What happened to British prisoners of war in ww2?
More than 170,000 British prisoners of war (POWs) were taken by German and Italian forces during the Second World War. Most were captured in a string of defeats in France, North Africa and the Balkans between 1940 and 1942. They were held in a network of POW camps stretching from Nazi-occupied Poland to Italy.
Did any British POWs stay in Germany?
In early 1946, the United States chose to repatriate all of the POWs in its camps. The Germans were informed that they were being repatriated to Germany, where they would be set free….Numbers of German POWs in Britain, 1946–1948.
| Year | Month | No. of POWs |
|---|---|---|
| September | 220,000 | |
| December | 155,700 | |
| 1948 | March | 82,800 |
| June | 2,790 |
How many ww2 POWs are still alive?
The estimated number of living POWs decreased from nearly 32,550 to about 29,350, caused mainly by estimated deaths among WW II and Korean POWs.
Did British POWs get paid?
In order to impede any potential escapes, POWs were paid not in British currency but with “camp money”, paper and plastic facsimiles which they earned for undertaking camp labour. However, somewhat inevitably, a thriving alternate industry sprang up.
Why did it take so long to repatriate British prisoners of war?
It also took time to repatriate British prisoners of war (POWs), particularly those the other side of the world in Japan, and even when they arrived home, they needed a recuperation period as conditions in the POW camps had been so bad.
Are there any records relating to WW2 British POWs?
There are numerous records relating to WW2 British and Commonwealth PoWs. They cover all services and the Merchant Navy too. For research purposes these records are filed according to which enemy captured the individual concerned.
What happened to American POWs from WW2?
Most likely, they too were transferred to the American side (repatriation of Americans basically ended by 1950). We are now checking out the documents for that possible version. And we are obtaining more specific information on the existing lists.” “But in the press there are claims about thousands of American POWs from World War II.”
Are there any documents related to POWs during the Revolutionary War?
There are a few items relating to PoWs during the American Revolutionary War and the naval actions of North America. These documents relate to British, German and American officers who were potential candidates for exchange. Lists and accounts of British PoWs in France and in other locations were recorded by the prison staff.