Monopoly's Hidden Maps Helped World War II Prisoners Of War Escape

ABC News:

During World War II, as the number of British airmen held hostage behind enemy lines escalated, the country's secret service enlisted an unlikely partner in the ongoing war effort: The board game Monopoly.

Read the whole story: ABC News

Comments

[Steamboater]

Incredible. Can't wait to read the book about this too.

[Jeff Compoc]

This is not a new story; I've seen this before. I wish I could recall from where, but I almost want to say that it came from a trivia pursuit question, or a history ch special.

[Harvee Wallbanger]

I find it fascinating that the Germans never caught on to this. With all of those prisoners that escaped, there had to be many that were recaptured and found with a silk map in their possession. And yet nobody asked where were these silk maps coming from?

[Churchi11]

fascinating story, but it seems unwise to tell such a story even years after the fact. giving the enemies of Britain & the U.S. a reason to end humanitarian shipments to POWs is a real possible effect of letting this info out. the right wing is already paranoid enough without letting them know what's really going on. oops I mean the National Socialists.

[TFlint]

The story and others like it have been known for decades. Examples of playing cards that could be split open to reveal maps can be be seen at the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

[Calinative]

That's pretty cool.
With all the endless editions of the game they've released, the should sell the 'WWII Escape Edition' that comes with a silk map and a compass. I'd buy it.

[deepintheheartoftejas]

It was the tiny cars enclosed in the sets that let them outrun the Germans, though.

[napasonoma]

inane. past your bedtime.

[groot]

the tiny cars? i thought it was das boot!...

[rbarry647]

This is fascinating

[dontpanic1]

how cool is that?!

[whoknew---]

That is really cool bit of history.

Wow....