Confronting Captivity

Abstract

How was it possible that almost all of the nearly 300,000 British and American troops who fell into German hands during World War II survived captivity in German camps and returned home almost as soon as the war ended? This book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the living conditions in Nazi camps and traces the actions the British and American governments took—and didn't take—to ensure the safety of their captured soldiers. Concern in London and Washington about the safety of these prisoners of war (POWs) was mitigated by the recognition that the Nazi leadership tended to adhere to the Geneva Convention when it came to British and U.S. prisoners. Following the invasion of Normandy, however, Allied apprehension over the safety of POWs turned into anxiety for their very lives. Yet Britain and the United States took the calculated risk of counting on a swift conclusion to the war as the Soviets approached Germany from the east. Ultimately, the book argues, it was more likely that the lives of British and American POWs were spared because of their race rather than any actions their governments took on their behalf.