The first exchange of POWs between the Allies and Germany took place in October 1943. Allies as a number of US servicemen were included in the exchange. This is how the Telegraph reported it. In the batch was Albert Pooley a survivor from the Le Paradis massacre,unknown to the Germans, he was able to act as the main witness of what had occurred to his fellow POWs;.
Hi, Interesting article but not the first repatriation they got that bit wrong first one happened a year or so before . Clifford
good day harry ree.a very senior member.21th oct 2013 10:05pmre:record of first exchange of allies and german p,o,w,october 1943.an interesting post. when was and what was the paradis massacre,thank you for posting.regards bernard85
Bernard: You can find the description on this thread: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/47829-the-forgotten-victims-of-le-paradis/?hl=paradis
or google search : https://www.google.co.uk/#q=le+paradis+massacre Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Paradis_massacre TD
Sorry Bernard, Missed your post.As indicated they are quite a number of references to the happening at Le Paradis including the trial of the SS fanatic,Fritz Knocklein. Many years ago,the magazine After The Battle publish a comprehensive account of the engagement at Le Paradis, the aftermath, tracing and the bringing to justice of Knocklein.
I thought this was the first exchange of prisoners as reported.Just reading the account of Ben Cowburn ,the SOE agent which is a very interesting read, particularly he relates the case of Madame Carre aka Victoire which is well known now but not aired too much when Cowburn first wrote "No Cloak No Dagger" According to Ben Cowburn,there was an exchange set up in October 1941 between the British authorities and the Germans with the ports being Boulogne and Dover. Apparently Hitler cancelled it because of the situation in Persia.When Britain and Russia took possession of Persia,German prisoners taken by the British were handled over to the Russians which Germans resented..on what grounds I cannot understand. Apparently he accompanied a Major,escaping over the Pyrenees.The Major had been badly wounded at Dunkirk and was suffering from a bayonet wound which resulted in a bowel problem such that he could not handle certain foods.The Major was due to be repatriated and was taken to a holding camp at Rouen pending repatriation and was disappointed that the exchange had been cancelled but immediately put in an escape plan and was out after 7 days at the holding camp.Interesting type was the Major as related by Ben Cowburn.
