Monopoly Games Helped WWII POWs Escape

When charity groups delivered board games to P.O.W. camps during World War II, they were delivering much more than a means to pass the time; they were delivering a way to escape. Hidden inside these special edition Monopoly board game boxes was an escape kit. The kit included a silk map of the area, real money, a compass, and other needed tools. Captured soldiers could identify the special edition boxes by the red mark on the Free Parking space on the board. For more information on why they used silk maps versus paper maps, how the Monopoly game was chosen, fake charities, and more, read this fascinating ABC article.