The Great Escape from Papago Park
N 33° 28.395 W 111° 56.709
12S E 412180 N 3704153
One of my favorite local stories, this is the true story of the largest escape of German POWs in the US. They might have succeeded except for one little detail.
Waymark Code: WM10Q
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 09/07/2005
Views: 149
December 1944, approximately 1,700 German prisoners of war lived in a large encampment east of Phoenix, Arizona. Among them, U-boat captain Jurgen Wattenberg.
In September 1944, the prisoners asked for permission to build a volleyball court. Instead they built a tunnel to freedom 178 feet long and 3 feet in diameter. The exit was behind a bush merely 15 feet from Cross Cut Canal. The exit was covered by a plant filled lid.
Wattenberg ordered the men in the adjacent compound to celebrate loudly the night of December 23rd, to cover up the sounds of the escape. He had the names of people in Mexico who would help them return to Germany. Their plan was to escape to Mexico via the Cross Cut Canal, to the Salt River, to the Gila River, to the Colorado River and down to Mexico. They had a canoe that could be carried in 3 pieces. Everything was carefully planned.
By the early morning hours on Dec 24th, 12 officers and 13 enlisted submarine men had escaped. They arrived at the Salt River only to discover that in Arizona, rivers are typically dry riverbeds. Not to be deterred, they marched onwards 20 miles to the Gila River. And found it a dry bed as well.
At this point, some gave up. They returned to camp, which was not even aware that there was an escape. Tempe residents began calling the camp, telling of prisoners who showed up at their homes to surrender. One man, after being free for a month, decided to sneak back into camp and see how everyone was. He succeeded in sneaking in, but couldnt escape again as planned. Eventually all prisoners were caught and returned to the camp.
In 1985, the Papago Park Prisoner of War Camp Commission held a commemorative observance at the campsite. Among those in attendence was U-boat Commander Jurgen Wattenberg. A car dealership, homes and ballfields cover most of the old camp. The Scottsdale Elks Club is listed as the last remaining building from that camp. It was the Officers Club. The coordinates will take you there. From what I could see, I believe the building east of there may also include parts of the old buildings.
To claim credit for this waymark, please post a gps photo of the Elks Club.
A detailed account.