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The Real Great Escape Trivia Quiz

The movie "The Great Escape" (1963) was great. What really happened? You may be surprised.

A multiple-choice quiz by beterave. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
beterave

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
321,556

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
822

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (11/15), Guest 69 (11/15), wjames (6/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What was name of the stalag where the real great escape took place? Hint

Stalag Luft III

Stalag Luft VII

Stalag Luft IV

Stalag Luft XIII

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. The actual commandant of the camp was Colonel von Lindeiner. How did he really treat the captured flyers? Hint

he was an ardent Nazi and was harsh

he was extremely fair

with indifference

it depended upon the POWs' conduct

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. What were the camp guards really called? Hint

goons

hacks

screws

cops

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Question 4 of 15

4. What was main reason the Germans considered the camp 'escape proof'? Hint

English speaking goons

the yellow sand

its location

raised barracks

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. What were the German guards who specialized in preventing escapes called? Hint

supergoons

ferrets

white mice

king rats

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Question 6 of 15

6. The most active and dangerous ferret was Corporal Greise. What did the POWs call him? Hint

Rubberneck

Head Goon

Adolph

Creepy

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Question 7 of 15

7. What were the three tunnels actually called? Hint

Larry, Moe and Curley

Dick, Jane and Sally

Dick, Rick and Nick

Tom, Dick and Harry

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Question 8 of 15

8. What were the men who were responsible for dispersing the tunnel sand really called? Hint

penguins

yardbirds

robins

geese

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Question 9 of 15

9. What did Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, who was known as 'Big X' (Squadron Leader Bartlett in the movie), threaten to do to any man who dared to mention the word tunnel? Hint

deny him an escape attempt

kill him

have him court martialed

turn him over to the Germans

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. How did the escaping POWs gain vital intelligence and data before the escape? Hint

by bribing some of the guards

recaptured POWs supplied the information

they guessed correctly

German civilians helped them

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. On the night of the escape, what happened to the trap door of the escape tunnel? Hint

it caved in

it was illuminated by a searchlight

it was too narrow

it was frozen shut

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. How many men were trying to escape that night from Stalag Luft III? Hint

100 men

250 men

50 men

10 men

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. How were the last fifty POWs selected by the Escape Committee? Hint

by rank

they were not selected, they drew lots

by seniority in captivity

by nationality

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. How many captured flyers actually escaped on the night of the Great Escape? Hint

none

250

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. What did Hitler want done when he heard the news of the escape? Hint

he wanted them all recaptured

he wanted better camps

he wanted the only the ringleaders executed

he wanted everyone involved killed

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 15 2024 : Guest 1: 11/15
Mar 30 2024 : Guest 69: 11/15
Mar 30 2024 : wjames: 6/15
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 99: 10/15
Feb 23 2024 : Guest 92: 13/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was name of the stalag where the real great escape took place?

Answer: Stalag Luft III

The stalag where the actual great escape took place was Stalag Luft III. The camp was near Sagan in Lower Silesia.

2. The actual commandant of the camp was Colonel von Lindeiner. How did he really treat the captured flyers?

Answer: he was extremely fair

Colonel von Lindeiner was a professional officer in the prewar Luftwaffe. His treatment of the captured flyers was extremely fair. This was later to be his undoing after the escape.

3. What were the camp guards really called?

Answer: goons

The Luftwaffe guards were called 'goons'. The guards were unfamilar with the term and were told it stood for, German Officer Or Noncom.

4. What was main reason the Germans considered the camp 'escape proof'?

Answer: its location

The location was the major reason the Germans considered the camp escape proof. The other reasons were factors as well but the primary reason was location.

5. What were the German guards who specialized in preventing escapes called?

Answer: ferrets

The guards who specialized in preventing escapes were called ferrets. They could enter a compound without notice and were skilled in tunnel detection. Some spoke very good English.

6. The most active and dangerous ferret was Corporal Greise. What did the POWs call him?

Answer: Rubberneck

Corporal Greise was known as 'Rubberneck'. He had a fondness for peering around corners and listening to conversations and showing up unexpectedly. He was nothing like the ferret in the movie who was compromised.

7. What were the three tunnels actually called?

Answer: Tom, Dick and Harry

The three escape tunnels were called Tom, Dick and Harry. This is consistent with the movie.

8. What were the men who were responsible for dispersing the tunnel sand really called?

Answer: penguins

The POWs who were responsible for dispersing the tunnel sand were known as penguins. Unlike in the movie, one was actually seen by a ferret doing this.

9. What did Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, who was known as 'Big X' (Squadron Leader Bartlett in the movie), threaten to do to any man who dared to mention the word tunnel?

Answer: have him court martialed

Squadron Leader Bushell threatened to have anyone court martialed who dared mention the word tunnel even in jest. This was, after all, serious buisiness.

10. How did the escaping POWs gain vital intelligence and data before the escape?

Answer: by bribing some of the guards

The majority of the vital intelligence was supplied by bribing the guards. This information included train schedules, time tables, and even civilian clothing. I must add that the Luftwaffe sentries were not front duty types.

11. On the night of the escape, what happened to the trap door of the escape tunnel?

Answer: it was frozen shut

On the night of the escape, the escape tunnel trap door was frozen shut. The actual escape took place in March, not in warm weather as seen in the movie. This cost the escapers valuable time trying to open it.

12. How many men were trying to escape that night from Stalag Luft III?

Answer: 250 men

Two hundred and fifty men were attempting to escape that night. Again, this is consistent with the movie.

13. How were the last fifty POWs selected by the Escape Committee?

Answer: they were not selected, they drew lots

The last 50 POWs who were to attempt the escape had to draw lots. These final fifty were given the the minimum supplies needed for the escape and none spoke any German. Their chances of success were considered slim.

14. How many captured flyers actually escaped on the night of the Great Escape?

Answer: 76

Seventy six flyers actually escaped from Stalag Luft III that night. The 77th man was caught because one of the guards tripped over him as he was climbing out of the tunnel.

15. What did Hitler want done when he heard the news of the escape?

Answer: he wanted everyone involved killed

When Hitler was informed of the extent of the escape, he wanted everyone killed. That included the camp commandant and his entire command as well as the recaptured POWs. When he finally calmed down, he ordered that 50 of the escapees should be shot and the Colonel von Lindeiner relieved of his command and court martialed for his lenient treatment of the POWs.

The murder of the fifty recaptured POWs was treated as a major issue and featured prominently at the Nuremberg Tribunal.

Source: Author beterave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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