![]() The artists in our camp willingly submitted their drawings for us to use, and in so doing significantly increased the value of the book.Īs far as the historical accuracy of this book is concerned, it should be noted that the conditions in the Skipton prisoner-of-war camp were quite reasonable, and that no firm conclusions can be drawn from our experiences about conditions in other camps.Īnd so let this book make its way into the outside world! Let it salute our dear comrades who once spent difficult months and years behind barbed wire, and let it renew old bonds of friendship. ![]() The German administration of the camp provided reports and documents and went to great pains to prepare the manuscript. The book is the result of the collaborative work of many comrades who offered contributions and opened their diaries to us. We also keep in mind the families of our deceased comrades: through this book they may come to know the community in which their loved ones spent their final days. Furthermore, it offers itself as a source for historical research into the war. It is intended to assist all those who wish for some insight into the life of German prisoners of war. For those dear comrades who were forced to share many painful days far from home and behind barbed wire, and who now rejoice again in glorious freedom, it should serve as a reminder of that strange time with all its challenges and diverse experiences. This book, which depicts the life of the German officers and men who were prisoners of war in the English camp at Skipton in Yorkshire, was written during the time of our imprisonment in the camp itself and, with some difficulty, smuggled back to Germany on our return home. From the Signing of the Peace Treaty to our Return HomeĪ series of pictures illustrating ‘box building’ The Creation, Existence and Sad End of the BoxĮ. the Armistice to the Signing of the Peace Treaty From the Start of the German Offensive to the Armisticeĭ. The artist felt that it could not be more fitting than to use this dishonourable symbol brandished on the back of every prisoner as the cover illustration.Ĭ. In order to mark the prisoners of war as such, a circular piece of red or blue cloth was sewn on to each item of uniform. ![]() The English gave any prisoners (initially all NCOs and men, then also officers) who were not in possession of a uniform when they arrived, a colourful assortment of old English peacetime infantry and cavalry uniforms in various shades of black, blue and brown, to use as work clothes. We captives soon will return from the fight,Īnd though unarmed, our armour shines bright With sorrow we trembled, in pain we cried In a sea of blows we could not withstand,Īnd though we are within mountains confined, Originally published in German by Verlag von Ernst Reinhardt, Munich 1920 The story and lives of German prisoners of war in an English campĪ collaboration by many comrades, compiled by
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