did, and despite Koenigstein being in the Russian zone, a decision was taken to swiftly remove the French generals from the castle on May 11. They were flown back to Paris on May 12, many of them free for the first time in five years. Notable inmates General Henri Giraud (France) - Commander, 7th Army, captured 19 May 1940, escaped 17 April 1942. General René Prioux (France) - Commander, Corps de Cavalerie, captured 29 May 1940, released April 1942. Brigadier General Alphonse Juin (France) - Commander, 15th Motorized Infantry Division, surrendered on 30 May 1940, released 15 June 1941. Admiral Jean-Marie Charles Abrial (France) - Commander-in-Chief of Northern Naval Forces, surrendered on 19 June 1940, released 20 July 1940. General Auguste Alaurent (France)- captured in Dunkirk, remained in the Königstein until May 9, 1945 Major-General Franciszek Kleeberg (Poland) - Commander, Independent Operational Group Polesie, surrendered 6 October 1939, died 5 April 1941. Major-General Juliusz Rómmel (Poland) - Commander, Łódź Army and Warsaw Army, signed the final act of capitulation of Warsaw on 28 September. Major-General Władysław Bortnowski (Poland) - taken captive during the Battle of Bzura. General Henri Winkelman (Netherlands) - Commander-in-chief, Armed forces of the Netherlands, surrendered on 14 May 1940, liberated May 1945. General Otto Ruge (Norway) - Chief of Defence of Norway, arrested June 1940, liberated May 1945. See also List of prisoner-of-war camps in Germany References External links Festung Königstein Oflags World War II prisoner of war camps in Germany