt. Neary has drawn the location of trees which he identifies as "thick trees," lining an area along the fence, probably a possible place to hide before escaping. There are also "trees" on the other side of the guard tower, but they are not labeled thick. Neary also notes the height of the fence, which he identifies as "electric barbed fence," as 8 feet tall. The trench just outside the fence is 8 feet wide and 3 feet deep (unnecessary information if one is just drawing a map of the camp). Sgt. Neary writes in the area just beneath the fence, "Town of Eichstattz Schloss about 2 miles," pointing the direction of a possible place to hide after escaping, Schloss Willibaldsburg (Willibaldsburg Castle). Sgt. Robert P. (Bob) Neary was a gunner with the 450th Bomb Group, 720th Squadron, who was shot down, captured, and sent to the Stalag Luft III POW camp in April 1944. As evidenced by the drawing here offered, he was also at Eichstatt's Oflag VII-B. Stalag Luft III was evacuated in January 1945 as Russian forces pushed into eastern Germany. Neary was moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser Stalag XIII-D, then to Moosburg's Stalag VII-A on 13 April 1945, when he and the others were informed of the death the previous day of President Roosevelt. Sixteen days later, the camp was liberated by Gen. Patton's Third Army. "I shall never forget the most beautiful sight I have ever seen," wrote Sgt. Neary in his privately printed book of sketches, Stalag Luft III, "the Swastika coming down and the Stars and Stripes rising gloriously in Moosburg, not far from camp. Several hours later, General Patton came into camp to meet a thunderous ovation according him by the shrieking mob of deliriously happy and supremely grateful prisoners, who literally swarmed over every accessible spot to see their Liberator..." Stalag Luft III POW camp was situated in Sagan, 100 miles southeast of Berlin, now called Zagan, in Upper Silesia, Poland. All the prisoners of war were flying officers of the British Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm and American U.S. Army Air Force. The first camp compound opened in March 1942, followed by other compounds in 1943 and 1944. It held about 10,000 officers. Stalag Luft III was immortalized in the 1963 motion picture, The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen. On the night of 24-25 March 1944, 76 of the 600 prisoners involved in the plan escaped through tunnels they had dug before German guards spotted them. The escape from the camp was the single greatest freedom attempt by POWs in World War II. Of the 76 who tried to escape, 50 were recaptured and executed by the Gestapo on Hitler's orders, three successfully escaped, and the rest were returned to Stalag Luft III. Provenance: The War Museum