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February 6, 2015

Pictures of Everyday Life at a German Prisoners of War Camp in Britain

In 1939 there were just two Prisoner of war camps in Britain. By the end of the war; there were more than 600. Each camp was given a number and was either a disused building - factory, college, hotel etc, or was a specially constructed building known as a Nissen hut.

The terms of the Geneva Convention stipulated that prisoners of war should not be forced to work while in captivity. However, given the choice, many German prisoners of war chose to work rather than sit around the camp doing nothing. Those that chose to worked on farms - harvesting, digging ditches or repairing fences, in the construction industry - rebuilding homes damaged by bombing, or clearing bomb damage.

There were also activities within the camp such as lectures, concerts and English lessons, football and other sports. The range of alternative activities such as these varied from camp to camp.

German prisoners of war were allocated the same food ration as British servicemen and given access to medical care. However, although they were relatively well looked after many German prisoners of war suffered mentally. They had no information about their families, the state of their country or when they would be released.

At the end of the war. prisoners were subjected to a re-education programme designed to equip them for life in the new Germany. Prisoners were also assessed with regard to continuing loyalty to Nazi ideals. Those that showed continuing loyalty remained in captivity. The first German prisoners of war returned to their homes in 1946, the last in 1949.

German POWs at Glen Mill camp, Oldham, on Christmas Eve 1940.

German Prisoners of War sit at tables to read books, magazines and newspapers in a Nissen hut which is being used as a reading room at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The walls of the hut are covered with photographs and murals.

German Prisoners of War inspect a model of a rehousing scheme they have planned and built for an exhibition on German housing at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945.

A general view of a group of Nissen huts amongst trees at a German Prisoner of War camp, somewhere in Britain. Several PoWs can be seen walking past the huts, 1945.

A German Prisoner of War reads a newspaper in the Nissen hut used as a reading room at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. Behind him, several other men can be seen. The walls of the hut have been decorated with photographs and murals.

Lieutenant Colonel Faulk addresses German Prisoners of War in their recreation hut at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945.

Two German Prisoners of War read the newspaper in the Nissen hut used as a reading room at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The walls of the hut are decorated with photographs, murals and the covers of magazines, such as 'Picture Post'.

A German Prisoner of War conducts as the PoW choir sing in the recreation hut at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The hut appears to be decorated for Christmas: small fir branches are dotted around on the beams of the hut.

German Prisoners of War inspect displays in the information hut at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The man nearest the camera is is looking at a panel explaining the benefits of the English parliamentary system. Part of the curved ceiling for the Nissen hut used to house this exhibition has been decorated with murals.

A group of German Prisoners of War read as they sit around the inside edge of a bell tent at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The large central pole which holds the tent up can be clearly seen.

German Prisoners of War pick swedes in a field near their PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. Two horses can also be seen in the field.

German Prisoners of War mend boots and shoes at their PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. They are working in a Nissen hut which is being used as a cobbler's shop. The back wall of the hut has a mural painted on it.

German Prisoners of War are examined by German doctors as they sit up in their beds in the 'ward' of the camp hospital at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. A fir wreath is suspended from the ceiling of the Nissen hut used which serves as the hospital, indicating that it is probably Christmas-time.

German Prisoners of War mend clothes in the tailor's shop of a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. Suits are hanging up on the right of the photograph. One man is using a sewing machine. The back wall of the Nissen hut used as the tailor's shop has a mural of a submarine drawn on it.

German Prisoners of War listen to a concert given by some of their fellow PoWs, on the stage of the recreation hut at a PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. A Proscenium arch has been added to the stage, and the musicians are flanked by banners with the letters 'PH'. Instruments include guitar, accordion, piano and two violins. The backcloth is decorated with foil stars and the hall is adorned with fir branches, indicating that it is probably Christmas-time.

German Prisoners of War help a farmer to harvest his crop of swedes on a farm near their PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The farmer can be seen guiding his horse-drawn plough through the mud.

A farmer talks to German Prisoners of War who are working for him on his farm near to the PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. The farmer has two horses beside him. The PoWs are wearing rubber 'sleeves' over their boots, to protect their legs and feet from the mud. A third PoW can be seen standing to the left of the farmer.

A general view of a tented PoW camp, somewhere in Britain, 1945. Several German Prisoners of War can be seen walking along the pathways between the tents. In the distance, the Nissen huts of the rest of the camp are just visible.

(Photos via Imperial War Museum)

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