Follow the route used by Allied soldiers and airmen in 1943 across the Brenta Dolomites, in their bid for freedom to reach neutral Switzerland.

After the Italian armistice came into effect, on the 8th September, many allied prisoners of war in Italy continued to be detained in the prisoner of war (POW's) camps as they were taken over by Wermacht and SS Troops. As the Allied forces landings at Anzio stalled, many of these POW's began the long journey north by train to POW camps in Germany. As the trains climbed towards the Brenner Pass some of the more daring POW's, realising that the neutral border of Switzerland was close, chose to make what might be their last bid for freedom before entering Austria and ultimately Germany, where they would most likely be securely locked up until the outcome of the war was decided.

Our journey starts in the Trentino Alto Adige region of Italy, where some of the POW's jumped from the trains. Over the next eleven days we follow a route used by British, Australian and New Zealanders, crossing four mountain ranges and ascending a total height of 9,600 metres before ultimately decending into Switzerland, our journeys end.