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kindkitIn some ways this is the first "real" Colditz episode: it's the first one that takes place primarily inside Colditz, and it's the first with the ensemble mostly together.
The episode centers on the arrival of the new Senior British Officer, Colonel Preston. Along the way we also meet key figures on the camp staff: the Kommandant (who never gets a full name, although later we learn his first name is Karl), a First World War veteran whose son has just been posted to France with the Luftwaffe; and Lt. Lehr, the security officer. Threaded in with this main story, we also meet Flight Lieutenant Phil Carrington, whom we see captured at the beginning and taken off for Gestapo interrogation, and who then arrives in Colditz considerably later and much the worse for wear.
Colonel Preston, who earned his rank in the Territorial Army rather than as a regular career officer, promptly makes himself unpopular by appearing too "spit and polish" and trying to reimpose certain aspects of military discipline such as an Officer of the Day and daily orders. He also orders an end to most fraternization with the Polish officer prisoners. He's actually cut a deal with the Kommandant exchanging this concession for Red Cross parcels, as part of his secret long term plan to ease security and make escaping easier. But he doesn't tell the men this, and they react with considerable hostility apart from Pat Grant and Dick Player, who think the others are rushing to judgment.
Preston adds to his unpopularity by insisting that the Red Cross parcels, once they arrive, be stored for emergencies.
All Preston's plans are destroyed when Peter Muir, a British officer, secretly conceals a Polish officer in the British quarters as part of an escape plan, which is then discovered by the Germans. Preston angrily explains to the men that his supposed "cosiness" with the Germans was part of a long-term strategy, then publicly takes responsibility for the attempt and is sentenced to fourteen days solitary confinement. He has earned the British prisoners' respect but it's going to be even harder to get the camp security relaxed.
Timeline note: various indications (the discussion of the bombing of London, references to Christmas, Simon Carter's 30 days in solitary) show that this episode starts around early to mid- November 1940 and continues through about mid-December
Warning: There will almost certainly be spoilers for future episodes in the comments.
You're welcome to join in the discussion on DW or LJ; most of it will probably take place on LJ, since that's where the other participants are.
The episode centers on the arrival of the new Senior British Officer, Colonel Preston. Along the way we also meet key figures on the camp staff: the Kommandant (who never gets a full name, although later we learn his first name is Karl), a First World War veteran whose son has just been posted to France with the Luftwaffe; and Lt. Lehr, the security officer. Threaded in with this main story, we also meet Flight Lieutenant Phil Carrington, whom we see captured at the beginning and taken off for Gestapo interrogation, and who then arrives in Colditz considerably later and much the worse for wear.
Colonel Preston, who earned his rank in the Territorial Army rather than as a regular career officer, promptly makes himself unpopular by appearing too "spit and polish" and trying to reimpose certain aspects of military discipline such as an Officer of the Day and daily orders. He also orders an end to most fraternization with the Polish officer prisoners. He's actually cut a deal with the Kommandant exchanging this concession for Red Cross parcels, as part of his secret long term plan to ease security and make escaping easier. But he doesn't tell the men this, and they react with considerable hostility apart from Pat Grant and Dick Player, who think the others are rushing to judgment.
Preston adds to his unpopularity by insisting that the Red Cross parcels, once they arrive, be stored for emergencies.
All Preston's plans are destroyed when Peter Muir, a British officer, secretly conceals a Polish officer in the British quarters as part of an escape plan, which is then discovered by the Germans. Preston angrily explains to the men that his supposed "cosiness" with the Germans was part of a long-term strategy, then publicly takes responsibility for the attempt and is sentenced to fourteen days solitary confinement. He has earned the British prisoners' respect but it's going to be even harder to get the camp security relaxed.
Timeline note: various indications (the discussion of the bombing of London, references to Christmas, Simon Carter's 30 days in solitary) show that this episode starts around early to mid- November 1940 and continues through about mid-December
Warning: There will almost certainly be spoilers for future episodes in the comments.
You're welcome to join in the discussion on DW or LJ; most of it will probably take place on LJ, since that's where the other participants are.
