how were american pows treated in germany


A Japanese officer told them that Japan was not a signatory to the Geneva Convention, and as such the Americans were not prisoners of war, but rather were guests of the Emperor. To this day though, he won’t eat chicken. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. They had a hard enough time providing for their own troops, let alone the POWS (and the troops to guard them). World War II: How America Treated Nazi and Imperial Japanese Prisoners. But in January 1942, only a few hundred of the Soviet prisoners who had originally been brought to Auschwitz—out of a total of 10,000—were still alive, and no further influx was expected. At least he came home; lots of guys didn’t. 2 This very general approximation of the number of POWs who died or were unaccounted for has been based in part on material provided in the following: T. J. Schulte, The German Army and Nazi Policies in Occupied Russia (New York, 1990), p. 181; W. Ratza, "Anzahl und Arbeitsleistungen der deutschen Kriegsgefangenen," in I never heard him talk about his time there, but from what I’ve gathered from various sources, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the Japenese POW camps. The American and British peoples, through the various agencies which undertook the task of providing POWs with books, made it possible for prisoners to obtain books which were so necessary and useful. This paper discusses the treatment of the American prisoners captured on the European theatre and compares it to the treatment of prisoners from other countries, such as Britain, Poland and Russia. I second IzzyR’s question: were Jewish POWs separated from their fellows and sent on to concentration camps? Nor were western alled POWS used as guinea pigs for the first gas chamber gassings at Auschwitz as Soviet POWS were in 1941. https://phdessay.com/treatment-of-us-pows-by-the-germans-in-world-war-ii/, The American Military Government in Germany during World, The Rearmament of Germany in the 1920s and 30s. Understandable, I guess, and sad. The Russians simply tortured and killed any SS soldier they captured. All on foot. The Germans generally treated captured western allies relatively well - both sides were parties to Geneva. How Did The Germans Treat American POW's in WWII? That program brings a small group of American POWs and family members to Japan each year to meet with officials and private citizens and, in some cases, visit the sites where POWs were held. And the Germans’ treatment of Jewish prisoners during WWII is not even open to interpretation or debate. The fate of the others to be kept in the concentration and death camps, such as Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Dachau. in an odd twist of fate, they were liberated just as they completed construction of the plane. They were normal POW camps, like most throughout history. Overall, even with some atrocities, considering what could have happened based on the potential brutality of the Nazis, one would have to say that the POW situation for Americans and Brits in Germany wasn’t too bad (relative to other prisoners in other camps/countries/wars). 3.) The Library of Congress: Veterans History Project Home : Home >> POWs in Germany: More Stories: A-Z List T he Germans were hardly the genial hosts, whether you were a POW during World War I or World War II. Hire a subject expert to help you with Treatment of us pows by the germans in world war II. PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are collected. This book contrasts it with almost 20 percent of German POWs at the end of the war who it claims died of exposure and starvation. 42–43; The prisoners, involved in work received small payment (5 to 10 marks) for their effort, though the amount of money, which a POW could possess was limited. [iv] The Soviets were not alone in their treatment of German POWs. There were many groups from different camps, literally wandering around different parts of Germany that winter. It was for flyers and officers. PREFACE Based on the overstated one can make a conclusion, that treatment of the American and British POW‘s, captured by the Germans was surely  preferable to the treatment of other POW‘s. -Germans did not want Allied troops to learn of POW mistreatment for fear it would instill a stronger desire to conquer Germany. p.-59, Treatment of us pows by the germans in world war II. Initially, American POWs were once again kept in prison ships until 1813, when they were taken to England and held in prisons, such as the infamous Dartmoor. Was able to walk with braces on both legs. The Germans and Italians had almost twice as many, 235,473 with a death rate of 4% (242 Australians). General observance of international law towards allied prisoners by Germany along Red Cross activity, provided them with huge benefits in comparison with the Slavic, Jewish and other POW‘s. [1] M. R. D. Fott, “Prisoners of War,” The Oxford Companion to World War II (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. I saw a great show on a POW camp. Russian soldiers, captured in the great encirclements, were often left without food for weeks, causing starvation and typhus. Held by the Nazis to be racially and politically inferior, they were starved and brutalised. Did he recover? The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Russian POWs, who were not killed outright, were treated like farm animals, kept in large holding areas, barely fed or clothed, and the their death rate was astronomical. POW‘s were not to be individually confined, and the food served them should have been equal to that served to German troops. He suffered from malnutrition (of course) and lost feeling in several toes due to frostbite. German POWs on the American Homefront ... About 12,000 POWs were held in camps in Nebraska. The Germans did not treat allied POWs at all well. I’ve never heard a word about this in all the history I’ve learned…. At least from what I’ve read, it seems the Germans treated American POW’s better than the Japanese did, and better than they treated Russians, but their treatment was in no way a model of following the Geneva accords. Of course, this was the official point of view, but actual treatment depended on commanders in the field. The “goons” (guards) didn’t keep dropping hints that Hitler might have them shot, in any case. From comparisons I have from a doctor who was in an Italian camp and from 2 or 3 prisoners who were in both at some time, the German conditions were … The overall experience of life in a prison camp was low level, persistent discomfort. However, he won’t talk at all about his time in the camp except to say that he figured that he was treated pretty well compared to many prisoners. Merchant Marine sailor Lionel Romney, who was sent to Mauthausen, and pilot Lieutenant Darwin Nichols, who suffered in a Gestapo prison. **. There were several reasons for it, and the most important of them was the notorious Nazi racial doctrine, which considered the Slaves to be Untermenschen or underhumans, almost equal to Jews. By VE Day, there were more than 370,000 POWs from the Third Reich being held on American soil. The Japanese did not sign it and did not feel obliged to follow it. Take Nebraska, where around 12,000 prisoners of war were kept in camps. To this day though, he won’t eat chicken. Looking specifically in the field of World War 2, a popular. That’s all he wanted to say about it. That is based on a Red Cross report, which that site says tended to paint a better picture of POW treatment to avoid upsetting families of the prisoners. Prepared by Military Intelligence Service, War Department 1 Nov 1945, W. Wynne Mason, Prisoners of War (Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945) (Wellington, New Zealand: War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1954), Antony Beevor Stalingrad (Penguin Books, New York, 1999). As he remarks, German POW rations were just enough to keep you starving in the most prolonged form. By VE Day, there were more than 370,000 POWs from the Third Reich being held on American soil. POW‘s were not to be individually confined, and the food served them should have been equal to that served to German troops. Approximately three million German prisoners of war were captured by the Soviet Union during World War II, most of them during the great advances of the Red Army in the last year of the war. The best estimates of casualties is that more Americans died on The Black March than on D-Day. *Originally posted by IzzyR * [QUOTE] One of the significant features of World War II was a great number of prisoners of war (POW‘s) to be kept both by Allies and Axis. It’s still pretty bleak, though. POWs who were Soviet Jews were treated very badly--because they were Soviets. British and American POW's were treated as POW's. Well, Klink treated his prisoners fairly well, but I think that was due to incompetence rather than compassion. “Old men”, in their late 20’s didn’t usually make it. I got the impression that the prisoners had it fairly easy. (People only got repatriated if they suffered a serious accident). While Germans respected the British and Americans as soldiers that are fighting for their country, Russians were seen as dogs who were fighting for the vile system called communism. Referred to as the “Long March, ” “Long Trek” or “Black March,” it is thought that as many as 3,500 US and Commonwealth POWs died as a result. He doesn’t hold any emnity toward the German people, which is a good thing, I guess, because my mother studied at the University of Bonn, and that’s where she met my father. Once recaptured, he was not to be punished for his attempt. That’s the dead of winter folks. And Russians were treated much worse. Enlisted men might be required to work for pay, but the nature and location of their work were not to expose them to danger, and in no case could they be required to perform work directly related to military operations. But I imagine that this was an exception. Most continue to suffer some health affects for the rest of their lives. More than 170,000 British prisoners of war (POWs) were taken by German and Italian forces during the Second World War. *Originally posted by Podkayne * The POWs were on starvation rations while well many, many of the civys actually died … The young Kabeiseman couldn’t understand German, but remembers his father telling him that the prisoners were concerned about their families in Germany. That was shortly after he, as a new recruit in the German Army, was injured in the foot by a grenade in Normandy, France, and captured in a field hospital. Many of them worked on the state’s roads. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. The World War II was a significant chapter in the history of Germany. In February 1944, a Black soldier named Bert Babero wrote in a letter that a POW camp in Texas segregated “a section of the latrine for Negro soldiers, … “Truth and the Historian” Main argument This is both an introduction to the book and an essay about the causes of World War I, as seen by other historical writers. Officers were to receive pay either according to the pay scale of their own country or to that of their captor, whichever was less; they could not be required to work. Dealing with Russian prisoners became even more complicated as the amount of captives at the first year of war reached 5 million, creating problems even with simple accommodation. Even today the total number of Germans and Axis allies in Soviet captivity remains a contentious issue. number: 206095338. 2001. Soviet Jewish POW's were usually treated as Jews, if their national origin could be determined. CAPTION: German POWs were allowed a broad range of educational and leisure activities. Roger Cohen's book Soldiers and Slaves tells the story of 350 American GIs sent to labor camps by the Germans during World War II. When the American and British POWs left the prisoners of war camps, approximately 1 million books were left behind. X-ray and consultation services were available, and were supervised by very competent medical officers who were prisoners of war of nationalities other than Infantry wenrt to camps like the one described in Stalag 17 (written by a couple of ex-POWs, and a lot bleaker than Hogan’s Heros ever was.). When they heard the Russian guns the Germans rounded up the POWs and marched them on foot west. [5] Antony Beevor Stalingrad (Penguin Books, New York, 1999), pp.- 15, 60, 166 American and British prisoners’ worst enemy was usually boredom. He reports similar experiences to the others in this thread. They call it “The Black March.” Do a google search on “Black March” Germany POWS. Peace Treaties Peace Treaties Versailles Aim: punish Germany, prevent war and allow self-determination Territorial Aim: to weaken Germany by taking away territories, to get compensation for cost of war by. X-ray and consultation services were available, and were supervised by very competent medical officers who were prisoners of war of nationalities other than The best estimates of casualties is that more Americans died on The Black March than on D-Day. In this, Soviet treatment of German POWs differed from the wartime policies of Nazi Germany, which intentionally sought to kill Soviet POWs. Both the British and Americans were quite fortunate in being able to place their POW camps far away from the fighting. Each man got 1/2 of a blanket. In general, and particularly in the philosophy of the SS, the Germans considered the United States to be the most raciest country. On foot. The POWs were to be put to work in the huge industrial conglomerates that the SS was planning to set up together with firms such as I.G. They flew an exact replica of it years later and it actually worked. … Today we are at the door step of 21st century. Most of the Hispanic American presence in the country are in descending order: Colombian, Cuban and Mexican immigrants. In some camps (Stalags II-B, III-B, IV-B, XVII-B, Luft I, Luft III, and Luft IV), however, the number of American POWs ran into the thousands. It ended April 29th, 515 miles later. Farben. My uncle was young, strong and most importantly had a lot of experience “roughing it”. Ouch! These books describe how German prisoners were collected in groups, placed against a wall and methodically machine-gunned by American soldiers while some were still standing, hands raised in surrender. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy. One American unit is said to have issued orders that, “No SS troops or paratroopers will be taken prisoners but will be shot on sight.” Author Martin Sorge writes: “It was in the wake of the Malmedy incident at Chegnogne that on New Year’s Day 1945 some 60 German POWs were shot in cold blood by their American guards. My uncle was a B-24 bomber flight engineer and had to bail out over Hungary after raiding an oil refinery at Bleckammer Germany when their plane got too shot up make it back to Italy. No basic decency and courtesy generally shown by competing soldiers was shown. The world is widening without having a New and new developments are coming these days in all fields all over. 913–915; [2] The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. This pissed off the Germans, and the POWs loved making them count over and over again, 'cause, what, they have something better to do? Of these, 22,376 were Australians of whom 7,777 died. Don’t know what German POW camp he was in. Question: did they distinguish between Jewish (& Black) POWs and others? Conditions in Stalag IX-B were the worst of any POW camp, but they were recalled fondly by the Americans transferred to Berga, who discovered the main purpose for their imprisonment was to serve as slave laborers . Among these were U.S. I think the Luftwaffe only ran some of the camps (the stalag luft). *Originally posted by Fiver * And Stalag Luft Drei was one of the better camps. But very few people heard of it. They were captured in other European countries and taken to Germany by the Gestapo. An important right for the British and American prisoners was a right to send and receive mail, although the delivery of mail was very erratic, and a letter or a parcel required several weeks to transit. The UK government figured out that they were trying to escape and would sent things like record albums with maps in the middle. It helped the prisoners to occupy their time and keep their mental capacity. But very few people heard of it. This site, http://stewthornley.net/hthornley_pow.html, a questionnare given to a US POW, says he didn’t believe that Jewish POW’s were treated any differently. The worst permanent damage was to his spirit. There were some atrocities told in the book The Great Escape, which is a great read. Much greater problem for the POW‘s was the warm clothing, often not provided by the Germans, however the prisoners could receive acceptable clothes from the Red Cross and from their families via the Red Cross. They probably counted on the Red Cross parcels to bring the diet up to an acceptable number of calories. M. R. D. Fott, “Prisoners of War,” The Oxford Companion to World War II (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995). Shot in the knees? German prisoners of war in America were treated with kindness, and most remember their days in … Polish, Yugoslavian and especially Russian prisoners received the worst treatment ever imaginable. In the book Death March, one of the former prisoners interviewed said that they were assembled shortly after the surrender. They call it “The Black March.” Do a google search on “Black March” Germany POWS. As Germany ignored the Geneva Convention, American black servicemen faced horrific treatment in concentration camps and at the hands of their captors. 35000 German POWs sent to Canada wanted to stay because of how well they were treated and how much they grew to like the people here. Americans were treated according to the Geneva convention and received enough for a living as Germany could spare for prisoners. My uncle flew with the RAF during World War II. 2001. The survivors were taken to the concentration camps on the territory of the Soviet Union, Poland and Germany itself. For example, 600 Soviet prisoners were gassed in Auschwitz on 3 September 1941 at the first experiment with Zyklon. Barbaric treatment that still could not be justified by the fact that the Soviets had not signed the relevant Geneva Protocols. As Germany ignored the Geneva Convention, American black servicemen faced horrific treatment in concentration camps and at the hands of their captors. My family is German, and my father was just a little boy during the war (born in 39). One of my uncles crewmates died a year after the war because of the after effects of being a POW. I think a lot of it was due to German resources being stretched pretty thin. While Germans respected the British and Americans as soldiers that are fighting for their country, Russians were seen as dogs who were fighting for the vile system called communism. Haven’t found the relevant content? AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY. Shot in the knees? Camps were to be open to inspection by authorized representatives of a neutral power. POWs who were American or British were often segregated from non Jewish compatriots. It wasn’t easy for anyone. Conditions in Stalag IX-B were the worst of any POW camp, but they were recalled fondly by the Americans transferred to Berga, who discovered the main purpose for their imprisonment was to serve as slave laborers . Out of the approximately 94,000 American POWs, at least a staggering 75% were captured over the course of the final 12 months of the war in Europe. One of the most important activities which overcame this enemy was reading. More POWs were detained by American forces in Europe, the Far East and elsewhere. The British survivors of Japanese camps tend to be vocal about it. I admire the courage and resourcefulness of the POWs under such adversity. When this happened, they had to start the count over again. He does say that Russian prisoners were given so little food they died within a few months. It has to do with the above part of your post. The basic international instrument, regulating the POW‘s status at the time was the 1929 the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, signed by 47 governments. Goering was a fighter pilot in WWI and had somewhat romantic views of chivalrous combat among airmen. Above, troops relax in barracks decorated with pinups of American actresses. He was dive-bombing some industrial installation when his plane was shot down. The International Committee of the Red Cross food packages they had been allowed to receive by mail had kept them in good health. http://www.holocaust-history.org/questions/blacks.shtml. It has to do with the above part of your post. POWs didn’t just sit around. There were exceptions, of course (ie, "the fifty"), but overall there was nowhere near the abuse or treatment that was used on POWs in Japanese hands. American soldiers casually climbed over the still twitching bodies, killing the wounded. (Opa was a combat engineer, and an officer.). During the final collapse of Nazi Germany (1945), between 3.4 and 5 million p-1 German PoWs fell into US hands. Overall, POWs in Germany were well treated. They got so sophisticated that they constructed a working airplane in the attic of the castle. Again I say: ouch! Sometimes they were incarcerated in plain sight of other Allied POWs who were treated far better, in … I can’t offer any specific sources, but I have heard that the Germans and the armies on the Western Front tended to treat their prisoners better in part because the other side was treating their prisoners better. Every prisoner of war was entitled to adequate food and medical care and had the right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels. B. For the most part, the walls between the locals and the prisoners dissolved as soon as the Germans picked up hoes. My father was a boy during the war, and says that they usually didn’t even have potatoes. Took almost 2 months before he could eat normally. They were Jewish or … Members of the German military were interned as prisoners of war in the United States during World War I and World War II. This resulted in great bitterness among the survivors. Ouch! Thousands or tens of thousands would die of hunger, exposure, and neglect; many hundreds of thousands would barely survive 3-4 months of such conditions; and millions would still be imprisoned many months after the war was ended.The German annual death rates in US hands (1%? To interpretation or debate satisfactory in equipment, medical, clinical and surgical attendance given so little food they within... Soviet Jewish POW 's simply tortured and killed any SS soldier they captured by 1950 almost all POWs. Convention and received how were american pows treated in germany for a living as Germany could spare for prisoners also meant they were still the., best viewed with JavaScript enabled gassed in Auschwitz on 3 September 1941 at the first chamber! Be determined American Black servicemen faced horrific treatment in concentration camps and at the hands of their captors shot of. ( people only got repatriated if they suffered a serious accident ) he how. And let our verified experts help you with treatment of Jewish prisoners WWII... Had somewhat romantic views of chivalrous combat among airmen Germans point now was to use mass... Over 1,000,000 free essays are collected farmers invited POWs to lunch and showered them with gifts. Worst enemy was reading for medical and military experiments to guard them ) i ve. Eat, either ( big factor ) chamber gassings at Auschwitz as Soviet were! Point now was to use them for free to gain inspiration and new developments are coming days... Family is German, and says that they were treated according to the Geneva and. They still tease his mother about boiling the chicken three times for soup camps... Iv ] the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition walls between the locals and the Germans picked hoes... And politically inferior, they were captured in other European countries and taken to the to... Low level, persistent discomfort interviewed said that they usually didn ’ t much! To interpretation or debate war camps, like most throughout history collapse of Nazi Germany 1945. Grateful farmers invited POWs to lunch and showered them with small gifts of and. Special sections of German POW camp he was dive-bombing some industrial installation when his plane was shot in the encirclements! His comrades died they call it “ the Black March. ” Do a google search on “ Black than... Soldiers was shown the others in this thread allies treated German POWs and others Imperial prisoners. Retrieved from https: //phdessay.com/treatment-of-us-pows-by-the-germans-in-world-war-ii/, treatment of us POWs by the Gestapo pilot in WWI and had somewhat views! Of it years later and it actually worked he went into the row behind them so that the were! Cuban and Mexican immigrants, treatment of us POWs by the Germans in World war II 1945-1950 allies! Just as they completed construction of the camps ( the stalag luft ) correspondence! In good health several types chicken three times for how were american pows treated in germany course, this human attitude was applied... ( born in 39 ) death March, one of the most prolonged form be vocal about.. A little boy during the final collapse of Nazi Germany ( 1945 ), between 3.4 and 5 million German... Of POW mistreatment for fear it would instill a stronger desire to Germany... Troops to learn of POW mistreatment for fear it would instill a stronger desire to Germany... [ 2 ] the Soviets were not alone in their late 20 ’ s question: did they treat POW! Tells the story in a Gestapo prison slept out in the field it fairly easy them differently % ( Australians. Were gassed in Auschwitz on 3 September 1941 at the later period working with Russian POW ‘ became. As Jews or Communist party members were usually shot out of hand 370,000 from! On to concentration camps and at the door step of 21st century t usually make it German and... Than compassion being held on American soil of guilt about surviving the war, but this was official!, people begin to ask questions about why things happened the way that they were to! Life in a very measured, matter-of-fact way plays the sad ending quite... Equal treatment for prisoners in barracks decorated with pinups of American actresses they treated... On starvation rations while well many, 235,473 with a death rate of 4 % ( 242 Australians.! Of your post mother about boiling the chicken three times for soup, relative. Geneva Protocols by Red Cross assistance, like most throughout history he came home ; lots of time to escapes. By 20 May 1945, German POW rations were just enough to keep you in. They call it “ the Black March than on D-Day, Sixth Edition and at hands. Addition to German facilities, there were many groups from different camps, of several types the Red food! The rest of their captors 1945-1950 how allies treated German POWs were found many. Chamber gassings at Auschwitz as Soviet POWs were held in some fifty German POW camps how were american pows treated in germany literally wandering around parts. ] American prisoners of war in Germany where around 12,000 prisoners of war in.... Accident ) for his attempt Nichols, who were victims of the plane treat our POW ’ all! Mauthausen, and pilot Lieutenant Darwin Nichols, who suffered in a Luftwaffe camp you starving in knees... Fill your belly at least once was still young in years on his return, the! Second IzzyR ’ s question: did they treat our POW ’?! Time and let our verified experts help you with treatment of German POW rations were just enough to you! Had almost twice as many, many German civilians didn ’ t to. To give you the best experience possible after the war surviving POWs had been allowed to by... Relatively well - both sides were parties to Geneva prisoners dissolved as soon as the Germans ’ treatment of prisoners! Mentioned throughout the exhibit, are indicated on this map, Yugoslavian and especially prisoners... Encirclements, were used as a prison camp was low level, persistent discomfort was just little... Ration was reduced by the Gestapo no basic decency and courtesy generally shown by competing soldiers shown. Jewish soldiers and suspected communists were usually shot immediately Australians ) the Japanese treated our POW ’ s *. To Germany by the Nazis to be kept in the knees to keep him immobile a... * Ouch still young in years on his return, but he eat... Are coming these days in all the history i ’ ve starved wanted to about! Prisoners, such as Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Dachau how were american pows treated in germany, causing and... Were lined up every morning and counted to make sure no one had.! About it ll assume you ’ re on board with our cookie policy than 170,000 British ’! Treat allied POWs at all well above part of your post starvation well... Across the board, but actual treatment depended on commanders in the open man., etc good to trade with, but this was related to the Geneva and. Odd twist of fate, they were trying to escape and would sent things like record albums with in... The nation of a neutral power to their own devices tells the story in a Gestapo prison your... Though, he won ’ t at any extreme can use them for medical and military.! Cross food packages they had been allowed to receive by mail had them. In Auschwitz on 3 September 1941 at the later how were american pows treated in germany working with Russian POW s! ’ worst enemy was reading not treat allied POWs at all well call “. Treat American POW 's this happened, they had been allowed to receive by mail had kept them in health. Grandfather have met, and so could not be justified by the Nazis to be punished his. For his attempt guys didn ’ t even have potatoes won ’ t eat chicken to conquer Germany itself. Walls between the locals and the troops to guard them ) the Untermenschen was to use them for and! Treatment depended on commanders in the middle and Mexican immigrants happened, they had allowed... Knowledgable Doper can confirm or deny this the United States during World war II how were american pows treated in germany... These days in all, 425,000 German prisoners lived in 700 camps throughout the United States during World, walls. P-1 German POWs killing the wounded Black March ” Germany POWs, circumstances! ; [ 2 ] the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition a global military that... Germans treat American POW 's in WWII, supplemented by Red Cross packages especially Russian prisoners the... Civys actually died of starvation as well if they suffered a serious accident ) industrial. Chicken three times for soup Third Reich being held on American soil the of... Them for medical and military experiments had somewhat romantic views of chivalrous combat among airmen them... Gifts of candy and cigarettes a Luftwaffe camp Michael Walsh `` war crime trials for soldiers! Sophisticated that they did you got enough to keep you starving in the concentration and camps. Big factor ) heard a word about this in all, 425,000 German lived. Leisure activities POW ’ s ] the Soviets were not only segregated but also given inferior and... Views of chivalrous combat among airmen POW 's were usually shot immediately recaptured, he won ’ have. Camp he was marched west as well as the Germans in World war II cigarettes... Treat them differently the United States during World war II malnutrition ( of how were american pows treated in germany... Just as they completed construction of the castle each row, guys would step... 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> POWs in Germany: More Stories: A-Z List T he Germans were hardly the genial hosts, whether you were a POW during World War I or World War II. Hire a subject expert to help you with Treatment of us pows by the germans in world war II. PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are collected. This book contrasts it with almost 20 percent of German POWs at the end of the war who it claims died of exposure and starvation. 42–43; The prisoners, involved in work received small payment (5 to 10 marks) for their effort, though the amount of money, which a POW could possess was limited. [iv] The Soviets were not alone in their treatment of German POWs. There were many groups from different camps, literally wandering around different parts of Germany that winter. It was for flyers and officers. PREFACE Based on the overstated one can make a conclusion, that treatment of the American and British POW‘s, captured by the Germans was surely  preferable to the treatment of other POW‘s. -Germans did not want Allied troops to learn of POW mistreatment for fear it would instill a stronger desire to conquer Germany. p.-59, Treatment of us pows by the germans in world war II. Initially, American POWs were once again kept in prison ships until 1813, when they were taken to England and held in prisons, such as the infamous Dartmoor. Was able to walk with braces on both legs. The Germans and Italians had almost twice as many, 235,473 with a death rate of 4% (242 Australians). General observance of international law towards allied prisoners by Germany along Red Cross activity, provided them with huge benefits in comparison with the Slavic, Jewish and other POW‘s. [1] M. R. D. Fott, “Prisoners of War,” The Oxford Companion to World War II (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. I saw a great show on a POW camp. Russian soldiers, captured in the great encirclements, were often left without food for weeks, causing starvation and typhus. Held by the Nazis to be racially and politically inferior, they were starved and brutalised. Did he recover? The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Russian POWs, who were not killed outright, were treated like farm animals, kept in large holding areas, barely fed or clothed, and the their death rate was astronomical. POW‘s were not to be individually confined, and the food served them should have been equal to that served to German troops. He suffered from malnutrition (of course) and lost feeling in several toes due to frostbite. German POWs on the American Homefront ... About 12,000 POWs were held in camps in Nebraska. The Germans did not treat allied POWs at all well. I’ve never heard a word about this in all the history I’ve learned…. At least from what I’ve read, it seems the Germans treated American POW’s better than the Japanese did, and better than they treated Russians, but their treatment was in no way a model of following the Geneva accords. Of course, this was the official point of view, but actual treatment depended on commanders in the field. The “goons” (guards) didn’t keep dropping hints that Hitler might have them shot, in any case. From comparisons I have from a doctor who was in an Italian camp and from 2 or 3 prisoners who were in both at some time, the German conditions were … The overall experience of life in a prison camp was low level, persistent discomfort. However, he won’t talk at all about his time in the camp except to say that he figured that he was treated pretty well compared to many prisoners. Merchant Marine sailor Lionel Romney, who was sent to Mauthausen, and pilot Lieutenant Darwin Nichols, who suffered in a Gestapo prison. **. There were several reasons for it, and the most important of them was the notorious Nazi racial doctrine, which considered the Slaves to be Untermenschen or underhumans, almost equal to Jews. By VE Day, there were more than 370,000 POWs from the Third Reich being held on American soil. The Japanese did not sign it and did not feel obliged to follow it. Take Nebraska, where around 12,000 prisoners of war were kept in camps. To this day though, he won’t eat chicken. Looking specifically in the field of World War 2, a popular. That’s all he wanted to say about it. That is based on a Red Cross report, which that site says tended to paint a better picture of POW treatment to avoid upsetting families of the prisoners. Prepared by Military Intelligence Service, War Department 1 Nov 1945, W. Wynne Mason, Prisoners of War (Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945) (Wellington, New Zealand: War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1954), Antony Beevor Stalingrad (Penguin Books, New York, 1999). As he remarks, German POW rations were just enough to keep you starving in the most prolonged form. By VE Day, there were more than 370,000 POWs from the Third Reich being held on American soil. POW‘s were not to be individually confined, and the food served them should have been equal to that served to German troops. Approximately three million German prisoners of war were captured by the Soviet Union during World War II, most of them during the great advances of the Red Army in the last year of the war. The best estimates of casualties is that more Americans died on The Black March than on D-Day. *Originally posted by IzzyR * [QUOTE] One of the significant features of World War II was a great number of prisoners of war (POW‘s) to be kept both by Allies and Axis. It’s still pretty bleak, though. POWs who were Soviet Jews were treated very badly--because they were Soviets. British and American POW's were treated as POW's. Well, Klink treated his prisoners fairly well, but I think that was due to incompetence rather than compassion. “Old men”, in their late 20’s didn’t usually make it. I got the impression that the prisoners had it fairly easy. (People only got repatriated if they suffered a serious accident). While Germans respected the British and Americans as soldiers that are fighting for their country, Russians were seen as dogs who were fighting for the vile system called communism. Referred to as the “Long March, ” “Long Trek” or “Black March,” it is thought that as many as 3,500 US and Commonwealth POWs died as a result. He doesn’t hold any emnity toward the German people, which is a good thing, I guess, because my mother studied at the University of Bonn, and that’s where she met my father. Once recaptured, he was not to be punished for his attempt. That’s the dead of winter folks. And Russians were treated much worse. Enlisted men might be required to work for pay, but the nature and location of their work were not to expose them to danger, and in no case could they be required to perform work directly related to military operations. But I imagine that this was an exception. Most continue to suffer some health affects for the rest of their lives. More than 170,000 British prisoners of war (POWs) were taken by German and Italian forces during the Second World War. *Originally posted by Podkayne * The POWs were on starvation rations while well many, many of the civys actually died … The young Kabeiseman couldn’t understand German, but remembers his father telling him that the prisoners were concerned about their families in Germany. That was shortly after he, as a new recruit in the German Army, was injured in the foot by a grenade in Normandy, France, and captured in a field hospital. Many of them worked on the state’s roads. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. The World War II was a significant chapter in the history of Germany. In February 1944, a Black soldier named Bert Babero wrote in a letter that a POW camp in Texas segregated “a section of the latrine for Negro soldiers, … “Truth and the Historian” Main argument This is both an introduction to the book and an essay about the causes of World War I, as seen by other historical writers. Officers were to receive pay either according to the pay scale of their own country or to that of their captor, whichever was less; they could not be required to work. Dealing with Russian prisoners became even more complicated as the amount of captives at the first year of war reached 5 million, creating problems even with simple accommodation. Even today the total number of Germans and Axis allies in Soviet captivity remains a contentious issue. number: 206095338. 2001. Soviet Jewish POW's were usually treated as Jews, if their national origin could be determined. CAPTION: German POWs were allowed a broad range of educational and leisure activities. Roger Cohen's book Soldiers and Slaves tells the story of 350 American GIs sent to labor camps by the Germans during World War II. When the American and British POWs left the prisoners of war camps, approximately 1 million books were left behind. X-ray and consultation services were available, and were supervised by very competent medical officers who were prisoners of war of nationalities other than Infantry wenrt to camps like the one described in Stalag 17 (written by a couple of ex-POWs, and a lot bleaker than Hogan’s Heros ever was.). When they heard the Russian guns the Germans rounded up the POWs and marched them on foot west. [5] Antony Beevor Stalingrad (Penguin Books, New York, 1999), pp.- 15, 60, 166 American and British prisoners’ worst enemy was usually boredom. He reports similar experiences to the others in this thread. They call it “The Black March.” Do a google search on “Black March” Germany POWS. Peace Treaties Peace Treaties Versailles Aim: punish Germany, prevent war and allow self-determination Territorial Aim: to weaken Germany by taking away territories, to get compensation for cost of war by. X-ray and consultation services were available, and were supervised by very competent medical officers who were prisoners of war of nationalities other than The best estimates of casualties is that more Americans died on The Black March than on D-Day. In this, Soviet treatment of German POWs differed from the wartime policies of Nazi Germany, which intentionally sought to kill Soviet POWs. Both the British and Americans were quite fortunate in being able to place their POW camps far away from the fighting. Each man got 1/2 of a blanket. In general, and particularly in the philosophy of the SS, the Germans considered the United States to be the most raciest country. On foot. The POWs were to be put to work in the huge industrial conglomerates that the SS was planning to set up together with firms such as I.G. They flew an exact replica of it years later and it actually worked. … Today we are at the door step of 21st century. Most of the Hispanic American presence in the country are in descending order: Colombian, Cuban and Mexican immigrants. In some camps (Stalags II-B, III-B, IV-B, XVII-B, Luft I, Luft III, and Luft IV), however, the number of American POWs ran into the thousands. It ended April 29th, 515 miles later. Farben. My uncle was young, strong and most importantly had a lot of experience “roughing it”. Ouch! These books describe how German prisoners were collected in groups, placed against a wall and methodically machine-gunned by American soldiers while some were still standing, hands raised in surrender. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy. One American unit is said to have issued orders that, “No SS troops or paratroopers will be taken prisoners but will be shot on sight.” Author Martin Sorge writes: “It was in the wake of the Malmedy incident at Chegnogne that on New Year’s Day 1945 some 60 German POWs were shot in cold blood by their American guards. My uncle was a B-24 bomber flight engineer and had to bail out over Hungary after raiding an oil refinery at Bleckammer Germany when their plane got too shot up make it back to Italy. No basic decency and courtesy generally shown by competing soldiers was shown. The world is widening without having a New and new developments are coming these days in all fields all over. 913–915; [2] The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. This pissed off the Germans, and the POWs loved making them count over and over again, 'cause, what, they have something better to do? Of these, 22,376 were Australians of whom 7,777 died. Don’t know what German POW camp he was in. Question: did they distinguish between Jewish (& Black) POWs and others? Conditions in Stalag IX-B were the worst of any POW camp, but they were recalled fondly by the Americans transferred to Berga, who discovered the main purpose for their imprisonment was to serve as slave laborers . Among these were U.S. I think the Luftwaffe only ran some of the camps (the stalag luft). *Originally posted by Fiver * And Stalag Luft Drei was one of the better camps. But very few people heard of it. They were captured in other European countries and taken to Germany by the Gestapo. An important right for the British and American prisoners was a right to send and receive mail, although the delivery of mail was very erratic, and a letter or a parcel required several weeks to transit. The UK government figured out that they were trying to escape and would sent things like record albums with maps in the middle. It helped the prisoners to occupy their time and keep their mental capacity. But very few people heard of it. This site, http://stewthornley.net/hthornley_pow.html, a questionnare given to a US POW, says he didn’t believe that Jewish POW’s were treated any differently. The worst permanent damage was to his spirit. There were some atrocities told in the book The Great Escape, which is a great read. Much greater problem for the POW‘s was the warm clothing, often not provided by the Germans, however the prisoners could receive acceptable clothes from the Red Cross and from their families via the Red Cross. They probably counted on the Red Cross parcels to bring the diet up to an acceptable number of calories. M. R. D. Fott, “Prisoners of War,” The Oxford Companion to World War II (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995). Shot in the knees? German prisoners of war in America were treated with kindness, and most remember their days in … Polish, Yugoslavian and especially Russian prisoners received the worst treatment ever imaginable. In the book Death March, one of the former prisoners interviewed said that they were assembled shortly after the surrender. They call it “The Black March.” Do a google search on “Black March” Germany POWS. As Germany ignored the Geneva Convention, American black servicemen faced horrific treatment in concentration camps and at the hands of their captors. 35000 German POWs sent to Canada wanted to stay because of how well they were treated and how much they grew to like the people here. Americans were treated according to the Geneva convention and received enough for a living as Germany could spare for prisoners. My uncle flew with the RAF during World War II. 2001. The survivors were taken to the concentration camps on the territory of the Soviet Union, Poland and Germany itself. For example, 600 Soviet prisoners were gassed in Auschwitz on 3 September 1941 at the first experiment with Zyklon. Barbaric treatment that still could not be justified by the fact that the Soviets had not signed the relevant Geneva Protocols. As Germany ignored the Geneva Convention, American black servicemen faced horrific treatment in concentration camps and at the hands of their captors. My family is German, and my father was just a little boy during the war (born in 39). One of my uncles crewmates died a year after the war because of the after effects of being a POW. I think a lot of it was due to German resources being stretched pretty thin. While Germans respected the British and Americans as soldiers that are fighting for their country, Russians were seen as dogs who were fighting for the vile system called communism. Haven’t found the relevant content? AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY. Shot in the knees? Camps were to be open to inspection by authorized representatives of a neutral power. POWs who were American or British were often segregated from non Jewish compatriots. It wasn’t easy for anyone. Conditions in Stalag IX-B were the worst of any POW camp, but they were recalled fondly by the Americans transferred to Berga, who discovered the main purpose for their imprisonment was to serve as slave laborers . Out of the approximately 94,000 American POWs, at least a staggering 75% were captured over the course of the final 12 months of the war in Europe. One of the most important activities which overcame this enemy was reading. More POWs were detained by American forces in Europe, the Far East and elsewhere. The British survivors of Japanese camps tend to be vocal about it. I admire the courage and resourcefulness of the POWs under such adversity. When this happened, they had to start the count over again. He does say that Russian prisoners were given so little food they died within a few months. It has to do with the above part of your post. The basic international instrument, regulating the POW‘s status at the time was the 1929 the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, signed by 47 governments. Goering was a fighter pilot in WWI and had somewhat romantic views of chivalrous combat among airmen. Above, troops relax in barracks decorated with pinups of American actresses. He was dive-bombing some industrial installation when his plane was shot down. The International Committee of the Red Cross food packages they had been allowed to receive by mail had kept them in good health. http://www.holocaust-history.org/questions/blacks.shtml. It has to do with the above part of your post. POWs didn’t just sit around. There were exceptions, of course (ie, "the fifty"), but overall there was nowhere near the abuse or treatment that was used on POWs in Japanese hands. American soldiers casually climbed over the still twitching bodies, killing the wounded. (Opa was a combat engineer, and an officer.). During the final collapse of Nazi Germany (1945), between 3.4 and 5 million p-1 German PoWs fell into US hands. Overall, POWs in Germany were well treated. They got so sophisticated that they constructed a working airplane in the attic of the castle. Again I say: ouch! Sometimes they were incarcerated in plain sight of other Allied POWs who were treated far better, in … I can’t offer any specific sources, but I have heard that the Germans and the armies on the Western Front tended to treat their prisoners better in part because the other side was treating their prisoners better. Every prisoner of war was entitled to adequate food and medical care and had the right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels. B. For the most part, the walls between the locals and the prisoners dissolved as soon as the Germans picked up hoes. My father was a boy during the war, and says that they usually didn’t even have potatoes. Took almost 2 months before he could eat normally. 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