Colditz Castle
The first known reference to Colditz Castle was in 1014.
It was a hunting lodge and home for the Dukes of Saxony until 1753 becoming a prison in 1800 and then a lunatic asylum in 1828. The Castle then moved on to be a concentration camp in 1933 before a change of use to be a arbeitsdienst ( labour services ) camp for Hitler Youth. As it was thought to be escape proof it was turned into a sonderlager or special camp for dangerous prisoners of war in 1939 until 1945. Prisoners that consistently tried to escape at other camps were sent there. It housed many nationalities and by the end of the war 32 escapees were successful in reaching the frontier. Its most well known inmate was Douglas Bader and British escapees included Airey Neave and Pat Reid.