The Password is Courage

The Password is Courage tells the true story of Sergeant-Major Charles Coward, a British soldier captured during WWII who became a POW in multiple German camps. Under the guise of cooperation with his captors, he worked to aid fellow prisoners and gather intelligence. This biography chronicles Coward's experiences from his initial capture through his time in various prison camps, documenting his acts of defiance and the methods he used to help others. His nickname "Count of Auschwitz" stemmed from his work assisting Jewish prisoners while maintaining a complex facade of compliance with Nazi authorities. Written by John Castle in 1954, the book draws from first-hand accounts and interviews with Coward himself, presenting the facts of his wartime activities with historical precision. The narrative follows Coward's progression through increasingly dangerous situations as he expands his covert operations. The book stands as a testament to individual courage and the power of maintaining humanity in inhuman conditions. Through Coward's story, readers witness how one person's choices can impact many lives, even within the confines of captivity.

Readers praise this true WWII story for its balance of humor and drama in depicting Charles Coward's POW experiences. Many note the book reads like fiction due to the protagonist's daring escapes and clever schemes, though some question if all events occurred exactly as described. What readers liked: - Fast-paced narrative style - Mix of wit and serious wartime content - Details about POW camp life - Coward's resourceful personality What readers disliked: - Some scenes feel embellished - Dated writing style (published 1954) - Limited historical context - Abrupt ending Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (182 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (89 ratings) Representative review: "An incredible story that would seem far-fetched if it wasn't true. Coward's ingenuity and courage shine through, though you sometimes wonder if memory has enhanced certain events." - Goodreads reviewer Many reviews note the 1962 film adaptation starring Dirk Bogarde increased interest in the book.

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🔹 Charles Coward, the book's subject, earned the nickname "The Count of Auschwitz" for his daring efforts to save Jewish prisoners while himself being held as a POW, including smuggling evidence of Nazi atrocities to British intelligence. 🔹 The 1962 film adaptation starred Dirk Bogarde as Charles Coward and was released under the same title, though it focused primarily on his earlier escape attempts rather than his time at Auschwitz. 🔹 Author John Castle conducted extensive interviews with Charles Coward and worked closely with him to ensure accuracy, making the book a valuable first-hand historical account of POW life during WWII. 🔹 Coward's testimony at the Nuremberg Trials helped convict several Nazi officials, and his detailed accounts of the I.G. Farben slave labor operations proved crucial in postwar trials. 🔹 Despite being captured multiple times throughout the war, Coward managed to escape 10 times from various POW camps before his final capture led him to Auschwitz III-Monowitz.