Confronting Captivity: Britain and the United States and Their POWs in Nazi GermanyHow was it possible that almost all of the nearly 300,000 British and American troops who fell into German hands during World War II survived captivity in German POW camps and returned home almost as soon as the war ended? In Confronting Captivity, Arieh J. Kochavi offers a behind-the-scenes look at the living conditions in Nazi camps and traces the actions the British and American governments took--and didn't take--to ensure the safety of their captured soldiers. Concern in London and Washington about the safety of these POWs was mitigated by the recognition that the Nazi leadership tended to adhere to the Geneva Convention when it came to British and U.S. prisoners. Following the invasion of Normandy, however, Allied apprehension over the safety of POWs turned into anxiety for their very lives. Yet Britain and the United States took the calculated risk of counting on a swift conclusion to the war as the Soviets approached Germany from the east. Ultimately, Kochavi argues, it was more likely that the lives of British and American POWs were spared because of their race rather than any actions their governments took on their behalf. |
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
PART II REPATRIATION | 103 |
PART III THE FINAL STAGE OF THE WAR | 169 |
PART IV LIBERATED BY THE SOVIETS | 223 |
Conclusion | 280 |
Notes | 287 |
349 | |
365 | |
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Common terms and phrases
accepted According agreed agreement Allied allowed already American pows Army asked August authorities Berlin Bern Britain British pows camps captivity chap Chiefs Churchill civilians Command Commons concern continued Deane December Department escape exchange February forces Foreign further Geneva Convention German government German pows given hands held hospital House Ibid interned issue Italy January July June liberated London Major March meeting memorandum military minister months Moscow NACP negotiations November October officers operation parcels personnel Poland possible pow camps Prisoners of War proposal protected question reached received Records Red Cross regard repatriation Russians secretary sent September seriously sick soldiers Soviet Soviet citizens Staff Stalag Stalag Luft Subject suggested supplies Swiss taken thought tion told treatment troops United wanted Washington weeks World wounded