Oberleutnant Cornelius Rost's Escape

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teddy
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Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Oberleutnant Cornelius Rost's Escape

Post by teddy »

Cornelius Rost escaped from the Soviet GULAG lead mines at Cape Dezhnev (East Cape), Siberia, and spent three years making his 11,000 km (6,800 mi) long way to Iran by sled, train, and mainly walking. After interrogation by Iranian police, who suspected him of being a Soviet spy, he was identified by his uncle. He arrived home in Munich 2 days before Christmas, in December 1952, three years and two months after escaping. He had been sentenced to hard labour for 25 years as a prisoner of war. There is a book, a television series and a movie based on his odyssey: "As Far as my Feet will Carry Me".

Questions: Did any other German prisoners of war escape Soviet captivity after the 1945 Nazi capitulation?
Was it common practise of the Soviets to sentence German prisoners to 25 years hard labour?
Would the western Allies have returned Rost to the Soviets?
Does anyone have any information about Cornelius Rost?
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