The Criminals

A shocked, silent House of Commons last week heard more about the Gestapo execution of 50 Allied air officers who had escaped from a German prison camp (TIME, May 29).

Anthony Eden told the House what he had learned from 1) a repatriated R.A.F. officer, 2) the German Government. In April, the Germans said, several thousand Allied prisoners escaped from various camps "for both military and political objectives." This statement suggested that the escaped prisoners, at least in the Germans' opinion, were out to cause as much trouble in Germany as they could. The Germans admitted that "especially severe orders" had been issued to discourage escapes.

The repatriated officer said that the 50 executed men were among 76 who escaped from Stalag Luft III, a huge camp about 100 miles from Berlin. The recaptured airmen were manacled, taken to a jail at Gorlitz. Gestapo agents told them: "Nobody knows you are here. You can disappear." All were killed.

In cold fury, Eden commented: ". . . There is only one possible conclusion--these men were murdered. . . . The foul criminals will be tracked down to the last man, wherever they may take refuge."

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