Escaped Pow's and evaders.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Is it known just how many escaped pow's and evaders were at large on any particular day in Europe ?
Alex

[Carsten Petersen]

British, American, Polish, Russian or French ? Only air force or also army and navy ?

How many trees are there in the Sherwood Forrest ?

[vathra]

In Yugoslavia there were up to 300-400 max at once, due to quick evacuation. Total almost 3000 airmen and maybe a 1000 escaped Pow were evacuated through Yugoslavia.

But I think that Italy is leader in that segment. After armiatice, large number of pow escaped, and continued to hide in country side, until the Allied liberated their area. Their number could be in thousands during some periods.

[harryurz]

I can reccomend "RAF Evaders" by Oliver Clutton-Brock.

[James A Pratt III]

There were also I believe a few hundred? in Rumania who after the country switch sides in August 1944 were rescued.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you for your replies. I thought that there were thousands on any one day, seems to be right for the mid to late years.
All services was my initial thought.
This number of evaders must have upset the enemy and taken up a lot of their service people who would have perhaps have had other duties. Quite a problem . Which is part of if not the main reason to escape.
I just wondered if there were any kind of "official " numbers known.
Thanks all
Alex