Forgive my ignorance. I've just watched a documentary telling us that POWs from the european theatre were sent into russia as pawns between the super powers USA/UK/RUSSIA at the end of WWII. We are talking US and UK troops several thousands possibly up to 22k a great many ended up in siberia in gulags. I dont see any threads relating to this on here. What can you guys tell me. Cheers Mike
True enough, I have spoken to a former PoW about this. Attached below are some points on the subject From Marine Bill Balmer. Note 1 As I went through the barrier two of the Osborne sisters from the Falls Road stopped and asked me what camp I was in as their brother was a Royal Marine in Stalag VIIIB and was at working camp E361. I knew Marine Osborne very well and I told the girls that he should be home now as the Russians had liberated them three weeks before we were liberated. I was in contact with them later and found out that it was three months before he got home. The Russians used the liberated PoWs for heavy labour on the roads and airfields. Note 2 From my research to confirm this point I found that many of the 200,000 Allied PoWs liberated by the Russian army never saw their homeland again. The lucky ones, such as Royal Marine Osborne from the Falls Road, Belfast, were held by the Russians and forced to labour on roads and airfields for three months. Many others disappeared into the infamous Russian prison camps, the Gulags, alongside their German foes. Stalin saw fit to hold them hostage and wrest concessions from the Allied governments. Former German PoWs released from the Gulags as late as 1956 reported the presence of American servicemen in the same Russian prison camps as themselves (P.L. Wadley, 1993). Wadley, P.L., Even One Is Too Many: An examination of the Soviet refusal to repatriate liberated American World War II Prisoners of War, Texas Christian University, 1993
I asked this question a few months ago and was directed to another site with documentation regarding P.O.W.s in Soviet Hands. Sorry i cannot remember when.Although i have a book somewhere which mentions this will have to dig it out to get the title.
I have three Files regarding the movement of P.O.W. in Eastern Europe which tell of difficulties put in the way of 30 Mission who were organising re-patriation through Odessa. Perhaps they were being used as a bargaining tool to exchange Russians who had served with the Germans.
See the following two books: Amazon.com: Soldiers of Misfortune: Washington's Secret Betrayal of American Pow's in the Soviet Union (9780915765836): James D. Sanders, Mark A. Sauter, R. Cort Kirkwood: Books The Iron Cage: Are British Prisoners of War Abandoned in Soviet Hands Still Alive in Siberia?: Amazon.co.uk: Nigel Cawthorne: Books and Professor Wadley's complete dissertation here: AII POW-MIA - Dissertation - Wadley
I have a copy of Nigel Cawthorn's book. I'll look up anyone in particular that you may be interested in. An interesting read regarding allied personnel in Soviet hands from 1919 through to the cold war. Merry Christmas, Roxy
Thanks chaps I have a copy of Nigel Cawthorn's book in the post thanks to you. I cant understand how his was allowed to happen but then again Stalin had a strategic plan that was built around post war empire building
