
Fascinating photographs have emerged documenting the failed attempts of soldiers to escape from German prisoner of war camps.

The black and white images from the First World War show tunnels exposed by German officers - and prisoners after they were re-captured.

Digging tools confiscated from captives can also be seen along with documentation of the high security precautions guards took.

The not-so great escapes: An exposed tunnel is pictured at a prisoner of war camp in Holzminden, central Germany, after its discovery during the First World War (left). Historical images also show guarded electric fences between Belgium and Holland (right)

Uncovered: The pictures also show prisoners after being recaptured and some of the digging tools that were confiscated

Going underground: One image, taken at an unknown German prisoner of war camp shows a tunnel that came to the surface too early

Historical images show guarded electric fences between Belgium and Holland and a room full of soldiers who were recaptured after an unsuccessful escape bid.

The images have been released in the book Prisoners and Escape WW1: Those Who Were There which has been edited by Rachel Bilton and published by Pen & Sword.

Each of the 11 chapters of the book have been written by prisoners who were there. When possible, the book tells where each man featured was before and after the war.

Prisoners throughout the war dug tunnels, faked mental illness and even learned enemy strategy in attempts to escape prison camps. Some were successful, but many were not.

'The book looks at the escapes of a number of men, other ranks and officers from their imprisonment to their eventual freedom,' said Rachel.

'Tunnels were popular because they could be completed under the noses of the Germans and apart from digging equipment, nothing else was needed.

High risk: A rope ladder is shown leading down to a tunnel hidden in a disused building. The images are featured in a new book about First World War escape bids

Back to square one: A group of prisoners of war who attempted and failed to escape from a camp at Holzminden. Some of them have been identified by their surnames (from left to right) - Churchill, Lyon, Clouston, Robertson, Sharp, Bennet and Matlock

'Each camp would also contain a number of captive engineers so the skills for tunnelling were readily available, a tunnel also took them out of the camp without being seen.

'In the initial stages, when the war was fluid men were taken prisoner one day and the next were back in Allied lines fighting again.

'However, French officer Henri Giraud escaped in October 1914, having only been caught in August 1914 and he also managed to escape in World War Two.

'Gunther Plüschow escaped from a POW camp in Donnington Park, Leicestershire, England in July 1915 and returned to Germany, a mere two months after he'd been first captured.

While prisoners of war were attempting to dig their way out of camps, the accommodation provided for officers was far more comfortable. A communal living space at one unnamed camp is pictured above

Conditions in other ranks barracks were never comfortable but a stove like this in the summer could be a useful starting point for a tunnel

In Germany during WW1 there were approximately 313,400 escapes counted and 67,565 of these succeeded. Captured escapees were sent back to camps and punished. The cavalry barracks of one camp is pictured above

'This was the only successful escape from Britain in either of the world wars.'

In Germany during WW1 there were approximately 313,400 escapes counted and 67,565 of these succeeded. Captured escapees were sent back to camps and punished.

'Tens of thousands tried to escape but most were caught with only a few hundred actually making it back to Britain,' added Rachel.

'What I think is important to note is that the book documents stories of females who escaped – often female efforts in the war get pushed to the side-line and yet their heroism and bravery was equal to many of the males.

The most successful escape from a German camp took place in July 1918 at Holzminden officers' prisoner-of-war camp in Germany, when 75 officers attempted to make a break for freedom.

Of the 75, 29 made it to the outside world. Nineteen were then recaptured, leaving just ten men heading for freedom.