 Shortly after, on 12 February 1944, he managed to escape together with four other former U-boat commanders, but he was recaptured in Tucson together with the former commander of "U-513", Friedrich Guggenberger.Maus helped his companions to dig a tunnel in the so-called Great Papago Escape.In the evening of 23 December 1944, 25 prisoners escaped through the tunnel, but August Maus could not take part because he was injured.