Franz Xaver Freiherr von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over Britain and captured. He was the only Axis prisoner of war to escape from Canadian custody and return to Germany apart from a U-boat seaman, Walter Kurt Reich, said to have jumped from a Polish troopship into the St. Lawrence River in July 1940. Werra managed to return to Germany via the US, Mexico, South America and Spain, finally reaching Germany on 18 April 1941.
Franz von Werra, Swiss-German captain and pilot (born 1914)
On October 25, in the year 1941, Franz von Werra, Swiss-German captain and pilot (born 1914). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of October 25, one of 656 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Franz von Werra. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on October 25, 1941 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 12 October 2026.
On This Date in History 656
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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