Jane—I’m sorry, but I cannot allow the comments section to be used for non-germane-to-the-topic-at-hand personal issues, especially when individuals are mentioned by name.
For $3 I took a flyer on the Kindle edition of the book. Years ago I read Lowell Thomas's Count Luckner, the Sea Devil (the Cleveland State University library had a copy signed by Graf Luckner, who reputedly would give anyone an autograph any time). The comparison should be interesting.
I am often underwhelmed by stories of spy exploits. By contrast, I am blown away by stories like this of survival and escape. Crazy impressive.
Also, if you haven’t read it “as far as my feet will Carry me” about a German sent to East Cape in Siberia who walked to Iran and freedom is mind blowing.
"We Die Alone - A World War II Epic of Escape and Endurance" by David Howarth. A Norwegian on a special mission gone bad evades the Germans and returns to England.
Now that was a life full of ripping yarns. (Except they're true, I shit you not.) His son was old enough to serve during WWII, I wonder what happened to him.
Sal, thank you for this uplifting post. It's been a rough week at Casa De Scoobs going through pet passings and I've been in dire need some positive tales of JO shenanigans from years gone by. I'm familiar with this story, along with several other resourceful Germans who managed to Survive, Evade, Resist, & Escape (SERE - funny acronym) their way across several continents. A family acquaintance and noted WW1 historian recently a book about a similar account of a wayward German Flieger who managed to bugger out of Tsingtao; he also wrote a previous book about LT Edouard Izac USN, who pulled off a similar "Great Escape" of his own - our two families happen to be close friends: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edouard_Izac
Thanks for the story. Evidently Pluschow's resignation from the German navy was roughly contemporaneous with the scuttling of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa.
Reading this made me think of the German helo pilot who lived next to me in Belgium when I worked at SHAPE. I went to dinner at his place one night, and above the dining table was a framed picture of Wilhelm II, the German Kaiser before 1918. A little odd, I thought, but Pluschow's story is a reminder that if you want a 20th century German to admire, there are a few years where the material is often off-limits. WWI was a different sort of war in many ways, however.
Jane—I’m sorry, but I cannot allow the comments section to be used for non-germane-to-the-topic-at-hand personal issues, especially when individuals are mentioned by name.
Hope we hear something soon about President Trumps's latest memo/executive order (8/13/26):
"Rebuilding the United States Navy and America’s Shipbuilding Industrial Base"
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/rebuilding-the-united-states-navy-and-americas-shipbuilding-industrial-base/
Monday.
The Mail says: "But this German PoW actually made it home after breaking out in Britain. And he was the ONLY one to make it in either world war"
I don't think this link works:
"and (Oberleutnant Gunther) Pluschow"
A very cool story. Thanks for sharing!
Cool story, thanks
" Hold to the course, though the storms are about you;
Stick to the road where the banner flies;
Fate and his legions are ready to route you-
Give'em both barrels- and aim for their eyes.
Life's not a rose bed , a dream or a bubble,
A living in clover beneath cloudless skies;
And Fate hates a fighter who's looking for trouble,
So give'em both barrels-and shoot for the eyes.
Fame never comes to the loafers and sitters,
Life's full of knots in a shifting disguise,
Fate only picks on the cowards and quitters,
So give'em both barrels-and aim for the eyes."
Grantland Rice
For $3 I took a flyer on the Kindle edition of the book. Years ago I read Lowell Thomas's Count Luckner, the Sea Devil (the Cleveland State University library had a copy signed by Graf Luckner, who reputedly would give anyone an autograph any time). The comparison should be interesting.
I am often underwhelmed by stories of spy exploits. By contrast, I am blown away by stories like this of survival and escape. Crazy impressive.
Also, if you haven’t read it “as far as my feet will Carry me” about a German sent to East Cape in Siberia who walked to Iran and freedom is mind blowing.
The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz.
The movie did the book justice.
"We Die Alone - A World War II Epic of Escape and Endurance" by David Howarth. A Norwegian on a special mission gone bad evades the Germans and returns to England.
Now that was a life full of ripping yarns. (Except they're true, I shit you not.) His son was old enough to serve during WWII, I wonder what happened to him.
Sal, thank you for this uplifting post. It's been a rough week at Casa De Scoobs going through pet passings and I've been in dire need some positive tales of JO shenanigans from years gone by. I'm familiar with this story, along with several other resourceful Germans who managed to Survive, Evade, Resist, & Escape (SERE - funny acronym) their way across several continents. A family acquaintance and noted WW1 historian recently a book about a similar account of a wayward German Flieger who managed to bugger out of Tsingtao; he also wrote a previous book about LT Edouard Izac USN, who pulled off a similar "Great Escape" of his own - our two families happen to be close friends: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edouard_Izac
Love the Guardian's details surrounding his escape. His exploits in China are equaly fascinating.
https://www.qingdaonese.com/the-aviator-of-tsingtao-part-one/
https://www.qingdaonese.com/the-aviator-of-tsingtao-part-two/
An absolute mad man. I can only respect a man like that, trying to do his duty.
Thanks for the story. Evidently Pluschow's resignation from the German navy was roughly contemporaneous with the scuttling of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa.
Reading this made me think of the German helo pilot who lived next to me in Belgium when I worked at SHAPE. I went to dinner at his place one night, and above the dining table was a framed picture of Wilhelm II, the German Kaiser before 1918. A little odd, I thought, but Pluschow's story is a reminder that if you want a 20th century German to admire, there are a few years where the material is often off-limits. WWI was a different sort of war in many ways, however.
That is one skilled and lucky fellow!