Differences Of Prisoners During World War II

During World War II, many people other than Jews were taken into camps. They called themselves the “Kriegies”(“PBS” 6) or prisoners of war. Most of these camps that these civilians, or soldiers were trapped in, were tormenting and miserable. To be able to survive this war was most difficult, but to be able to survive a prison camp was close to impossible. Many of the prisoners in World War II were taken to camps in or near Germany. These prisoners were “beaten, starved, and worked to death” (“World War 2” 9). The types of prisoners held in Germany ranged from Soviets to Americans. Germany tended to “treat Soviets with extreme brutality and neglect” (“Prisoners of War” 2). Even though Germany had signed the “Geneva Convention” (“Prisoners
The U.S “established its first P.O.W camps on its soil for the first time since the Civil War” (“World War 2 Prisoner” 8). While taking these prisoners, “government officials feared that housing so many prisoners could create security problems and heighten fears among Americans at home” (“World War 2 Prisoner” 9). The overall treatment of the prisoners in America was much better than those in Europe. The prisoners were fed well, and even paid up to “eighty cents a day for their labor” (“Prisoner of War Camps” 9). While in Europe, prisoners were starved, beaten, and worked extremely. In some situations, P.O.Ws recieved better treament than American citizens. During this War, “Americans were subject to rationing of food and other items, while P.O.Ws were provided a steady diet of good food and access to name-brand items” (“World War 2 Prisoners” 10). While holding these prisoners, the Americans remained civilized and less harmful towards the P.O.Ws, rather than the other camps in Europe that used extreme brutality and violent tactics among their prisoners. Also, resulting after the war, “the fair and kind treatment experienced by German and Italian prisoners had a lasting impact on them. After repatriation, many former prisoners returned to the United States to launch professional careers or to renew acquaintances with their former captors” (“World War 2 Prisoners”
There were “Stalags, the most common kind of camps, intended to house air force prisoners” (“World War 2” 3). Marlags, which were for captured naval servicemen. Lastly, there were Dulags, “which were for captured prisoners of war, or civilians that had to pass through transit camps” (World War 2” 3). In the novel ‘The Hiding Place’ the Ten-Boom family is taken from their home into a Dulag for pre-questioning before being sent into an official camp. Many of the people at these transit camps were thoroughly questioned on much of their private life, such as the Ten-Boom family when they were being moved. “Ahead of me in line, Betsie answered, “Unmarried,” for the twentieth time that day. “Number of children?” droned the interrogator.”I’m unmarried,” Betsie repeated. The man did not even look up from his papers. “Number of children!” he snapped. “No children” said Betise resignedly” (“Ten-Boom” 152), this is a small example of what Corrie Ten-Boom and hundreds of thousands of other people had to go through during these camps. Typically then, the prisoners were transported at intervals to various camps. Every camp enclosed all of its prisoners with high walls and barbed wire, which was significant because it was typically used to coral animals, which is what the Jews and prisoners were seen as in the eyes of the Nazis. Prisoners at all of these types of