Australia also interned people from more than 30 countries, including Finland, Hungary, Portugal and Russia. There were no secret police such as the Gestapo or Kempi Tai, but they also understood that because Australia was such a vast island nation, there was nowhere to go. Only death would wipe away the shame of being captured, the disgrace to their parents, to the Emperor and to Japan. 755-822. During World War II, internees were mainly German, Italian and Japanese. A notable early exception is the section of the official history of Australia's participation in World War II by A.E. Both the Sydney and the Kormoran crews fought a fierce battle with bravery and tenacity, but the loss of the 645 Australian crew was not the worst in Australian maritime history. Australian POWs in Germany POWs taking a break from a forced march near The River Naab The German prison camps (more properly known as "Stalags") first became a holding place for Australian POWs in 1941 when battles were won in North Africa, Italy and Greece. A prisoner of war (POW) is a non-combatant—whether a military member, an irregular military fighter, or a civilian—who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict.The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Casualty information compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel J M Williams, Australian Army Medical Corps, of Australian prisoners of war, Burma - Thailand and Japan, including section on 2/2 Pioneer Battalion. This is partly because only a minority of Australians actually endured captivity in the First World War. This account details some of their experiences in POW camps in Australia. German prisoners captured by the Red Army suffered greatly; approximately 91,000 were captured at end of Battle of Stalingrad but few returned home, being sent instead for work in labour camps. Officers and men were held in separate camps – Oflags and Stalags. All of us weak and suffering from diarrhoea, many with bleeding bowels and no sanitary arrangements whatsoever. Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. We hold the following records of World War II service: Personnel service records for the Second Australian Imperial Force 1939-47 (Series B883). The Committee strongly believes there is a need for all involved in the Sydney debate to move beyond animosity and antagonism and find common ground. All rights reserved. He lived in Hamburg, where he and his wife were often visited by former crew members until his death in 1976. Twenty had been killed in the battle and the remainder had drowned due to rough seas and overcrowding in the first life raft. First published: Wednesday 16 March 2016 4:06PM By: Amanda Smith. If you are trying to establish whether someone was a British or Commonwealth prisoner of war held in Germany or a German-occupied territory, it may save time to start by consulting the following published sources, all held at our library in Kew. World War 2 prisoner of war records now available to read online Britons represent the largest number in the collection, followed by Dutch, Americans and Australians mirror The Australian Government took its Geneva Convention obligations seriously, so much so that both German and Italian ex-prisoners were unanimous in their praise of the generally humane treatment they received from the military authorities. The decision to intern someone was sometimes based purely on that person’s family or occupation. Another described the ordeal: A week in cattle trucks in the height of sweltering summer … No seats or other amenities. They included 7,115 Australian soldiers captured in North Africa or Greece; 1,476 airmen, mostly bomber aircrew shot down over Germany in 1943–45; and a few sailors. Australia was the only country in the world to issue airmail postage for the exclusive use of POWs and internees. About 400,000 Axis prisoners of war captured during World War II were dispatched to 500 camps around the United States. In March 1999, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia published a 192 page report by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade called: Report on the Loss of HMAS Sydney. Perhaps some of his crew may have also noticed the real Straat Malakka berthed opposite. He may have looked out the porthole, noticed the ship moored at the pier opposite and wondered about the fickleness of fate. Frank Macdonough. Detmers had teamed up with Oberstleutnant Helmut Bertram and initially the pair made good progress considering Detmers was twice as old as the other escapees. Except for some German troops clustered in the guard vans no sign of life could be seen. He may have simply been a victim of a well-thought out ruse. Many Minnesotans are unfamiliar with this episode in history. About 8,000 Australians became prisoners of war of the Germans and Italians in the Second World War. It was a constant problem for the military and civilian authorities. The six boats landed 266 men of Kormoran’s complement. Those captured in Greece in 1941 endured long stays in unhealthy, temporary camps in Greece before facing a long rail journey across occupied Europe. However, the number of soldiers imprisoned reached a little over seven million for all the belligerents, of whom around 2,400,000 were held by Germany.. Historians and relatives can now search through rare and important World War II records, as more than 20,000 Australian Prisoners of War records are published online for the first time. In the North Africa campaign: 1,941 Australians were captured. In the later years of the war, Germans and Italians were also interned on the basis of nationality, particularly those living in the north of Australia. West Essendon. 755-822. Detmers was one of the escapees. In World War 2 37 000 Australians became prisoners of war (POW's) including over 22 000 servicemen and about 40 nurses within different campaigns. World War II Early phase of the war. In actual fact the trains carried thousands of men, mostly Australian prisoners of war. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia [Joint Standing Committee].1999. IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII . They were all sent to a POW camp at Murchison in north western country Victoria, where they spent their first Christmas and New Year behind barbed wire. The life and times of these German internees would have remained a story untold if it were not for Bavarian photographer Paul Dubotzki. Canberra. Airmen floated into captivity by parachute, especially during the height of the bomber offensive in 1943 and 1944. If only. The Germans quickly realised that if they escaped they were not going to be lined up against a wall and shot. IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII . They were held in a network of POW … Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. One way the Government sought to ease the tension in the camps was the formal agreement reached in 1943 between the belligerent countries to allow POWs to send airmail letters. German prisoners captured by the Red Army suffered greatly; approximately 91,000 were captured at end of Battle of Stalingrad but few returned home, being sent instead for work in labour camps. Allied prisoners of war in transit by cattle truck from Italy to Germany. Of these, 22,376 were Australians of whom 7,777 died. He had also been awarded the Knights Cross in addition to his Iron Cross First Class. Australian and British prisoners captured during the Battle of Fleurbaix during 19 July 1916 and 20 July 1916 being escorted through the city streets. Escape plans began to hatch. More than 4,070 Australians spent the war as prisoners. In World War 2 37 000 Australians became prisoners of war (POW's) including over 22 000 servicemen and about 40 nurses within different campaigns. My grandfather was a POW of Japan, in the Dutch East Indies (present day Indonesia). They included airmen and soldiers of the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions. 10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day), Get your ticket to visit: awm.gov.au/visit, Copyright In 1941 the British government funded the transfer of a group of prisoners from the Middle East. Palestine 3… The officers were transferred to the ‘officers only’ camp at a homestead property at Dhurringile, about 10 miles from the Murchison camp, which had been converted into a detention camp. The Loveday Internment Camp accommodated German, Italian and Japanese internees, gathered from all over Australia. The National Archives of Australia publication: The Sinking of HMAS Sydney; Prisoners of War, 1999. This podcast series examines Australia’s Naval history, featuring a variety of naval history experts from the Naval Studies Group and elsewhere. They included 7,115 Australian soldiers captured in North Africa or Greece; 1,476 airmen, mostly bomber aircrew shot down over Germany in 1943–45; and a few sailors. He had been under a lot of strain running the camp, he smoked too much and the physical effort of the escape had taken its toll on his health. Most of the prisoners died due to disease or being executed. Many were captured twice: taken to Germany after Italy’s surrender. The Gallipoli campaign saw the first of 217 Australians captured by Ottoman [Turkish] forces. In early May 1945, American and German soldiers fought together against the Nazi SS to free prominent French prisoners of war. At the end of war, POWs are usually repatriated swiftly , which was relatively straightforward for Allied POWs in Germany. British Commonwealth troops surrendering to German paratroops on Crete, May 1941. During the day, two more boats were observed. In May of 1941, the Germans invaded the Greek island of Crete. During the day, two more boats were observed. It was not … As time moves on, the only remaining witnesses are becoming fewer and fewer, which increases the reality that the mystery may never be solved. Men, women and children came from: 1. Stalag Australia. Even the actual site of the engagement seems to be in doubt among researchers. The return of Aussie POW's to Australia . Nearly a year after the end of World War II, a large number of German prisoners of war (POWs) were still being detained in post-war Britain. Nazi Germany operated around 1,000 Prisoner-of-War camps (German: Kriegsgefangenenlager) during World War II.. Germany was a signatory at the Third Geneva Convention, which established the provisions relative to the treatment of Prisoners of War.. WWII B&W Photo German Prisoners of War Germany Feb 1945 US 9th Army WW2 / 2326. They escaped from working parties using clever ruses, dug tunnels and employed a great amount of ingenuity in their escape efforts but for the most part, none got very far or were at liberty for long. Commonwealth of Australia for permission to use material from their publications. They wanted to be killed. We pay our respects to elders past and present. Detmers had carried out successful trials using the angled torpedo tubes so he certainly had the capability to use them. At the end of war, POWs are usually repatriated swiftly , which was relatively straightforward for Allied POWs in Germany. Detmers carried out his duties as camp leader efficiently and was respected by authorities and prisoners alike but in 1944 something was not right. However it is absolutely essential that both Captain Burnett and Fregattenkapitan Detmers should not be judged too quickly over their respective actions until conclusive proof is established. In all, just over 20 per cent of all Italians resident in Australia were interned. News of the action and the presumed loss of HMAS Sydney were publicly announced in an official statement by the Prime Minister Mr. Curtin on 30 November 1941. When they were eventually recaptured about a week later by two local police, Detmers looked ill. As punishment for his part in the escape, Detmers was sent for a month to the Old Melbourne Gaol, a bluestone relic built by convict labour back in 1842-45. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In 1916, both officers and Other ranks prisoners were transported to Germany within days of capture, but Australians captured in 1917 remained in France for several months working behind German lines. Most of them endured more than three years as prisoners. German, Japanese and Italian prisoners of war were transferred to Queensland following capture overseas. There were a number of Axis prisoner-of-war camps in Italy during World War II.The initials "P.G." Many of those who were captured during WWII endured barbaric conditions and found it difficult on their return to discuss the experience. About 8,000 Australians became prisoners of war of the Germans and Italians in the Second World War. Search the databases using name of unit, name of camp, name of force (such as A Force, Ramsay Force) or name of country (remember that some countries now have a different name – Taiwan was still called Formosa during the war). AE2 – Stoker’s Submarine, Musical Composition by Lieutenant Matthew Klohs RAN. Prisoners were held in over 40 major camps all over Germany, from Lithuania to the Rhine. Field, 'Prisoners of the Germans and the Italians', in Barton Maughan, Tobruk and El Alamein, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1966, pp. Copyright © 2021. Fearing the Germans might attempt to take over the ship, the Kormoran’s lifeboat was taken in tow until they reached the small Western Australian township of Carnarvon. The military authorities killed 183 Japanese while trying to prevent the escape. They did everything they could to destroy the enemy in the best naval tradition, and had succeeded. He carried his jacket like a bag and filled it with apples. The Gallipoli campaign saw the first of 217 Australians captured by Ottoman [Turkish] forces. Australian and British prisoners captured during the Battle of Fleurbaix during 19 July 1916 and 20 July 1916 being escorted through the city streets. In 1942, the American submarine, Sturgeon sank the Japanese ship Montevideo Maru with a loss of 1,050 Australian POWs and internees. They endured cold, hunger and a spirit-crushing boredom. Escape was almost impossible unless they were able to somehow get aboard a neutral ship. Citizen Military Forces personnel service records 1937-47 (Series B884). But, as victims of war, they too experienced hunger, disease and danger, many surviving only through the Red Cross parcels they received. Minister for Defence Personnel* Darren Chester announced that the soldiers, who were all prisoners of war, died while escaping prisoner-of-war camps or … The next of kin had already been informed by personal telegram three days earlier. They included airmen and soldiers of the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions. Related Video . This photograph was picked up by the donor in trenches at Villers Bretonneux (AWM A02239). During World War I, Germans living in Australia made up most internees. Nineteen were taken to hospital, the remainder were distributed between the Fremantle Detention Barracks, Swanbourne Barracks and the internment camp at Harvey, 87 miles south of Perth. WWII Escapers and Evaders; Sketch showing life of British prisoners of war in a German camp during World War Two. NEW SOUTH WALES "Bathurst Internment Camp" at Bathurst Civil Gaol: Camp 6 - Hay Internment and POW Camp: Camp 7 - … Internment camps were established for three reasons – to prevent residents from assisting Australia's enemies, to appease public opinion and to house overseas internees sent to Australia for the duration of the war. From June 1941 the 5,000 Australians captured in Greece, with about 15,000 Allied prisoners, were transported to Germany. The forgotten Australian prisoners of war experimented on by the Nazis. After the sinking of HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran in 1941, a considerable number of Kriegsmarine survivors were rescued and became prisoners of war. They were eventually freed by the advancing Allies. The Sydney/Kormoran debate still continues to this day, causing deep divisions among various interested parties. Of the Kormoran’s complement of 393 officers and crew, 315 were rescued along with three of the four Chinese taken captive when the raider sank the SS Eurylochus ten months earlier. No matter how well they were treated, there was the sheer frustration of being a POW in a strange country almost on the other side of the world with no news from the Fatherland or their loved ones. Except for the prisoners picked up by the Aquitania, which had continued her voyage to Sydney, and those rescued by the Trocas which proceeded directly to Fremantle, the prisoners were taken to Carnarvon where the preliminary interrogations took place. His grave was kindly looked after by the mother of one of the sailors killed on the Sydney until his reinterment in the German cemetery in the Victorian country town of Tatura, a few miles north of Dhurringile. The juicy apple tasted so delicious. This account details some of their experiences in POW camps in Australia. Prisoner of war camps in which Australians were held. As in the First World War, prisoners shortened the German word for prisoner of war (“Kriegesgefangener”) to “Kriegies”. Here there were already 60 officers from the Luftwaffe and the Army, mostly from Rommel’s Afrika Korps. The bars of their cage could have been made with gold but those bars still prevented their freedom. It allowed for the accommodation of Internees and Prisoners of War (POW's) in Internment Camps. Throughout World War II approximately 8,600 Australians became prisoners of the Germans. Trouble simmered. The following resources are available on the Memorial's website. Australia entered World War II on 3 September 1939, following the government's acceptance of the United Kingdom's declaration of war on Nazi Germany.Australia later entered into a state of war with other members of the Axis powers, including the Kingdom of Italy on 11 June 1940, and the Empire of Japan on 9 December 1941. In the Middle East campaigns of 1941-42, 7,116 AIF officers and men were taken prisoner. Most were captured in a string of defeats in France, North Africa and the Balkans between 1940 and 1942. wwiiphotos . The following day a RAAF aircraft reported sighting two boats 70 miles NNW of Carnarvon, followed by a third boat. I so appreciated that apple and his unusual compassion.” ― Omanson, Oliver, Prisoner of War Number 21860: The World War II … The truth is becoming harder to find. Detmers was transferred to a military hospital in Melbourne where he stayed for three months. When he arrived, the gaol was being used as a military detention centre. During WW2, the internment of enemy aliens in Australia fell under the control of the National Security Act 1939. World War 2 Photos and Collectibles . The Naval Historical Society of Australia. Most remained captive for more than three years. As in the First World War, prisoners shortened the German word for prisoner of war (“Kriegesgefangener”) to “Kriegies”. He became the Camp Leader responsible (in cooperation with the military authorities) for the day to day running of four compounds and the historical Dhurringile mansion where the higher ranking officers and their batmen lived. Compared with the German and especially the Japanese POW camps, the German and Italian prisoners of war were on a holiday. Books: Look especially for published unit histories. Nearly a year after the end of World War II, a large number of German prisoners of war (POWs) were still being detained in post-war Britain. National Archives of Australia. The sketch was passed by the German censor, and shows an eight-sleeper bunk in the camp. The sketch was made in Stalag XXI D in Posen, Poland, by Lieutenant J F Watton of the 4th Border Regiment who was captured near the Somme in June 1940. About 8,600 Australians became prisoners of the Germans. denote Prigione di Guerra (Prison of War), often interchanged with the title Campo (field or military camp). Most remained captive for more than three years. WW2 People's War Homepage ... What if amidst this close quarter fighting you suddenly find yourself a prisoner of the enemy. The situation of World War I prisoners of war in Germany is an aspect of the conflict little covered by historical research. Italian prisoners of war being fed by Austro-Hungarians The situation of World War I prisoners of war in Germany is an aspect of the conflict little covered by historical research. After the war the prisoners of Europe were largely forgotten, overshadowed by the greater tragedy in Asia. The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. 100%. HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites, Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications, Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT, Heritage Tour of Northern End of Garden Island, First Victory, Musical Composition by Petty Officer Musician Martyn Hancock. After the Japanse capitulation (august) he was recovered (november). Twenty-eight Australian World War II soldiers will be posthumously* awarded for their bravery 73 years after the end of the war. Thanks also to Raine Alexander, the Surrey History Centre, and the Australian War Memorial for their preservation of stunning images from WWI and WWII. On 24 November 1941, the British tanker Trocas, bound for Fremantle, reported she had rescued 27 German sailors from a rubber raft 115 miles WNW of Carnarvon. On 11 January 1945 the most successful escape of the camp was carried out from the old Dhurringile mansion by 17 officers and 3 batmen. No further survivors were found at sea but on 27 November at 08.30 the troopship Aquitania reported she had on board 26 German sailors from a rubber raft found off the West Australian coast just a day before the British tanker Trocas reported her rescue. The kind German came to our open train window and handed us each an apple. German Raiders of World War 2. AE1 – The Ship without a Name, Musical Composition by Lieutenant Matthew Klohs RAN. ), Filed Under: Naval Historical Review, WWII operations, History - WW2 Tagged With: Detmers, Prisoner of war, Kormoran, Australian Naval History Podcasts Für Newsletter … After their interrogation the prisoners were transferred to Melbourne, the officers on 13 December aboard the SS Duntroon and the ‘other ranks’ in two groups by train, one on 27 December and the other in early January. Burma Railroad and all, 1942-1945. The latter had a total of 132,134 allied prisoners of whom 35,756 died i.e. Use this login for Shop items, and image, film, sound reproductions, Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war - Prisoners in Germany, Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war. HMAS Sydney deserves no less.‘, (The author is a writer of naval and military history from his own research in Melbourne, who contributes to newspapers and magazines. The Committee received 201 submissions, debated extensively all the issues, tried to reach logical conclusions and sadly, at the end of the last chapter of the report, stated: ‘It is important that information and theories be shared and examined. The Australian Government did attempt to put the debate into some sort of rational perspective and perhaps give some form of closure. No one ‘owns’ the Sydney, or has a monopoly on the truth. But there was also a lighter side of life being played out by a most unlikely bunch, in the most unlikely of places – German prisoners of war held in Australian camps. 2021 Many recaptured POWs told of the locals giving them the Australian ‘fair go‘ or sporting chance, such as being given food and directions and told they have 8 hours before they must be reported or given work on farms. Prisoners of the Germans; Prisoners of the Italians; Prisoners of the Japanese Prisoners of the Italians and Germans. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces. The Raider Kormoran. Bundesarkiv 166/509/39. Because the only accounts of the encounter were, and still are, from the Kormoran’s survivors, it left many with the perception then and in the years that followed that the whole story was not being told. They were taken by rail in closed goods wagons on a journey of up to a week. They had tunnelled from a large crockery room, down to a depth of 14 feet in the sandy soil then out under the compound yard, under the perimeter fence and a good distance beyond the wire, a total length of 120 yards. This ‘compendium’ page is created to provide ManyRoads’ readers with a centralized location to find information, pointers, and links to assist in the search for WW1 & WW2 German War Casualties, Expellees, & Prisoners. The escape sent shock waves throughout the local communities and caused tremendous concern throughout country Victoria, and it was to temporarily stifle escape attempts for the Germans at Camp 13 at Murchison. The Australian War Memorial was voted the number one landmark in Australia by travellers in the 2016 Trip Advisor awards. At the end of World War 2 one- third of the prisoners had died. When history has taken an interest in the Australian POW experience in the Second World War, the focus has been largely on those in Japanese captivity, where suffering was immense and mortality rates high. Australians reached camps in Germany by three routes. The Loss of HMAS Armidale by Dr Kevin Smith, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN. However, the number of soldiers imprisoned reached a little over seven million for all the belligerents, of whom around 2,400,000 were held by … Garden Island, New South Wales, Australia. During World War II, Australia interned about 7000 residents, including more than 1500 British nationals. Prisoners of War 1715-1945 was … It allowed for the accommodation of Internees and Prisoners of War (POW's) in Internment Camps. Come and see why. It was not until the 26th that the boat carrying Fregattenkapitan Detmers was spotted and the occupants were rescued by SS Centaur. Prisoners of the Italians in the Second World War make up less than 10 per cent, while prisoners of the Germans or the Ottoman Turks in the First World War, civilian internees of the world wars and prisoners in Korea make up a tiny percentage. He remained slightly crippled from his stroke and retired from the Kriegsmarine on a pension. Tatura & District Historical Society Inc. Tatura, Victoria, Australia. Life in the camp was going along without too many problems but at some point he must have decided do something different. The forgotten Australian prisoners of war experimented on by the Nazis. Over 1,000 Australians were taken prisoner. William Kimber, London. Historians, researchers, authors and individuals all have their own ideas about what happened on that fatal evening. Imprisonment was somewhat different on the Western Front. He recovered from his illness but returned to Dhurringile partly paralysed and unable to resume his duties as camp leader. Fregattenkapitan Theodore Detmers arrived in Cuxhaven, Germany on February 28, still with his crew. Initially, the local population was apprehensive when the first escapes took place but over a period of time they became more relaxed when they realised the Germans were not going to murder them in their beds. His fellow escapee, Oberstleutnant Bertram, took over the duties of camp leader until the war ended in 1945. Click here: http://geni.us/JansonMediaYT to subscribe to Janson Media and get notified for more videos! The Nominal Roll will indicate if the individual was a prisoner of war.If the serviceman you are interested in died during the war, you will find him on the Memorial's Roll of Honour database. The sketch was made in Stalag XXI D in Posen, Poland, by Lieutenant J F Watton of the 4th Border Regiment who was captured near the Somme in June 1940. About 8,600 Australians became prisoners of the Germans. This number included 7,110 Australian soldiers captured in North Africa and Greece, approximately 1,470 airmen (mostly bomber aircrew shot down over Germany in 1943–45) and a small number of sailors. Some of these contain sections on the experiences of those members of the unit who were taken prisoner-of-war, often with lists of names. On page 202 of his book, Detmers wrote in part, ‘I felt sure I should have to face an enemy [Australian] court martial over the business.‘ It is a proven fact that Detmers did conduct his raider war with chivalry and respect for his enemies, therefore his concern about a court martial may have simply been related to his war conduct as a raider in general. 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