EUROPE: AUSTRALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR
By Xena Dakkak
Australian Prisoners of Germany and Italy in Europe
Germany and Italy became allies on May 22, 1939 therefore they both captured Australians in North Africa and Greece. In total, approximately 8591 Australian soldiers were taken by the Germans. In North Africa, 2115 Australian soldiers that were doing military duties for the commonwealth of the three divisions were detained by the Germans. Also from December 1940 to 1941, Italians detained Australians in North Africa. Whilst in Greece and Crete during May 1941, 5000 Australian soldiers were captured by the Germans. The RAAF Aircrew who had led procedures over Germany had also been taken as POW’s in 1943 to 1945.
The POW’s of the Italians were taken to Italy by ship over the Mediterranean Sea. They experienced harsh conditions for 4 years but some of the Italian prisoner camps were more lenient than others. Finally when Italy surrendered in September 1943, some of the Australian prisoners had ended up escaping the Italian camps however those who were caught were taken to the German camps for a longer time.
Germany and Italy became allies on May 22, 1939 therefore they both captured Australians in North Africa and Greece. In total, approximately 8591 Australian soldiers were taken by the Germans. In North Africa, 2115 Australian soldiers that were doing military duties for the commonwealth of the three divisions were detained by the Germans. Also from December 1940 to 1941, Italians detained Australians in North Africa. Whilst in Greece and Crete during May 1941, 5000 Australian soldiers were captured by the Germans. The RAAF Aircrew who had led procedures over Germany had also been taken as POW’s in 1943 to 1945.
The POW’s of the Italians were taken to Italy by ship over the Mediterranean Sea. They experienced harsh conditions for 4 years but some of the Italian prisoner camps were more lenient than others. Finally when Italy surrendered in September 1943, some of the Australian prisoners had ended up escaping the Italian camps however those who were caught were taken to the German camps for a longer time.
Source 1: "The main gate of Campo 57. About 1,200 Australians were held in this camp."
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02793.002
This source is a primary source, it was a photo taken at Gruppignano, Italy in 1941 in the prisoner of war camps and it shows the main gate. It displays how the camps were well guarded and closed off with high metal fences so that the Australian prisoners wouldn't escape and the camps were watched over by a watch tower with an Italian guard.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02793.002
This source is a primary source, it was a photo taken at Gruppignano, Italy in 1941 in the prisoner of war camps and it shows the main gate. It displays how the camps were well guarded and closed off with high metal fences so that the Australian prisoners wouldn't escape and the camps were watched over by a watch tower with an Italian guard.
The Australian POW’s taken by the Germans, stayed in Greek camps for lengthy periods; the camps were terrible and insanitary. Then they were taken to Germany in June 1941 via an extensive expedition by rail, the soldiers had experienced poor sanitation and injurious health due to the deprived conditions. After approximately a week the POW’s arrived in Germany and were spread across the 40 main prisoner camps and experienced 3 years of life in the prisons.
The experience was unpleasant, the prisoners were malnourished due to the lack of distribution of food in the prisoner camps, and some died of diseases due to lack of proper sanitation because of the bad sewerage. They had to work on fields, fixing rails and as farmers; the men even tried get rid of the monotonous camp experience by creating theatre performances and playing sports.
The experience was unpleasant, the prisoners were malnourished due to the lack of distribution of food in the prisoner camps, and some died of diseases due to lack of proper sanitation because of the bad sewerage. They had to work on fields, fixing rails and as farmers; the men even tried get rid of the monotonous camp experience by creating theatre performances and playing sports.
Source 2: "The main gate of Campo 57. About 1,200 Australians were held in this camp."
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02070.002
This source is a primary source, it was a photo taken at Hohenfels, Germany in 1943 in the prisoner of war camps. This photograph proves that the Australian prisoners in some camps tried to enjoy some of their stay when they had the chance to by playing sports including volleyball, in the foreground of the photo and swimming competitions in the top section of the photo.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02070.002
This source is a primary source, it was a photo taken at Hohenfels, Germany in 1943 in the prisoner of war camps. This photograph proves that the Australian prisoners in some camps tried to enjoy some of their stay when they had the chance to by playing sports including volleyball, in the foreground of the photo and swimming competitions in the top section of the photo.
Allied troops and Russians crossed the German border, but Germany made sure that the Allied troops wouldn’t get the prisoners. On the 5th of October 1944, Russian troops trudged through the Baltic Sea so the Australian prisoners left the Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug prisoner camp and they were put on ships for 3 nights with limited amounts of food and drank only the water of the sea. The conditions were extremely bad as the prisoners felt worn out and ill. They arrived at a railway station 4 kilometres away from the prisoner camp. Then in February 1945 the Australian prisoners were transported to Fallingbostel 500 kilometres by foot. The Second British Army saved the Australian prisoners and they were finally set free on the 16th of April 1945.
Germany surrendered in May 7, 1945 so the European conflict was stopped so Australian soldiers were taken to England and then returned back to Australia. Although some of the Australian soldiers were executed or died because of the bad conditions, due to Nazi ideology the Australians didn’t suffer as much compared to the Jews and Slavs experiences and most of the Australians in the German prisoner camps survived or managed to escape.