Barbed Wire Disease: British and German Prisoners of War 1914-1919

By the time of the Armistice in 1918, some 6.5 million prisoners of war were held by the belligerents. Little has been written about these prisoners, possibly because the story is not one of unmitigated hardship and cruelty. Nevertheless, hardships did occur and the alleged neglect and ill-treatment of prisoners captured on the Western Front became the subject of major propaganda campaigns in Britain and Germany as the war progressed. 'Barbed Wire Disease' looks at the conditions facing those prisoners and the claims and counter-claims relating to their treatment. At the same time, it sets the story in the wider context of the commitment by both governments to treat prisoners humanely in accordance with the recently agreed Hague and Geneva Conventions. The political and diplomatic efforts to achieve this are examined in detail, and it concludes by examining the failed first-ever efforts to bring war criminals to justice before international tribunals. By the time of the Armistice in 1918, around 6.5 million prisoners of war were held by the belligerents. Little has been written about these prisoners, possibly because the story is not one of unmitigated suffering and cruelty. Nevertheless, hardships did occur and the alleged neglect and ill-treatment of prisoners captured on the Western Front became the subject of major propaganda campaigns in Britain and Germany as the war progressed. "Barbed Wire Disease" looks at the conditions facing those British and German prisoners, and the claims and counter-claims relating to their treatment. At the same time, it sets the story in the wider context of the commitment by both governments to treat prisoners humanely in accordance with the recently agreed Hague and Geneva Conventions. The political and diplomatic efforts to abide by the new rules are examined in detail, along with the use of reprisals against prisoners, Britain's voluntary relief effort and the effect of face-to-face negotiations at the height of the war. This comprehensive analysis, using unpublished official files and cabinet papers, concludes by documenting the first ever efforts to bring war criminals to justice before international tribunals. From the Preface... This study concentrates on British and German prisoners taken on the Western Front, where alleged neglect and ill-treatment became the subject of major propaganda campaigns in both countries. It looks at day-to-day problems as they unfolded and at the more major disputes which were to arise, drawing heavily on published and unpublished official documents, as well as contemporary newspapers and other accounts. This book also identifies many examples of hardship and ill-treatment and some of deliberate physical abuse. But the full story of prisoners in the Great War goes beyond a simple narrative of their experiences and the conditions they faced. That is not to say that these issues are not important, because from the point of view of individual prisoners they are, after all, what really mattered. But such conditions need to be seen against the wider background of the diplomatic, political and military objectives which gave rise to them. This study sets the wider context. None None Civilians: The Innocent Bystanders Applying the Conventions Germany: Problems & Inspections The British Experience Wittenberg, Gardelegen & Typhus From Capture to the Camps Reprisals Parcels, Assistance & Relief Daily Life in Germany Daily Life in the UK Exchanges, Internments & Agreements The Armistice & Repatriation Leipzig: The Aftermath None None None By the time of the Armistice in 1918, some 6.5 million prisoners of war were held by the belligerents. This book looks at the conditions facing those prisoners and the claims and counter-claims relating to their treatment. It sets the story in the wider context of the commitment by both governments to treat prisoners humanely