Hogan’s Heroes was based on an actual British prisoner of war that would leave camp, go into town and get information, send it back to the allies then go back into camp.
He also orchestrated sabotage against the Germans while a prisoner.
My father was a guest of the German government after he was captured during the Ardennes offensive, commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge.
He hated Hogan’s Heroes with a passion. When it came on he’d watch it for a few minutes, point out that the set for the camp was well done, and then when some BS situation involving the happy POWs would come on he’d tell one of the kids to change the channel.
I guess being an actual prisoner of war took some of the fun out of it.