PoW uniforms

barnsey · 03-22-2009, 05:48 AM

A question has arisen as to what uniform were U-boat crew allowed to wear in PoW camps both in the Uk, Canada and USA.

Where did the uniforms come from if any was allowed.... ie did it come via Red Cross.

Finally were they allowed to wear such items as the Iron Cross if it had been awarded to them.

David

**Kyt** · 03-22-2009, 06:24 AM

It was different, slightly, for officers and men.

Officers were allowed to wear their uniforms (I think they had to wear their uniforms under the Conventions on the treatment of POWs), usually the ones in which they were captured in. If and when they needed replacing, maybe if damaged beyond use during capture, or overtime, then the holding country was supposed to replace them. These could be captured uniforms or provided by the Red Cross.

However, under the POW conventions, enlisted men could be made to work, in factories and farms not direct contributing to the war effort. Those POWs held in Canada and the US had the letter 'P' painted on the back of jackets to make identification easier.

For U-boat crews in particular I've attached a couple pics of officers held at Bowmanville POW Camp

**Kyt** · 03-22-2009, 06:25 AM

And Mac has a good pic of some KM prisoners

Ahoy - Mac's Web Log - Kormoron (Kormoran) flag made by POW

**Kyt** · 03-22-2009, 06:37 AM

Art. 6. All personal effects and articles in personal use -- except arms, horses, military equipment and military papers -- shall remain in the possession of prisoners of war, as well as their metal helmets and gas-masks.

Sums of money carried by prisoners may only be taken from them on the order of an officer and after the amount has been recorded. A receipt shall be given for them. Sums thus impounded shall be placed to the account of each prisoner.

Their identity tokens, badges of rank, decorations and articles of value may not be taken from prisoners.

Art. 12. Clothing, underwear and footwear shall be supplied to prisoners of war by the detaining Power. The regular replacement and repair of such articles shall be assured. Workers shall also receive working kit wherever the nature of the work requires it.

Art. 37. Prisoners of war shall be authorized to receive individually postal parcels containing foodstuffs and other articles intended for consumption or clothing. The parcels shall be delivered to the addressees and a receipt given.

International Humanitarian Law - Geneva Convention Prisoners of War 1929

barnsey · 03-23-2009, 03:29 AM

Kyt,

many thanks for your prompt reply ... those photos you have posted are in dispute. I reckon they were taken in Germany not Bowmanville.

Too many insignias ... where did they come from .... certainly not when they were captured etc....

Will revert later...

Great replies .... thanks very much ... keep them coming.

**Kyt** · 03-23-2009, 04:57 AM

Wolfgang Heyda Commander U-120 and U-434

a couple of other sites

POW
U 35 crewmember Siegfried Bruse

barnsey · 03-23-2009, 07:36 AM

Hmmmm .... very interesting indeed ...

**Kyt** · 03-23-2009, 11:07 AM

Barnsey, do you have information to the contrary - i.e. pictures, documents etc that state that officers were stripped of their uniforms, insignia, medals etc?

One thing that should be mentione dis that there maybe pictures of Germans in camps after the war. However, by then the Americans had stripped them of their POW status - their rationale was that as the German government had surrendered, and the country had been occuppied, then the status of those who surrendered when the state did had no status under the Conventions for POWs. I have seen pictures of those officers who were held after the war who have had their uniforms taken away from them, or at the very least all insignia etc removed.

Disarmed Enemy Forces - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Surrendered Enemy Personnel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia