Grandfather was a Prisoner in Germany in World War1

[Ridgeback]

Hello

My Grandfather was captured by the Germans on the 27 May 1918 and spent some time in the Munsterlager prison.

Attached is a postcard can I assume it was sent from the Prison, if so how did it arrive in the UK?Regards



 

[MaxD]

This was one of the functions of the International Committee of the Red Cross.  Lots on the net about their activity, here's one:
http://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/prisoners_of_war
Have you checked whether his POW card is to be found?

However, from the date on the right hand side it looks as if it was sent when he was waiting to be repatriated or he could have brought home with him as a "souvenir".  Equally, it would not have had a picture of the camp if sent while the war was in progress so my feeling is that the card was one for the German army to send to their loved ones that he obtained.  It would also have had "Kriesgefangensendung" stamped upon it if it had been sent during his captivity.  Makes no real difference, nice that you have something of his.

maxD

[gortonboy]

interesting site here- https://www.worldwar1postcards.com/ww1-prisoners-of-war-postcards.php

not sure it answers your question...but still a good site.

do you have his pow record from the red cross ?

[Rudolf H B]

He had been his own mailman.

"On 13 December 1918, the armistice was extended and the Allies reported that by 9 December 264,000 prisoners had been repatriated." (wikipedia)

Rudolf

[jim1]

Probably, via the Red Cross.

[MaxD]

Further.  The picture is that of the camp at the Truppenübungsplatz Munsterlager  - the Army ranges at Munsterlager  - in the north of Germany in Lower Saxony (not to be confused with Münster in North Rhine Westphalia).  ie where the German troops stayed when they were training on the training area.  There was a POW camp in/near Munster in the area run by XX Army Corps but this is not it (although it may have looked much like it!).

maxD

Brought back some memories!

[Rudolf H B]

Munsterlager became POW camp with 20.500 POW in 1914.

There had been 5000 Russians in March 1919. Munsterlager became Dulag for returning German POWs.

[MaxD]

Rudolf

Not quite clear from your post if you are saying that the picture, despite its clear title as Truppenübungsplatz Munsterlager is of the POW camp? 

maxD

[Ridgeback]

Thank you all very much for your interesting and informative replies, you have certainly given plenty of information on this subject for more research.

I have just had a look at the postcard and there is no "Kriesgefangensendung" on the back so as "Maxd" said probably a souvenir.

Regards to researching my Grandfathers POW record card how do I go about that?

Kindest regards

David