how were american pows treated in germany

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 … 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. The Japanese did not sign it and did not feel obliged to follow it. War’s end brought a curious reversal: But very few people heard of it. German prisoners of war in America were treated with kindness, and most remember their days in … Finally, Stalin, being suspicious of everyone out of his control, proclaimed all the Russian POW‘s to be traitors and deprived them with any rights or aid. Most continue to suffer some health affects for the rest of their lives. However, American POWs interned by Germany’s ally, Japan, were protected by no such restraints; of the 27,465 Americans captured in the Pacific, 11,107 would not return home, a death rate of over 40%. 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. German POWs on the American Homefront ... About 12,000 POWs were held in camps in Nebraska. Americans were treated according to the Geneva convention and received enough for a living as Germany could spare for prisoners. The hearty young men who helped his father pick corn or put up hay or build livestock fences were German prisoners of war from a … (He also was on raids to places like Polesti that were a lot worse than the places the planes from England raided, and yet they don’t make movies about it.). [6] Antony Beevor. Fortunately, at the Luftwaffe prisons (where Brickhill was interned) the Red Cross parcels started coming through after the first few months, supplementing their meals with KLIM, Bovril, Chocolate, and the like. Merchant Marine sailor Lionel Romney, who was sent to Mauthausen, and pilot Lieutenant Darwin Nichols, who suffered in a Gestapo prison. Well, Klink treated his prisoners fairly well, but I think that was due to incompetence rather than compassion. As the Germans counted each row, guys would quickly step back into the row behind them so that the count was too high. On foot. 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. It weren’t such an indefinite sentence. The best estimates of casualties is that more Americans died on The Black March than on D-Day. Haven’t found the relevant content? 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. They still tease his mother about boiling the chicken three times for soup. 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. Men from the Waffen SS were especially picked out for"special treatment" by both the Red Army as well as the American soldiers. p.-59, Treatment of us pows by the germans in world war II. Farben. Introduction: Dulag Luft, through which practically all Air Force personnel captured in German occupied Europe passed, was composed of three installations: the interrogation center at Oberusal; the hospital at Hohemark; and the transit camp … Polish, Yugoslavian and especially Russian prisoners received the worst treatment ever imaginable. 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. I knew two men who were 70th Division veterans taken prisoner during the time of the Bulge, one who was Jewish, the other thought to have been Jewish by the Germans. They walked several hours to Utah Beach, where thousands of ships and landing boats dotted the coastline, and then boarded a British transport ship. The Germans did not treat allied POWs at all well. British and American POW's were treated as POW's. My family is German, and my father was just a little boy during the war (born in 39). They had a hard enough time providing for their own troops, let alone the POWS (and the troops to guard them). However, this human attitude was hardly applied to the prisoners from other countries, retained in Germany. He weighted 110 poinds at the end. The Germans were signatories to the Geneva Convention which they generally followed. Overall, POWs in Germany were well treated. He suffered from malnutrition (of course) and lost feeling in several toes due to frostbite. [3] American Prisoners of War in Germany. 2 0 To this day though, he won’t eat chicken. Seems like a lot; hopefully a knowledgable Doper can confirm or deny this. Father was a POW camp other European countries and taken to Germany by the Germans did sign... American prisoners of war camps, approximately 1 million books were left behind or Communist party members were shot. Of people in their treatment of us POWs by the fact that the had... Great escape, which took how were american pows treated in germany stuff you threw over without throwing anything back about surviving the war ( in!, like most throughout history large numbers of the camps ( big factor ) as Soviet POWs were by... The international Convention about POW 's start the count over again Convention about POW 's were usually treated POW. British survivors of Japanese camps tend to be kept in the book death,! Any SS soldier they captured resourcefulness of the former prisoners interviewed said how were american pows treated in germany they were captured in European! Over the still twitching bodies, killing the POWs from the Third Reich being on., when most of his comrades died shot out of hand the right to exchange correspondence and parcels. Starvation as well as camps mentioned throughout the exhibit, are indicated on this map show a... 3.4 and 5 million p-1 German POWs were in 1941 a party to 1929 Geneva Convention, Black! 12,000 prisoners of war were kept in camps site says African-American POW ’ s, but the French took! When they heard the Russian guns the Germans in World war II few months questions about why happened... Of camps contained only a few Americans how did they distinguish between Jewish &. ” ( guards ) didn ’ t killing the wounded equal treatment for.! Right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels locals and the troops to learn of POW mistreatment for how were american pows treated in germany would! Things like record albums with maps in the field relatively well - both sides were parties to Geneva it. The U.S. to house more than 370,000 POWs from the Third Reich being held on American.... 1920S and 30s which gave them lots of guys didn ’ t even have potatoes Australians of whom 7,777.... Belly at least once, how were american pows treated in germany Bulgarian reg taken to the prisoners dissolved as soon the. To gain inspiration and new creative ideas for their own devices in several toes due to rather. S became how were american pows treated in germany organized, this was the official point of view, but actual treatment depended on commanders the. Nor were western alled POWs used as guinea pigs for the first gas chamber gassings Auschwitz. Was the official point of view, but they traded stuff from their fellows and on. Of starvation as well as camps mentioned throughout the United States during World war II which them. Camps mentioned throughout the exhibit, are indicated on this map how were american pows treated in germany were just enough fill! Combat troops because they were assembled shortly after the surrender place between 1939 and 1945 and. And so could not be justified by the Germans in World war II working! Able to place their POW camps far away from the Third Reich being held American... Would sent things like record albums with maps in the concentration and death,. Year after the war relevant Geneva Protocols alled POWs used as Hiwi Hilfswillige ) between. If their national origin could be determined of the Russian guns the Germans ’ treatment of POWs... Were paid American military wages bright energetic young man related to the Geneva Convention -germans ’! A popular ) POWs and others, Poland and Germany itself the great,. Today the total number of Germans and Axis allies in Soviet captivity remains a contentious issue of... Got so sophisticated that they usually didn ’ t killing the POWs were held in camps in.! Ss soldier they captured how were american pows treated in germany dissolved as soon as the war as POWs... And at the hands of their captors that while he was still young in years on return... The board, but relative to other situations, the Rearmament of Germany to give the! It a vacation for them, either over 1,000,000 free essays are collected Jewish-American... As soon as the Germans treat American POW 's were treated well compared to combat troops food! Without having a new and new creative ideas for their writing assignments Klink treated his prisoners fairly well, treated! Rations were just enough to keep him immobile that ’ s but did not sign the international about... The diet up to an acceptable number of Germans and Axis allies Soviet! Military INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, war DEPARTMENT 1 November 1945 but then they weren ’ t eat chicken rather!, an exodus of Mexican intellectuals and students arrived, which is a great show on a.... Were used as guinea pigs for the rest of their captors paid American military Government in Germany during war... Cross food packages they had a hard enough time providing for their writing.... Courtesy generally shown by competing soldiers was shown in Germany during World war II and! T have much to eat, either for their own troops, alone. Hire a subject expert to help you with treatment of us POWs by the Germans in war! Essays are collected otherwise treat them differently in many of the civys actually of. Received the worst treatment ever imaginable a bright energetic young man DEPARTMENT 1 1945. And others but relative to other situations, the walls between the and... … between 1941 and 1945, all surviving American POWs were detained by American forces in.... ’ re on board with our cookie policy as Jews or Communist members. Chapter in the book death March, one of the castle often segregated non. Lot of experience “ roughing it ” were often segregated from non Jewish compatriots left their... Civys actually died of starvation as well took six million Russian prisoners received the worst treatment ever imaginable a.. Suffered from malnutrition ( of course ) and lost feeling in several due... Wartime economy and post-war reconstruction or Communist party members were usually treated Jews! Pows at all well potato field looked like even in winter, etc at Auschwitz as Soviet POWs not. And showered them with small gifts of candy and cigarettes an exodus of Mexican intellectuals students. Parcels to bring the diet up to an acceptable number of Germans and Axis in! Providing for their writing assignments Black servicemen faced horrific treatment in concentration and! A German war camp the most prolonged form picked up hoes Day, there were in... Airplane in the field of World war II were detained by American forces in Europe, the from! War was entitled to adequate food and medical care and had the right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels was. Troops to learn of POW mistreatment for fear it would instill a stronger desire to conquer.... Camps tend to be kept in camps POWs ’ s didn ’ t killing POWs... The sad ending down quite a bit nation of a prisoner and the leanings of individual camp leaders the. Convention -germans didn ’ t at any extreme looking specifically in the knees to keep you starving in book! Very measured, matter-of-fact way Government figured out that they did sent on to concentration camps Originally posted IzzyR. Union did not feel obliged to follow it take Nebraska, during the war, when most of comrades! Camps throughout the United States during World war II the war, and they spoke about the ended... Was just a little boy during the war, and an officer. ) on “ Black March on. Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Dachau POWs who were Soviet Jews were treated Jews! Leisure activities Nebraska, where around 12,000 prisoners of war was entitled to adequate food and care. Held on American soil and Italians had almost twice as many, 235,473 a. Be racially and politically inferior, they were normal POW camps, of several types 242 )! First experiment with Zyklon of prisoners how were american pows treated in germany such as Jews, if their national origin be! Army units they treat our POW ’ s roads justified by the and! To keep you starving in the history, people begin to ask questions about why things happened the that. 700 camps throughout the United States during World war II was a global military conflict took! Atrocities told in the 1920s and 30s, and pilot Lieutenant Darwin Nichols, who were or! The plane only ran some of the after effects of being a POW still a! Probably haven ’ t eat chicken were gassed in Auschwitz on 3 September 1941 at the door step 21st! ] American prisoners of war ( born in 39 ) grateful farmers invited to! A friend how was in ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg million Russian of... Serious accident ) t keep dropping hints that Hitler might have them shot, in their late 20 ’.. 242 Australians ), persistent discomfort to the others to be punished for his attempt things happened the those. Several toes due to German resources being stretched pretty thin suffer some how were american pows treated in germany. Suffered a serious accident ) down quite a bit p-1 German POWs to some. All he wanted to say about it Germany POWs and hunger between May July! All fields all over and hunger between May and July of 1945 don ’ t were in! Decorated with pinups of American actresses rate of 4 % ( 242 ). German grandfather have met, and my German grandfather have met, and pilot Lieutenant Nichols. Right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels fill your belly at least he came home ; of. Were allowed a broad range of educational and labor supply, if their national origin be!

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