"Australian Prisoners of War – our forgotten heroes" Topic
10 Posts
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Tango01 | 27 Feb 2018 3:49 p.m. PST |
"As we reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete, we remember that while that ill-fated battle cost the British Commonwealth forces 1,742 killed with 2,225 wounded, a staggering 11,370 Allied troops were taken prisoner by Nazi Germany. Of these 3,100 were Australian. They made up approximately 40% of the 7,100 Australians who were part of the British Commonwealth Forces that went to Crete. 242 died in captivity. The battle for Crete began on 20th of May, 1941 with an airborne invasion by Nazi Germany. By the end of May, it became increasingly obvious that the Allies, despite being supported by Greek Forces and Cretan civilians, could not hold Crete. This was due to a combination of factors which included communication failures, Allied tactical hesitation and the German offensive operations that lead to the capture of Maleme airfield, enabling the Germans to land reinforcements that overwhelmed the Allied defensive positions on the North of the Island…." Main page link Amicalement Armand |
Legion 4 | 27 Feb 2018 4:22 p.m. PST |
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Tango01 | 28 Feb 2018 11:02 a.m. PST |
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Retiarius9 | 05 Mar 2018 7:01 a.m. PST |
also the anzacs that fought in north africa only to be captured by the japs in singapore |
Legion 4 | 05 Mar 2018 8:00 a.m. PST |
Sadly very true … Generally Allied POWs had a much better survival rate in Nazi German hands' than IJFs … |
AussieAndy | 09 Mar 2018 4:46 p.m. PST |
The story of Australian prisoners of the Germans may have been overshadowed by the story of Australian prisoners of the Japanese, but I don't know that you can say that they've been forgotten. It strikes me that the level of interest in Australia's military history is probably at its strongest in decades, although there is obviously a stronger focus on some areas than others. As to forgetting, a few weeks ago, my mum (who died last week), made reference to a young family friend who was beheaded by the Japanese while a POW. She might have been 88 and in a nursing home, but the anguish for an event thst happened 75 years ago was still there for all to see. |
Osterreicher | 09 Mar 2018 5:04 p.m. PST |
Retiarius9 "also the anzacs that fought in north africa only to be captured by the japs in singapore" Please keep in mind that the Australians who were forced to surrender in Singapore were from 8th Australian Division (8 Div) (off hand I believe it was 2 out of 3 brigades may have been forced to surrender, but I forget). Those in North Africa, were 6th Australian Division (6 Div) early on around Sidi Barani, 9th Australian Division (9 Div) at Tobruk and Alamein, along with 7th Australian Division at Tobruk. The Australians who were sent back to Asia and the Pacific Islands were from 6, 7, 9 Div, not 8 Div. |
Legion 4 | 10 Mar 2018 9:33 a.m. PST |
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RASigs | 29 Aug 2018 4:50 a.m. PST |
My Father was one of the 6th Div Guys captured on Crete. I have all the photos he took of the campaigns in North Africa and in Palestine. Before he died he told me about the first meeting with SS patrols in Greece. Also did a narrative on the march across Germany in the winter of 44/45 and how they survived after leaving POW camp |
Legion 4 | 29 Aug 2018 6:48 a.m. PST |
That is interesting info, May He RIP … |
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