Summary

The Seventh Cross opens with a prisoner remembering the arrival of a new camp commandant, Sommerfeld, to replace Fahrenberg at Westhofen concentration camp – after the main events of the novel. Sommerfeld demanded the destruction of seven infamous trees.

The story begins with Franz cycling to work, on Monday morning. Rumors were circling of an escape from Westhofen, and Franz wondered whether his former friend George might be involved. Meanwhile, George was hiding in a swamp while the prison guards searched nearby. He heard them recapturing another escapee, Beutler.

Back at the camp, Fahrenberg was in a state of shock after learning that seven prisoners had broken out. He vented his anger on his subordinates Bunsen and Zillich, until the guards returned with Beutler. Gestapo representatives Overkamp and Fischer arrived shortly afterwards. They were angry about the extent of Beutler’s injuries, because they wanted...