Canadian soldiers played huge role in the Great Escape [Video]

Many  late-night TV watchers have heard of or even seen the movie The Great Escape. Now, thanks to a new exhibit from Calgary’s Military Museums, fans of the film can learn the true story that inspired the movie.

It starred James Garner and Steve McQueen, among others, and details how a group of allied prisoners of war launch an escape effort from Stalag Luft III.

Few may realize the 1963 movie was based on an actual great escape largely driven by Canadian soldiers.

ESCAPE FROM STALAG LUFT III

On March 24, 1944 Allied prisoners of war launched the largest escape effort of the Second World War. Seventy-six men escaped via a 300-foot-long (91 metre) tunnel dug deep below the confines of the German-held Stalag Luft III POW camp.

Many of the men involved in this escape initiative were Canadian and brought unique skill sets gained in pre-war life to the complex operation.

“There were people that were designated …