Rallye Breslau is the biggest cross-country rally and off-road race in Europe, taking place on two Polish military training areas in Żagań and Drawsko Pomorskie.

Żagań in particular is a town rich with military history. Its base is the current home of the Polish 11th Armoured Cavalry Division, who shares it with NATO allies. When Poland was under German occupation during the Second World War, two POW camps were built: Stalag VIII-C, for all Allied prisoners, and the nearby Stalag Luft III.

Built in 1942, Stalag Luft III was run by the Luftwaffe to hold Allied pilots and air crew. Despite its heavy security measures, prisoners staged elaborate escape plots on two occasions. The first was in 1943 where they built a gymnastics vaulting horse as a Trojan Horse to sneak out.

The second, in March 1944, is one of the most famous POW breakouts in history. The prisoners spent nearly a year secretly building three deep yet tight tunnels (codenamed “Dick”, “Harry”, and “Tom”) that would take them outside the premises, taking time to throw guards off their trail with lookout systems and bribery. Tom was eventually discovered, so Dick was turned into storage while the airmen focused solely on finishing Harry.

On March 24, they commenced their operation. It was a slow process as they had to gradually use a wooden trolley to squeeze prisoners along individually, and conditions were worsened by the cold and other circumstances. 76 of a planned 200 got out by the time the Germans found out, with all but three eventually being recaptured and 50 executed on Hitler’s personal order. After the war, their killers were charged with war crimes and imprisoned or executed themselves.

A fictionalizion of the second plan would serve as the plot for the 1963 hit film The Great Escape, which remains one of the greatest World War II movies to this day. The film title is also as a tagline for Rallye Breslau.

The camps were closed following Allied liberation in 1945. Stalags VIII-C and Luft III are now under the administration of Muzeum Obozów Jenieckich (POW Camps Museum). While the original Harry tunnel no longer exists, a reconstruction closer to the surface was built and can be used by the public.

Since returning to Żagań in 2022, Rallye Breslau has often embraced this side of the town. The first bivouac that year was set up on the site of Stalag VIII-C. In 2023, while transferring bivouacs from Żagań to Drawsko, RBI Sport partnered with the museum to partially restore the tunnel.

On Monday, a week before the start of the 2025 edition, RBI Sport signed a renewed cooperation agreement with the city of Żagań.

“We are truly pleased with our long-standing partnership with the City of Żagań,” said RBI director Alexander Kovatchev. “The city administration, under the leadership of Mayor Mr. Sławomir Kowal, stands as a shining example of how vital it is to champion sporting initiatives alongside broader civic responsibilities. Żagań has not only maintained its reputation but has further solidified its role as the off-road capital of Europe.

“The collaboration between RBI Sport and the city is seamless and remarkably effective, a true dream team. It is both a privilege and a pleasure to rely on such a dedicated partner. Żagań embraces our rally with open arms, and the benefits are felt far and wide, from the local economy to the hearts of motorsport enthusiasts throughout the region.”

A shakedown, new for 2025, will take place on Saturday before racing commences with the Prologue the next day. The rally will be in Żagań until June 25, when Stage 3 brings competitors to Drawsko. It will finish on June 27 in Kołobrzeg.

Featured image credit: RBI Sport