Canadian Relief Agencies and Prisoners of War, 1939-45

Abstract

During the Second World War, hundreds of organizations were created in Canada to provide amenities to prisoners of war. So the relief effort could proceed efficiently, the government attempted to coordinate the activities of the three main organizations, the Canadian Red Cross Society, the War Prisoners’ Aid of the YMCA and the Canadian pow Relatives Association, but this endeavour was frustrated by the desire of each to control the aid programme. The result was ill-will, dissension and unnecessary work for leading philanthropists and the bureaucrats who dealt with them. Unaffected by this confusion was the most famous part of Canada’s effort in aid of rows, the provision of Red Cross food parcels. This campaign was a complete success and remains the symbol of Canada’s concern for Allied prisoners of war.