Australian Prisoners of War
More than 30,000 Australians found themselves Prisoners of War during WWII. 97%of Australian POWs held by the Germans survived the war (8591 were captured). Of the 21,467 Australians taken by the Japanese, only 62% survived.
Enemy prisoners of war. What would you do?
ACTIVITY: Imagine you have lived through most of WW2. Now, your government has hired you to create a camp for the captured prisoners of war. You must detail your rules/plans for the following:
Each team will be sharing their ideas with another group and possibly the class. Please keep this in mind.
- What type of shelter or accommodation will be provided
- What food will be provided? How much? When? How often?
- What medical care will be provided?
- What work will the POWs be required to do?
- If a prisoner tries to escape what will happen to them?
Each team will be sharing their ideas with another group and possibly the class. Please keep this in mind.
What would the world at the time think of your plan?
Looking at the Geneva Convention on Treatment of POWs
The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who have been unarmed or incapable of fighting.
ACTIVITY: Look at the Geneva Convention Ariticles 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29, 30 and 32. Rate the POW camp plan from 1-5. 1= not following the the rules of the convention, 5= following the conventions perfectly.
**It is important to note, Japan did NOT sign the Geneva Convention.
**It is important to note, Japan did NOT sign the Geneva Convention.
The Sandakan Death March
The Sandakan Death March happened in North Borneo. 3000 POWs were sent to Sandakan to build an airfield for the Japanese. A number of them were asked to march long distances in two marches that make up the Sandakan death march.
The first march was in January 1945, 470 POWs were marched 260 km to Ranau. Only 350 survived.
The second death march was in May. 500 POWs marched. Only 203 survived. Those who were too tired to walk were killed.
By July, only 30 POWs survived, they are all shot by Japanese guards on 1 August 1945.
Luckily, 7 of the original 3000 soldiers successfully escaped. Local people hid them from the Japanese. Sadly, one died of illness before getting rescued.
The first march was in January 1945, 470 POWs were marched 260 km to Ranau. Only 350 survived.
The second death march was in May. 500 POWs marched. Only 203 survived. Those who were too tired to walk were killed.
By July, only 30 POWs survived, they are all shot by Japanese guards on 1 August 1945.
Luckily, 7 of the original 3000 soldiers successfully escaped. Local people hid them from the Japanese. Sadly, one died of illness before getting rescued.
ACTIVITY: What was it like in Japanese Prisoner of War Camps? What food, shelter, medical care, work, punishment were given? Do you think your POW camp rules were kinder or harsher than the Japanese. Give examples.
ACTIVITY: Watch the Video and answer the following questions:
1. Where was did the Sandakan Death March happen?
2. How many Australian prisoners were there?
3. How many Australian prisoners survived?
4. How many allied people surrendered at Singapore?
5. How does Keith Botrill (the surviving soldier from the Sandakan death
march, old man in the video) describe the camps?
6. What were the health conditions of the prisoners?
7. In 1944 the Japanese started to lose the war? How did this affect the treatment of the prisoners?
8. What work were the prisoners doing?
9. How far did the prisoners march?
10. What is the weather like?
11. What did the soldiers call a green cage?
12. What happened to soldiers who couldn’t march anymore?
13. If a soldier woke up in the morning, how did he feel?
14. Why was the Sandakan Death March kept a secret from Australians?
15. How was Keith Botrill rescued?
16. How many Japanese guards were convicted of war crimes?
17. Why is Richie Murray considered a hero? What did he do?
1. Where was did the Sandakan Death March happen?
2. How many Australian prisoners were there?
3. How many Australian prisoners survived?
4. How many allied people surrendered at Singapore?
5. How does Keith Botrill (the surviving soldier from the Sandakan death
march, old man in the video) describe the camps?
6. What were the health conditions of the prisoners?
7. In 1944 the Japanese started to lose the war? How did this affect the treatment of the prisoners?
8. What work were the prisoners doing?
9. How far did the prisoners march?
10. What is the weather like?
11. What did the soldiers call a green cage?
12. What happened to soldiers who couldn’t march anymore?
13. If a soldier woke up in the morning, how did he feel?
14. Why was the Sandakan Death March kept a secret from Australians?
15. How was Keith Botrill rescued?
16. How many Japanese guards were convicted of war crimes?
17. Why is Richie Murray considered a hero? What did he do?