(5/5) Timewatch the Germans we Kept World War II

With the wars end many prisoners were soon on their way back home but a program of re-education was devised to supposedly prepare the prisoners for a new life in a different Germany. The full horrors of the Holocaust were put on show and one prisoner who was at the time a hard-line Nazi remembers that many of his comrades did not believe that the Holocaust had taken place thinking it was British propaganda designed to shame the German people even more. This process of re education determined whether a prisoner would be sent home early or not and interviews took place to determine the prisoners attitude. Many who at first showed contempt for the British realized that the war was now over and the only way to secure their release was to change their attitude. Many did and the first repatriations took place in 1946. Some were less flexible however and at these interviews (which took place every six months) would show their loyalty to the Nazi regime by marching in to the interrogation room and giving a Nazi salute to the British officer present which would mean further six-months in captivity. Among Waffen SS prisoners this was common and later after the Nuremberg trials when the Waffen SS was deemed a criminal organization many prisoners were held for longer periods simply for being a member of the Waffen SS. The last prisoners repatriated, took place in 1949 but many prisoners did not want to return to Germany as their hometown was in the Soviet sector and fearing another spell of imprisonment in Soviet hands, decided to stay in Britain where they became known as "DPs" or displaced persons. Others married local girls and stayed in Britain where many still live today with the girl they married over fifty years ago. The opportunity to meet local people was given to the German POWs after the war where Christmas would be spent with a local family and regular visits would be made to present local children with toys that had been carved from wood during their spare time. By all accounts there was little animosity towards the German prisoners who by this time had become a familiar sight in several towns ad villages in Britain.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• POW
• Germans
• Nazi
• Waffen
• SS
• British
• Holocaust
• Britain
• Nuremberg

[lozzyloveyou]

I was at a Manchester City football game about 8 months ago when Bert Trautmann made a short speech. The entire stadium erupted, everyone on their feet applauding. I had little idea of his history until researching it. 3 years on the eastern front, being 1 of only 90 (Out of a 1000 man regiment) to survive the war. Impressive man! Breaking your neck and still playing a game of football is a sure sign of anyones determination and strength.

[2bn442RCT]

@lozzyloveyou My parents are English and Scottish and were bombed by the Luftwaffe during WW2. However, the hate between the UK and German peoples never reached anything like the bitterness other countries had for each, and perhaps rightfully so. They had ex-German soldiers at their house all the time. They even joked about the war too.

[Pinnertop]

I love all the comments here. I have to say tears welled in me too - the sheer compassion and humanity is surely what life is all about.

[2bn442RCT]

I'm very strict regarding the usual Internet buffoonery.

[aigolofni]

Thank you for this excellent video. Not so much about the war but on the richness of the human nature. We can only imagine how those German men found their homes and families when they got home. Living in a western Europe in peace for 60 years, I feel that we often don't value peace as we should !

[2bn442RCT]

Great comment thank you!

[ashikagaProdDesign]

Beautiful documentary, would make it mandatory for all people still misjudging others.

ASH

[LordGeorgeRodney]

never have I had tears in my eyes from a youtube vid!

[specom]

I was expecting another dreary "expose" of Operation Paperclip, instead I got this wonderful story. I knew none of this, thanks for posting it.

[CastAway421]

This was just great,thank you so much for this documentary..

[hipcat13]

My Father was a Polish airman during the war, away from his family and not knowing if they were alive or not. His stories about the warmth and generosity of the English people are very much like the stories of the POW's in this story.

[Eurofighter19]

And a great country they managed to build, a nation distant from its dark past and eager to move forward to a brighter and peaceful future.

My respects to all of them.

[Quasimodo1957]

Thank you so much for such an excellent documentary. Wish we had more like this in the US,

Subscribed!

[Lachausis]

Here is one - a former enemy of England could integrate fully into British society, but a "peace loving", "other religions respecting" muslims cannot. How come? The key word is and always will be - Europeans. The war made Europeans respect each other.

[odingdongnadaXD]

God bless democracy and good people of England and the US. Russia needs to learn from the west about humanity! They still do!!!