Some also held a mixture of pows and civilian internees, while others held solely civilian internees. Criterion a importance to the course, or pattern, of victorias cultural history. The camps and the system of internment german internees in. Midway through the war, more than 12,000 people mostly men, but some women and children were interned in 18 camps around southern australia, including tatura in victoria, and cowra and hay in new south wales.
Prisoners of war were also sent to australia from other allied countries for internment in australia internment camps were established for three reasons to prevent residents from assisting australia s enemies, to. Internment camps were established for three reasons to prevent. Mar 30, 2020 wartime internment camps in australia during world war ii, australian authorities established internment camps for three reasons to prevent residents from assisting australias enemies, to appease public opinion and to house overseas internees sent to australia for the duration of the war. During world war ii, the legal basis for this detention was under presidential proclamation 2526, made by president franklin delano roosevelt under the authority of the alien and sedition acts. Georgina fitzpatrick australian national university abstract. Survival and leadership in captivity, 19411945, and the editor of australian defence. In 1939 thousands of australian residents suddenly found themselves identified as potential threats to australia s national security. Rottnest island is located off the coast of western australia near fremantle. Published works can provide insight into life in the internment camps. As well as german internees, there were a large amount of japanese and italian being kept in internment camps. For information on relevant records, see the national archives fact sheet wartime internment camps in australia. Captured lives, australias wartime internment camps by. The following books are recommended as they are based upon valid research, sufficient facts, and dialogue to give an understanding of the pow experience.
During the escape and ensuing manhunt, 4 australian soldiers and 231 japanese soldiers were killed. Prisoner of war and internment camps in australia during ww2. The following list from the national archives of australia shows the locations of internment camps on australian soil with images sourced to accompany. Internment during the second world war compares and contrasts the experiences of foreign nationals unfortunate enough to be born in the wrong nation when great britain, and later the usa, went to war. An enemy alien was a person of german, italian, or japanese origin who was living in australia. However there were many others who were still free.
World war ii internment camps became home to german. Reference books the post history of internees and prisoners of war in australia during world war ii by phil collas. Every so often, a book is produced that simply wraps up the whole story. The outbreak of world war ii triggered a mass fear of invasion by germany and later japan.
Australia, the us and canada among many others interned their wartime enemy aliens behind barbed wire in crowded concentration camps. Inky stephensens internment experience in australia. Carl zoeller, born karl zoller was born in grenzhausen, germany in 1896. Internment had a devastating effect on individuals and families and left a lasting legacy of fear and hurt within the sizeable german community in australia after the war. The national library of australia bookshop, located in canberra, sells books and merchandise by australian authors and artists, and prizewinning international books.
Commonwealth government records about south australia. Most records relating to internees and internment camps in australia are held at the national archives of australia. Internment in australia during world war ii writework. At its peak in 1942, more that 12 000 people were being interned in australia. Santo tomas internment camp, also known as the manila internment camp, was the largest of several camps in the philippines in which the japanese interned enemy civilians, mostly americans, in world war ii. Not widely know the internment camps of germans in.
The past, violent century has visited widespread suffering upon noncombatants. Commonwealth security measures during world war ii included the internment of a number of germanspeaking and italianspeaking emigrants suspected of subversive activities and a number of enemy nationals who arrived in australia after war was declared in september 1939. Wartime internment camps in australia during world war ii, australian authorities established internment camps for three reasons to prevent residents from assisting australias enemies, to appease public opinion and to house overseas internees sent to australia for the duration of. During world war ii many enemy aliens were interned in australia under the national security act 1939. Nikkei australia ww2 civilian internment in australia. Internment in australia however, was kept to a minimum mainly due to practical concerns such as the cost of investigating every nonbritish person as well as the economic disadvantages of keeping nonbritish residents in custody. World war ii internment camps became home to germanaustralians. Rottnest island internment camp german internees in wwi. This history and reference guide will help students and other interested readers to understand the history of this action and its reinterpretation in recent years, but it will also help readers to understand the japanese american wartime experience through the words. That is that the narrative of german australian internment in world war ii stretches back to the germany of the chaotic and hyperinflationary weimar republic and to the relatively small nazi party. As henderson makes clear, even though life in australias internment camps was often boring, especially for the children, in the main the germanaustralian internees were treated relatively well. Enemy aliens or residents of australia with perceived links to axis nations were also placed in camps, for fear of enemy attack, spying or espionage.
The internment of enemy aliens during the second world war was arguably the greatest stain on the allied record of human rights on the home front. An essay towards national self respect 1936 was once well known as an advocate for australian culture. This collection provides details of foreign nationals interned by the british government during world war two. Australia interned about 7000 residents during world war 2 and a further 8000 people were sent to australia after being detained by australia s allies overseas. This led to panic that tens of thousands of australian residents might become saboteurs or spies. The camps and the system of internment the outbreak of fighting in europe in august 1914 immediately brought australia into the great war. Each is a significant contribution to understanding the pow and internee experience and each has been read and verified. Recommended books of general interest in the study of the pows. Rottnest island had been used as a prison and then a tourist destination before the commonwealth government took it over at the outbreak of world war one for use as an internment camp. In general, a camp or group of camps is designated to the country whose government was responsible for the establishment andor operation of the camp regardless of the camps location, but this principle can be, or it can appear to be, departed from in such cases as where a countrys borders or name has changed or it. Wholesale orders also available for booksellers and retailers. Captives of the empire publisher link the japanese internment of allied civilians in china 19411945. The prime minister took on extraordinary wartime powers, the government enforced strict censorship of media and australians born in other countries mainly germany, italy, and japan were placed in internment camps. Captured lives, australias wartime internment camps tells the story of both interned civilians and pows, from both the world wars.
On february 19, 1942, the japanese launched their first attack on australia, attacking darwin by air. Chapter two internments in australia during world war two. Internment of enemy aliens australia in world war 2. The collection documents aspects of daily life in the camp and highlights the creative ways in which inmates tried to preserve both culture and sanity under confinement. The internment of thousands of japanese americans during world war ii is one of the most shameful episodes in american history. At the start of the war many italian sugarcane cutters and shearers working in queensland with proaxis sentiments were interned. During world war ii internment of prisoners of war and enemy aliens in australia was administered under the national security act 1939. Civilian internees in australia the australian war memorial. Mathew trinca is the general manager of collections and content at the national museum of australia. When mussolini made an alliance with hitler, which sent italy to war in june 1940, the army was instructed to prepare secure accommodation ready for an influx.
It was the largest prison escape of world war ii, as well as one of the bloodiest. The papers of enemy aliens interned in australia, 19141919 collection contains the diaries and personal papers of internees, information on the administration and management of the camps, along with publications, drawings, concert and theatre programs produced by. With the introduction of national security act 1939 during world war ii, thousands of men, women and children were placed into internment camps all over australia allowing the accommodation of internees and prisoners of war in internment camps. Captured lives, australias wartime internment camps by peter. Asp 2016, david henderson, paperback, book condition new book nazis in our midst is a rich narrative that uncovers the remarkable personal stories of germanaustralians interned in australian internment camps during the second world war.
Internment started immediately following the outbreak of war in 1939, with a small number of germans being sent to tribunals for assessment as a potential danger to the country. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the victorian heritage register. Within one week of the declaration of war, all german subjects in australia were declared enemy aliens and were required to. During ww2, the internment of enemy aliens in australia fell under the control of the national security act 1939. Mar 30, 2020 as the war progressed, britains difficulties in keeping up production demand, australia s geographic isolation, and a differing focus on war policies and theatres, caused australia increasingly to obtain arms, equipment, and military assistance from the united states. As you might expect, the rules, procedures and conditions in ww2 were influenced by the geneva conventions updated between the wars, a history interesting in itself, see wikipedia as well as the lessons australia had learned from rather its indiscriminate system. In 1939 thousands of australian residents suddenly found themselves identified as potential threats to australias national security.
Christgaus afterword for this bison books edition relates additional stories of world war ii alien restriction, detention, and internment that surfaced after this book was originally published, and he draws parallels between the alien internment of world war ii and events in this country since september 11, 2001. Australia that the people whose case studies are analysed in this paper, were interned. Italians interned in australia during ww2 tighnabruaich, 195 clarence road, indooroopilly used to interrogate japanese prisoners during ww2. This is a list of prisoner of war camps in australia during world war ii. A further 8000 people were sent to australia to be interned after being detained overseas by australia s allies. Joan beaumont is the director of the faculty of arts at the college of arts and social sciences at the australian national university, the author of gull force. Loveday internment camp in the riverland district of south australia was one of many internment camps set up by the federal government in world war two to detain socalled enemy aliens. Government regulations required enemy aliens to register and limit. Carl zoeller in internee identification photograph.
This is a list of prisoner of war camps in australia during world war ii during world war ii. Some of these camps were for prisoners of war pow only. Within one week of the declaration of war, all german subjects in australia were declared enemy aliens and were required to report to the government and notify their address. World war ii japaneseamerican internment camp documents, 19421946 database online. This is an incomplete list of japaneserun military prisonerofwar and civilian internment and concentration camps during world war ii. The act provided for civilian internees and prisoners of war to be accommodated in internment camps.
As a result, 11,000 people were taken to doj camps. Australia interned about 7000 residents during world war 2 and a further 8000 people were sent to australia after being detained by australias allies overseas. Citizenship and internment in australia during the second world war. World war ii japaneseamerican internment camp documents. This is a list of prisoner of war camps in australia during world war ii during world war ii many enemy aliens were interned in australia under the national security act 1939.
The majority of these were german nationals, but the number also included us citizens of german descent. Japanese internment a dark chapter of australian history. Citizenship and internment in australia during the second world war 9781876944605. In addition, we list those books that specifically give an overview of an area, combat zone, or issue of dispute. Among the several books about the japanese american internment published in the past year e. Australian war memorial id 03024614 photo by ronald leslie stewart. Aug 14, 2014 while numerous books, films and photographs have explored the internment of japanese civilians in the united states and canada, the situation in australia has had limited coverage. Various explanations over the years have been given for australias internment policy and its implementation.
A class of german school children whose parents are interned at no. List of concentration and internment camps wikipedia. Prisoners of war were also sent to australia from other allied countries for internment in australia. The camps and the system of internment german internees. Allied prisoners of war pows of german, italian and japanese origin, were brought here following capture in battle overseas. This is a list of internment and concentration camps, organized by country. As the war progressed, britains difficulties in keeping up production demand, australias geographic isolation, and a differing focus on war policies and theatres, caused australia increasingly to obtain arms, equipment, and military assistance from the united states. The whispers of war is one of many ww2 friendship books out this 2020. Enemy aliens and internment world war ii safe haven. They faced summary arrest, their livelihoods and reputations were. Those targeted were primarily german, italian and japanese civilians, including many women and children. Camp 9, the oldest compound in the loveday internment camp complex, was constructed nearly a year before the first italianaustralian enemy aliens were captured and sent to south australia. Saunderss 1993 study of internment in queensland and saunders and daniels 2000 comparative study of internment in australia and north america also contain material on italian australians. We have a significant collection of personal papers of the internees and their australian guards.
The tatura world war ii internment and pow camps collection is of aesthetic, technical, historical and social significance to the state of victoria. Claudio alcorso, who had migrated to australia in 1938 as a refugee from mussolinis anti. However no book has been written exclusively about the italian australian internment experience. The cowra breakout occurred on 5 august 1944, when 1,104 japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from a prisoner of war camp near cowra, in new south wales, australia.
Internment during world war ii in queensland took many forms. The campus of the university of santo tomas in manila was utilized for the camp, which housed more than 3,000 internees from january 1942 until february 1945. The number of those who spent the war in such camps was, in fact, much higher than the 11,000 detainees. Based on central investigation bureau case histories. This secondary source is a high quality academic source as the authors are all experts in this field. Paul hasluck, in his official war history, in general deplored the infringements of civil rights during the war, and was critical of. List of japaneserun internment camps during world war ii. Three friends find themselves caught up in the war, especially as one is threatened with internment. See more ideas about internment, childrens books and japanese american. Internees were civilians who were deemed to be potentially dangerous to national security. List of world war ii prisonerofwar camps in australia.
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