From Behind the
Wire
The next few pages show a series of photographs from
The First World War. Most are of activities in a prison
camp called - Schweidnitz , near
Schlesien in Germany. (incidentally this is Baron
Manfred von Richthofen's home town who is more commonly
known as The Red Baron)
Your first thoughts when someone mentions POW camps
in Germany would perhaps be of the concentration style
camps of the Second World War.
However The Great War was also known as
the last "Gentlemans War" where death with honour
was the order of the day, which is plain to see in
the photo below.
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This picture was taken in 1918 outside Schweidnitz
POW camp. |
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It is unusual to see photographs of any funeral,
never mind under these circumstances. But the underlying
feeling of that moment is one of remorse and honour
towards a fallen soldier. The German officers only
look out of place because of their uniform.
I have a number of photos from the camp because my
Grandfather was a prisoner there too:-
William McAlpine was aboard SS
Brecknockshire , in 1916, which was torpedoed
in the North Sea two weeks into her voyage from Britain.
After being taken prisoner he then spent a year in
the Schweidnitz POW camp in the East of Germany, before
being transfered to Krefeld POW camp in Western Germany.
Even though the war ended in November 1918, it wasn`t
until February 1919 that my Grandfather finally came
home.
View more photos
and read how the resolve of the prisoners ran to producing
their own magazine.
If you have any similar photographs that you`d like
to share please let us know.
Perhaps you have a relative who knows of the POW
camps mentioned above?
Add your thoughts directly to the site by using the
form below or you can email us at ypam-online@bbc.co.uk
YOUR RESPONSE
I. Hughes - Jan '07
I've just seen this article and would be interested
if anyone has anything at all about life at Schweidnitz
prison. I have a photo of a Henry Brynmor Jones who
was captured in March 22 1918 and eventually found
himself at Schweidnitz. I am in contact indirectly
with his family ands would love to know if anyone
had any info or confirmation as to when Jones arrived
and left there.
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print version
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