Day 4: Colditz to Zwichau

The fateful day has arrived. Today is the day we execute our plan to escape from Colditz. We've been planning it for several months and have everything in place.

Red Cross parcel

Our Red Cross parcels have arrived with the necessary items to aid our daring escape plan. These included items of uniform disguised as mementos from home and, most importantly, an escape manual with vital route information and contacts disguised as some light reading material.

Red Cross parcel contents

 Our escape bid was bold as we planned to escape via the front gates of the German guard quarters and nonchalantly ride off in full daylight. We are working on the theory that it will be totally unexpected and no-one will be looking for us under their noses. Our plan was to take back country roads, tracks and trails and head south.

We have assumed different identities to help in our escape. They are;

• Colonel 'Hank' Minnesota of the USAF
• Porucznik Pawel Dzuchajmczyokowski of the Free Polish AF
• Officer U/T 'Wheelbarrow' Kavale of the RNZAF

The Escape

Everything was set. There was to be a staged distraction so we could make our way to the bicycles and leave via the main gate. Hopefully, all would go to plan. The moment arrived. The ruckus began. We mounted up. Out we rode. There was no-one around. That in itself should have been suspicious. Were we being set up. We would soon find out.

Schloss Rochlitz 

Our first leg was to Rochlitz. Not far down the road but we were hoping to gain the surprise of an early morning escape. We arrived to a village still half asleep and after circling the town square to see if we were being tailed, headed out along the river. We took some photos along the way that might prove useful intel if we made it back to old Blighty. Pacing ourselves we took to riverside trails to avoid detection. Via small country roads we rode. Through forest tracks. Back streets. By mid morning we were feeling hungry and in need of some food. Thankfully, there was an abundance of food along the roadside so we gorged ourselves on fresh cherries. This provided enough fuel for us to push on. We pushed on ... and pushed on ... and pushed a bit more until it became late morning. 

Abundant German cherries

Feeling in need of food again to sustain the frantic pace of our getaway, we decided to stop in the small village of Penig and see if we could acquire food. Luckily for us, it being Sunday, there were very few people around but there was one backerei open. We fuelled up on delish chocolate raspberry cake and coffee. More than enough sugar and caffeine for a few more kilometres.

What did we do next. Yep, kept on riding. Through Waldenburg and Remse. We were powering through the kilometres and putting good distance between us and Colditz. 

For us?

A bit further along the journey we decided to stop at Glauchau to get a sense of the local 'temperature' and to see if we can find any good intel on our escape. As we arrived into the town we were greeted with flags and banners and people lining the street. It appeared the town had heard about us and were putting on a civic reception. How strange. We thought that they'd lay a trap for us. As we rode towards the town center we realised the reception wasn't for us but to celebrate the 775th anniversary of the town. That was a relief. We were able to hide by mingling amongst the throng of townsfolk. We played it calm and joined the locals for a bite to eat and something to drink while we watched the town brass band run through period favourites such as I Love Rock'n'Roll and Smoke On The Water. We decided not to push our luck and thought it best to push on. It was tense leaving town and having to cycle ~2kms along packed roads, past polizei and security officials and trying to remember not to let our guard down, especially when a flippant "Good luck" was tossed our way by a suspicious official.

They drinking my bier hier

We kept heading south by following the river along good roads and making good time. not far from our destination, we took the opportunity to stop for a quick ale at Schlunzig.

Day 4 Marker

Then it was off on the final short leg of the day. We entered Zwickau at ~3.30pm and made our way to the safe house. After exchanging passcodes we were shown our rooms. They were luxury compared to the previous conditions. We settled in and after a short walk around the town to orient ourselves and scope out the landscape, we blended in with the locals in the biergarten. This provided today's opportunity for the marker.


Approximately 82kms travelled and a top speed of ~57kph. Here's today's map.