Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Indian Soldier Escaped Italian POW Camp and Hid Among Farmers
Kalha was an Indian soldier held in a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy.
He stayed there for more than a year.
While imprisoned, he listened carefully to people speaking Italian.
He learned enough of the language to communicate.
Local people sometimes came near the camp to see the unusual soldiers from India.
Kalha tried to escape once, but he was caught.
He did not give up, even though being recaptured during wartime could be deadly.
He eventually escaped and hid among Italian farmers.
Knowing Italian helped him stay alive.
Kalha endured more than a year in captivity at a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy.
He learned working Italian by listening to guards and people near the camp.
Many of the guards were teenagers, while local residents visited the camp boundary out of curiosity.
His first escape attempt failed, but he continued trying despite the danger of recapture.
After escaping, he hid among Italian farmers, with his knowledge of Italian helping him survive.
- Who
- Kalha, an Indian soldier, was held in captivity.
- What
- He escaped an Italian prisoner-of-war camp and hid among Italian farmers.
- When
- The article does not specify when these events occurred.
- Where
- At a prisoner-of-war camp and among farmers in Italy.
- Why
- He sought to escape wartime captivity and avoid the danger of recapture.
- Captive
- Kalha was held for well over a year.
- Location
- The prisoner-of-war camp was in Italy.
- Language
- Kalha developed a working knowledge of Italian.
- Learning method
- He listened to guards and local people near the camp.
- First escape attempt
- His first attempt failed.
- Escape consequences
- The article says recapture in wartime could mean a bullet.
- After escaping
- He hid among Italian farmers.