The War Had Ended - So Why Were 400,000 German Prisoners Still in Britain?

The War Had Ended - So Why Were 400,000 German Prisoners Still in Britain?

When the Second World War ended in Europe on the 8th of May 1945, millions of people were hoping to be able to return home and start rebuilding their lives. But for thousands of German servicemen being held as prisoners of war in Britain, going home was not an option straight away. In fact, the number of German prisoners in Britain actually continued to rise after the fighting had ended.

By September 1946, approximately 400,000 German prisoners were being held across the country. Many had been transferred from prisoner-of-war camps in the United States and Canada. Rather than being sent directly home, they stayed in captivity, with thousands put to work helping Britain overcome its labour shortages.

Agriculture was one of the areas where their help was needed. Britain still had to feed its population, rationing continued, and farmers were struggling to find enough workers. German prisoners helped with harvesting, looking after livestock and other agricultural jobs. Some lived in established prisoner-of-war camps, others were accommodated in smaller hostels or on farms.

For many British families, having German prisoners working in their fields must have felt rather strange. These were men who had recently been fighting against Britain, but they were now helping to produce the country's food.

Attitudes towards them varied. Some people remained resentful after everything the war had brought, but others gradually came to see the prisoners as individuals, many of whom were longing to return to their families.

Although the prisoners received some payment for their work, it was considerably less than British agricultural workers earned. This became another source of criticism, particularly as their captivity continued long after the fighting had ended.

In December 1946, restrictions on contact with British civilians were relaxed, allowing well-behaved prisoners to accept invitations into private homes with permission. This gave some prisoners the opportunity to spend Christmas with British families rather than in their camps.

One German prisoner, Walter Klemenz, was working on a farm in Kent when the Duke family, who owned the farm, invited him to spend Christmas with them.

As a way of thanking the family Walter made a wooden toy dog for their children, using wood from an old apple crate and scraps of metal.

It shows how relationships could change when people had the opportunity to get to know one another.

Of course, not every prisoner had such an experience. Many were frustrated by the delays in returning home, and the continued use of German prisoners as agricultural workers became a subject of debate in Britain.

Repatriation took place gradually, and by July 1948 the main programme had been completed. Although most prisoners returned to Germany, some were allowed to remain in Britain as civilian agricultural workers. For some, this eventually meant settling permanently in the country where they had once been held captive.

We tend to think of prisoners going home once the fighting was over, but for thousands of Germans held in Britain, it wasn't nearly that simple. 

Did anyone in your family ever talk about German prisoners of war working on British farms? I'd love to hear their stories.

Image info:

German prisoners of war helping with the harvest on a British farm, 1945. Ministry of Information Photo Division / Imperial War Museums (D 26735). Public domain — expired Crown copyright. Via Wikimedia Commons.