Hello,
I just purchased this Wolfgang Willrich postcard. It was published in 1920-21 to collect funds for the German POWs. Across the top the card says, "German Winterhelp for our prisoners of war." On the rear side there is a poem by Ellp Dogel. Could some please translate the card? Willrich eventually went on to publish a lot of propaganda postcards in WWII and this may have been one of his first items.
I also read that Willrich was not released from French prison until 1920. How long were German soldiers kept after the war?
Thanks,
James
German POWs 1919-1920
German POWs 1919-1920
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Under the November 1918 Armistice terms,all Allied POWs were to be released by the Germans,with no recipitory gesture on behalf of the victors expected.
The repartition of German POWs was one of the items signed off with the Treaty of Versailles coming into effect in June 1919,with the setting up of an Allied Military Commission on the Repartition of German Prisoners of War.Their mandate was to ensure a "speedily process".
As far as I understand the process began somewhat slowly in the second half of 1919,completed within the year by mid 1920.German POWs in the USA(all of a naval background,as no German army prisoners were ever sent to America)were among the last to arrive home due to the distance involved;this also applies to German prisoners held by the Japanese.
In early 1920 the Weimar Government also negotiated a deal with the Soviets on a finalisation of prisoner exchanges;some Germans that had not managed to get out after the Brest Litovsk Treaty was signed were in this category.The Soviet Government also benefited from this deal in the latter half of 1920 when 10-15,000 Red Army soldiers, interned in East Prussia as a result of the Russo-Polish War of that year,were later allowed to return home.
High ranking German Generals like Liman von Sanders(held captive at Malta) and von Mackensen(held captive by the Hungarians) were both released in late 1919.
The repartition of German POWs was one of the items signed off with the Treaty of Versailles coming into effect in June 1919,with the setting up of an Allied Military Commission on the Repartition of German Prisoners of War.Their mandate was to ensure a "speedily process".
As far as I understand the process began somewhat slowly in the second half of 1919,completed within the year by mid 1920.German POWs in the USA(all of a naval background,as no German army prisoners were ever sent to America)were among the last to arrive home due to the distance involved;this also applies to German prisoners held by the Japanese.
In early 1920 the Weimar Government also negotiated a deal with the Soviets on a finalisation of prisoner exchanges;some Germans that had not managed to get out after the Brest Litovsk Treaty was signed were in this category.The Soviet Government also benefited from this deal in the latter half of 1920 when 10-15,000 Red Army soldiers, interned in East Prussia as a result of the Russo-Polish War of that year,were later allowed to return home.
High ranking German Generals like Liman von Sanders(held captive at Malta) and von Mackensen(held captive by the Hungarians) were both released in late 1919.
German POWs
That was most interesting! In your opinion would you say this postcard was then issued sometime in 1920? I know Willrich was a prisoner until 1920 and it looks like all POWs were sent home by the end of that year. Do you know of any that were still being held by 1921?
James
James
James,
I would suggest the postcard was issued in 1920:I can't find any evidence of German prisoners still being held in 1921.
French suggestions of using German POWs for reconstruction labour in north east France after the war were not pushed.In fact a lot of Italians labourers and newly arrived White Russians were engaged in the process well into the mid 1920s.
Willrich served with the 251st Reserve Regiment,part of the 75th Reserve Division.It served on the Eastern Front until the end of 1917,then was deployed to the Western Front in 1918.It fought against the French (the Battle of Matz) May-June 1918;perhaps this was the period when Willrich was made captive.
Regards,
Moulded
I would suggest the postcard was issued in 1920:I can't find any evidence of German prisoners still being held in 1921.
French suggestions of using German POWs for reconstruction labour in north east France after the war were not pushed.In fact a lot of Italians labourers and newly arrived White Russians were engaged in the process well into the mid 1920s.
Willrich served with the 251st Reserve Regiment,part of the 75th Reserve Division.It served on the Eastern Front until the end of 1917,then was deployed to the Western Front in 1918.It fought against the French (the Battle of Matz) May-June 1918;perhaps this was the period when Willrich was made captive.
Regards,
Moulded
Willrich
Moulded,
It appears Willrich may have been an early released prisoner in 1920 having enough time to publish this card before all the other German POW were set free. The Allied powers must have released them in stages.
Thanks,
James
It appears Willrich may have been an early released prisoner in 1920 having enough time to publish this card before all the other German POW were set free. The Allied powers must have released them in stages.
Thanks,
James