What happened to Australian prisoners of war in WW2?
They were imprisoned in camps throughout Japanese-occupied territories in Borneo, Korea, Manchuria, Hainan, Rabaul, Ambon, Singapore, Timor, Java, Thailand, Burma and Vietnam and also Japan itself. At the end of the war only 13,872 of the POWs were recovered: one-third of the prisoners had died.
Where were most Australians captured as prisoners of war in WW2?
Most of the Australians (14,972) were captured in Singapore; other principal Australian prisoner-of-war groups were captured in Java (2,736), Timor (1,137), Ambon (1,075), and New Britain (1,049).
What were the two most famous prisoners of war camps that Australians served?
The movement of Australian prisoners to Japan, Formosa and Korea began in 1942, continued during 1943, and was intensified in 1944 following the completion of the Burma-Thailand Railway. By early 1945 there were nearly 3,000 Australian prisoners of war in Japan.
Where did Australian soldiers served in WW2?
Almost a million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War. They fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as against Japan in south-east Asia and other parts of the Pacific.
What did the Japanese do to the Australian prisoners of war?
The Japanese used many types of physical punishment. Some prisoners were made to hold a heavy stone above their heads for many hours. Others might be forced into small cells with little food or water. Tom Uren described how a young Aboriginal soldier was made to kneel on a piece of bamboo for a number of days.
How were Australian prisoners of war captured?
At the outbreak of war, Germany interned many Australian civilian men of military age in Germany. The Germans captured 3853 Australians in the fighting on the Western Front. Australians were captured as prisoners when undertaking hundreds of small-scale trench raids, patrols, and minor attacks throughout the campaign.
How were Australian POWs captured in ww2?
Over 22,000 Australian servicemen and almost forty nurses were captured by the Japanese. Most were captured early in 1942 when Japanese forces captured Malaya, Singapore, New Britain, and the Netherlands East Indies.
What did the Japanese do to Australian prisoners of war?
Where were Australian prisoners of war in Europe?
Australians in prisoner-of-war camps Those taken over from the Italians reached Germany by rail over the Alps. Prisoners were held in over 40 major camps all over Germany, from Lithuania to the Rhine. Officers and men were held in separate camps – Oflags and Stalags.
How were Australian POWs captured?
How can I get my father’s WWII records?
You can find veterans’ military service records from World War I to the present from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The NPRC houses many types of records, including Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF).
What happened to Australian prisoners of war in WW1?
A third of these Australian prisoners were captured on 11 April 1917 at the First Battle of Bullecourt in northern France. A number of Australian airmen were also shot down and captured by the Germans.
How many POWs were in Australia in WW2?
Australian Prisoners of War 1940-1945 More than 30,000 Australians became prisoners of war (POWs) between 1940 and 1945. The Germans and Italians captured Australians during the Mediterranean and Middle East campaigns, and also at sea in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
How many Australians were captured by the Germans in WW1?
The Germans captured 3853 Australians in the fighting on the Western Front. Australians were captured as prisoners when undertaking hundreds of small-scale trench raids, patrols, and minor attacks throughout the campaign. The largest numbers were captured at: Fromelles between 19 and 20 July 1916 (470 prisoners)
How many Australian soldiers were captured at Gallipoli in 1916?
Australian and British prisoners captured during the Battle of Fleurbaix during 19 July 1916 and 20 July 1916 being escorted through the city streets. This photograph was picked up by the donor in trenches at Villers Bretonneux (AWM A02239). The Gallipoli campaign saw the first of 217 Australians captured by Ottoman [Turkish] forces.