Oflag XXI-B, World War II prisoner camp in Szubin, Poland.
Oflag XXI-B was a German military prisoner camp in Szubin consisting of barracks and administration buildings arranged around a former Polish school. The facility was secured with barbed wire fences and guard towers, holding a capacity of over 1,400 people.
German forces established the camp in September 1939, initially holding Polish civilians before converting it to detain Allied military officers. After a failed escape attempt in 1943, the facility was restructured as Oflag 64 to hold American officers specifically.
Imprisoned officers kept their military order alive by organizing lectures and creating artistic works to record their confinement. These activities helped them maintain dignity and purpose within the barbed wire.
The site is located in a smaller town and can be difficult to reach during winter months, so visitors should be flexible with their plans. Researching local guided tours or museum offerings beforehand helps visitors understand the history more deeply when they arrive.
In March 1943, prisoners executed a large-scale escape attempt by digging a tunnel beneath the perimeter, which was discovered by guards. This incident triggered the facility's closure and eventual repurposing for a different prisoner group.
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