You are trapped behind enemy lines. Barbed wire surrounds you. Guard towers cast long shadows. The threat of discovery never fades. Escape seems impossible.
But a simple, colorful board game becomes your ticket to freedom. During World War II, this unlikely lifeline appeared in the form of a family favorite Monopoly. But this was no ordinary game.
British intelligence agency MI9 teamed up with John Waddington Ltd., the UK maker of Monopoly. They transformed this innocent game into a secret escape kit. Inside the box, they hid survival tools. Silk maps showed escape routes. Tiny compasses guided the way. Sharp metal files cut through bars. Real currency mixed with Monopoly money offered a means to buy help.
This clever plan turned a game of chance into a chance for escape. What looked like family fun became a lifeline for prisoners of war (POWs).
How Monopoly Became an Escape Tool
These special Monopoly sets were not ordinary. They were a masterclass in wartime deception. At first glance, they looked like typical Monopoly games the familiar colorful board, the metal tokens, and the play money. But hidden beneath this innocent façade were carefully concealed escape tools that could mean the difference between life and death for prisoners.
Hidden Tools in the Monopoly Sets
Silk Maps
Hidden between the board’s layers, these maps were printed on silk. Silk was chosen because it was durable, waterproof, and silent essential qualities for a map that might be used in a life-or-death situation. The maps detailed safe escape routes across Europe, helping prisoners navigate to freedom.
Metal Files
Thin, sharp files were ingeniously disguised as game pieces or hidden beneath the board. These could be used to saw through metal bars or cut through obstacles in prison camps.
Tiny Compass
A working compass, small enough to hide within a game piece, ensured that escaping prisoners could maintain their direction even in unfamiliar territory.
Real Currency
Among the Monopoly money, real currency from various countries was secretly mixed. This gave escapees the means to buy food, pay for transportation, or even bribe guards without arousing suspicion.
Each of these tools was carefully selected to provide POWs with a fighting chance at survival. They were not simply scattered through the box they were expertly hidden, making the game appear completely normal to any unsuspecting guards.
How the Monopoly Sets Reached POWs
Delivering these special Monopoly sets to prisoners of war required a plan as clever as the hidden tools they contained. The British intelligence agency MI9 devised an ingenious method using the rules of international law to their advantage. Under the Geneva Convention, POWs were entitled to receive humanitarian aid packages, including games and leisure items. This loophole became the perfect cover for their covert operation.
The British government partnered with fake charitable organizations that appeared to be sending care packages to Allied soldiers in German camps. These organizations sent the specially modified Monopoly sets, complete with escape tools, alongside other harmless-looking items like books, letters, and basic necessities. German authorities, seeing only a popular board game and other ordinary supplies, allowed the packages to pass through without inspection.
To further ensure these packages reached the right prisoners, the British used coded markings on the Monopoly boxes. Only Allied soldiers who had been briefed knew how to identify these special sets. The ingenious syste
m allowed hundreds of these escape kits to reach prisoners undetected, providing them with the essential tools for their daring escapes.
Why Monopoly Was Chosen
Monopoly was not just chosen by chance. It was the perfect cover for a covert operation because of several unique factors:
Global Popularity
Monopoly was a well-known and widely played game. Its appearance in aid packages seemed entirely normal and harmless to the German guards.
Spacious Design
The large game board, playing cards, and various components provided ample space to hide secret items without raising suspicion. Escape tools like maps, files, and even currency could be skillfully concealed without altering the game’s look.
Printing Expertise
John Waddington Ltd., the UK manufacturer of Monopoly, was not just a game company. They were also a skilled printing firm with experience producing high-quality maps on silk. This expertise was crucial, as silk maps were light, durable, waterproof, and silent – making them perfect for escape kits.
Versatility
The game pieces and money could be subtly altered without changing the game’s appearance. Real currency could be mixed with the play money, and the metal tokens could be designed to hide small tools.
This combination of factors made Monopoly the ideal choice for a covert escape operation. What looked like a simple game was, in fact, a masterful tool for survival.
Impact of the Secret Monopoly Games
The secret Monopoly sets were a lifeline for many Allied POWs. In the bleak, confined world of prison camps, they brought hope. These disguised games provided essential tools that prisoners used to escape captivity, often crossing enemy lines to reach safety.
- Successful Escapes:
British MI9 reported that these special Monopoly sets helped hundreds of POWs escape from German camps. Each kit gave prisoners a real chance to break free. - A Symbol of Ingenuity:
The Monopoly escape kits became a legend. They showed how simple creativity could outsmart even the most secure prisons. These kits turned an innocent game into a secret weapon. - Lasting Legacy:
This story is remembered as one of the most ingenious uses of a board game. What began as family fun became a tool for freedom. It is a story of courage, clever thinking, and hope. - Essential Survival Tools:
The hidden tools in these Monopoly sets gave prisoners what they needed to escape. Silk maps showed escape routes. Metal files cut through bars. Compasses pointed the way. Real money bought supplies or help. These tools saved lives.
Conclusion
Monopoly was more than just a game. It was a lifeline. It gave hope to prisoners who saw no way out. It turned a symbol of family fun into a tool of freedom.
British intelligence showed how creativity could become a weapon. MI9 and John Waddington Ltd. hid tools in plain sight. They outsmarted the enemy using a game that seemed harmless. Hundreds of POWs escaped because of this clever plan.
Today, Monopoly is still played around the world. But its secret past is a story worth remembering. It shows how simple ideas can change lives. Even in the darkest times, there is always a way out.
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FAQs
How did Monopoly help POWs escape during World War II?
Monopoly sets were secretly turned into escape kits. These sets included silk maps for escape routes, metal files for cutting bars, a tiny compass for direction, and real money hidden among the game cash. These tools gave prisoners a way out.
Who created the secret Monopoly escape kits?
The British intelligence agency MI9 and John Waddington Ltd., the UK company that made Monopoly, designed and produced these special kits.
Why was Monopoly chosen for this plan?
Monopoly was a popular game and looked harmless. Its board, cards, and pieces had enough space to hide tools without drawing attention.
How did these Monopoly sets reach prisoners?
They were sent as aid packages under the Geneva Convention, disguised as gifts. German guards thought they were ordinary games and allowed them through.
How many prisoners escaped using these Monopoly kits?
The exact number is unknown. British MI9 believed that hundreds of prisoners escaped using the hidden tools in these Monopoly sets.
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