Prisoners of War in British Hands: 1698-1949
(Ex-PoWs and Displaced Persons, 1945 onwards)

Military Records Information 29

1. Introduction

A search of the Catalogue using the key words 'prisoner of war' or the abbreviation 'POW' will reveal a vast array of documents relating to the subject. However, little of the documentation actually provides biographical information useful to genealogists. The majority of the early records concern the cost of feeding, clothing and transporting foreign prisoners. While from the First World War onwards most surviving files are concerned with general administrative and policy matters and the implementation of conventions and agreements etc. Sections 8-10 of this research guide deal with ex-PoWs and displaced persons from 1945 onwards.

2. Prisoners of war to 1793

Before 1793 the few records available relate largely to French or American prisoners in British custody. Try the In-Letters of the Admiralty Medical and Prisoners of War Departments from the early 1700's onwards, where prisoners' petitions can also be found (ADM 97/98 to ADM 97/107 , ADM 97/114/1 to ADM 97/125 , ADM 97/127/1 and ADM 97/131 ). Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, including complaints of prisoners held at Sissinghurst, can be found in ADM 105/42 , ADM 105/43 and ADM 105/58 , and there is a list of the officers of the Louisbourg garrison, taken in 1758, in ADM 103/502 . The Commissary of Prisoners Receiver’s accounts for the period 1698-1703, containing material on prisoners of war, are in AO 3/873 .

Try also the State Papers Naval in SP 42 . Lists of American seamen made prisoners of war, and removed from the ports to Shrewsbury in the 1770s, are in SP 42/57 . A list of names of British and American officers who were prisoners of war was drawn up in 1781 with a view to an exchange (WO 40/2 ). Other records relating to prisoners of war from these conflicts can also be identified from Andrews, Guide to the Materials for American History, to 1783, in the Public Record Office of Great Britain.

3. Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1793-1815

French army prisoners held in the Low Countries, 1793-1796, were the responsibility of the Commissary of Prisoners. There are lists in AO 11/1 , AO 11/2 , AO 11/3 and AO 11/4 , and in AO 3/875 , AO 3/876 and AO 3/877 (officers and NCOs only). The letter books of the Commissary for this period are in AO 16/146 , AO 16/147 and AO 16/148 .

All other prisoners, and all prisoners from 1796 whatever their service or nationality, were the responsibility of the Admiralty's Sick and Hurt Board, later called the Transport Board. The correspondence of these Boards is in ADM 105/44 to ADM 105/57 and ADM 105/59 to ADM 105/66 . Medical and Prisoners of War Departments In-Letters for this period are in ADM 97/98 to ADM 97/131 . Out-letters are in ADM 98, which also includes Out-Letter books of the Transport Board and Victualling Board concerning prisoners of war. Transport Board minutes relating to prisoners are in ADM 99/92 to ADM 99/263 (with an index in pieces ADM 99/264 and ADM 99/265 ), and various accounts are in ADM 100/4 and ADM 100/5 , and ADM 10/14 .

The Transport and Sick and Hurt Boards' main series of records, the Registers of Prisoners of War, is in ADM 103 . The majority of the Registers consist of the General Entry Books kept by the agents in charge of each depot, prison ship or parole town. They contain many lists of prisoners, usually arranged by nationality or by place of confinement or parole. The agent was in most cases also required to record the circumstances of the prisoners’ capture and their eventual disposal.

For files on exchanges of prisoners of war - the files actually cover 1794-1813 - see WO 1/905 -916 . The files are listed under: Section II War Department In Letters and Papers.

There is no general index to prisoners, although some of the lists in ADM 103 do have integral indexes. A search for references to an individual prisoner may therefore be difficult. However, there is an alphabetical list of American prisoners compiled by the University of Virginia, available at the PRO. This supplements a general register of American prisoners compiled in 1813 in ADM 6/417 . Lists of enemy prisoners on parole in Britain were sent to the Home Office, and are in HO 28 : they are not indexed.

4. Crimean War 1853-1855

There is some official material relating to Russian prisoners in British hands in the headquarters papers in WO 28/182 and in naval hospital musters in ADM 102 . The records of the Russian Orthodox Church in London in RG 8/180 include lists of Russian prisoners (in Russian) with correspondence in Russian, English and French relating to the distribution of money to them.

5. South African or Boer War 1899-1902

There are registers of Boer prisoners, recorded in prisoner number order and arranged by area of confinement (e.g. Natal, Transvaal), in WO 108/303 , WO 108/304 and WO 108/305 and WO 108/368 - WO 108/369 . Correspondence about their confinement in Ceylon, St Helena and elsewhere can be found in CO 537/403 to CO 537/409 and CO 537/453 . Correspondence concerning Dutch, German and French prisoners is in FO 2/824 , FO 2/825 and FO 2/826 .

6. First World War 1914-1918

The National Archives does not hold lists of First World War enemy PoWs. At the time lists of names of enemy prisoners and internees were routinely forwarded to the Prisoners of War Information Bureau (PWIB) in London, which in turn informed the International Red Cross Headquarters in Geneva (for address see section 7). Unfortunately, bombing in 1940 largely destroyed the lists and other documentation compiled by the Bureau. However, two specimen lists of German subjects interned as PoWs, both within the United Kingdom and Overseas during 1915-1916 are in WO 900/45 and WO 900/46 . The list is divided into army, naval and civilian prisoners, and gives the regiment, ship and usually the home address of each prisoner, place of internment, remarks regarding wounds, illnesses and death, and date of transfer to internment in a neutral country. The work and history of the PWIB is summarised in WO 32/10252 .

Although only occasionally mentioned by name, enemy PoWs can be searched for within the card index to the General Political Correspondence of the Foreign Office located in the Research Enquiries Room at Kew, particularly the correspondence of the Prisoners of War and Aliens Department. In addition between 1915-1918 each year includes a dedicated PoW section arranged by country and subject. In most cases if an entry is found in the index this will convert to an FO 383 reference.

The general field of responsibility for enemy prisoners of war was rather vaguely defined. Both the War Office and the Foreign Office had a Prisoners of War Department. The War Office PoW department was in fact attached to the Home Office, presumably because the Home Office administered the internment camps (for internment, see our research guide Internees: First and Second World War: Domestic Records Information 51). Files concerning the employment of enemy PoWs in Britain are among the records of the Ministry of National Service (Labour Supply Department), and can be found in NATS 1/567 to NATS 1/571 .

Correspondence about enemy merchant seamen taken prisoner is in MT 9 (code 106) and MT 23 .

7. Second World War 1939-1945: Prisoners in British Hands

7.1 Searching for an individual

The PRO holds very few lists of enemy PoWs, consequently it is extremely difficult to trace individual prisoners held by the British. Indeed the best sources in the United Kingdom are often local archives, libraries, newspapers or history groups.

During the Second World War the Prisoner of War Information Bureau (PWIB) was again responsible for dealing with all enquiries concerning enemy PoWs. Initially the work of the PWIB was centralised in London but the geographical spread of the conflict led to delays in the transmission of information. From 1942 the bureau in London was responsible for the maintenance and transmission of information on prisoners of war held only in the United Kingdom, North West Europe, and the Central Mediterranean, while several sub-bureau were established overseas: a bureau in Cairo, Egypt, under military control, was responsible for prisoners of war captured and held in the Middle East; a bureau in Nairobi, Kenya, for those in East Africa; and a bureau in New Delhi for those captured in the Middle East and Far East and held in India. Bureaux were also established by the governments of Australia, Canada, and South Africa to deal with prisoners of war moved to those countries. Each of these bureaux communicated directly with local representatives of the protecting power and the International Red Cross Committee.

The Bureau’s primary functions were to provide, both to the appropriate enemy power (through its Protecting Power) and to the central agency organised by the International Red Cross Committee: particulars of all individuals held as a PoW with an address to which correspondence could be sent; details of movements of PoWs between camps; notification of casualties from sickness, combat or other causes; and the collection and transmission of any personal affects of PoWs who died whilst in captivity or who were repatriated; and replying to all questions on enemy PoWs from any quarter. It also carried out the function required by Article 4 of the 1929 Geneva Convention concerning the Care of Sick and Wounded Combatants, namely the transmission to the enemy of details and the effects of those found dead on the battlefield. The PWIB continued to operate until the repatriation of the last remaining enemy PoWs in 1948. The few surviving records of the PWIB itself are in WO 307 , while those of the overseas sub-bureaux are mostly located in CO 323 , FO 916 and WO 32 .

Of significance to those searching for German PoWs. In 1949, some of the PWIB's records were transferred to the German Red Cross in Hamburg, while others were scheduled for immediate destruction or designated for destruction over subsequent years. However, much of the proposed destruction did not take place and in 1960 it was decided that any surviving personnel records would be offered to the German Federal Government. Subsequently all the transferred records were relocated to Deutsche Dienstelle (WASt), Postfach 51-06-07, D-13400, Berlin, Deutschland. The latter organisation has indicated it holds:

Form AFW 3000 was completed by or on behalf of German PoWs upon capture and then dispatched to the PWIB in London. Although these contain personal details such as name, unit, address of next-of-kin, they are not a service history. Forms W 3314 are burial returns for deceased German PoWs that can include details of where graves are located.

The situation regarding the records of Italian PoWs is more complex. Evidently, in February 1949, an alphabetical index and a numerical index of Prisoners of War of Italian nationality were the only records transferred to the Italian Red Cross in Rome. At some later date these records were dispersed throughout Italy and researchers are advised to initially contact Ministero della Difesa, Via XX Settembre 8, 00187 Rome, Italy, which will forward enquiries to the appropriate local authority.

Alternatively, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva keeps an incomplete list of all known PoWs and internees of all nationalities for both World Wars. Searches are only made in response to written enquiries, and an hourly fee is charged. The address is International Council of the Red Cross, Archives Division, 19, Avenue de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva.

Enquirers contacting any of the organisations mentioned above should bear in mind that one or more of the following will probably be required before any search can proceed: proof of kinship; a service number; unit or ship served with. Finally, the PWIB branch in Sydney, Australia maintained corresponding records, relating to PoWs of Japanese nationality.

7.2 Interrogation reports

Some personal information can be extracted from PoW interrogations. The main series of these are in WO 208/3582 -3662 and WO 208/4363 -4367 , unfortunately, these files are not indexed. More specific subject-based reports are found in WO 208/4633 -4685 .

A few interrogation reports on German POWs in 1944 exist in the files of the Control Commission for Germany: Internal Affairs and Communications Division, in FO 1050/169 . Interrogation reports on enemy airmen are in AIR 40/2394 -2431 . Some debriefings of enemy POWs can be found in the files concerning the Prisoners of War Campaign conducted by the Political Warfare Executive of the Foreign Office, in FO 898/320 -330 . The War Diary of MI19, the division of Military Intelligence responsible for the interrogation of enemy POWs, is in WO 165/41 .

7.3 PoW camps

Records of PoW camps rarely mention individuals by name. When they do this is usually in connection with an investigation into an incident or allegation of ill-treatment. There is a card index at The National Archives to the limited number of PoW camp war diaries in WO 166 . Numerous lists of PoW camps and comprehensive documentation on the employment of, principally Italian, PoWs are among the Military Headquarters Papers: Home Forces, in WO 199/404 -409 . Lists of enemy PoWs temporarily interned in the Tower of London are in WO 94/105 .

Correspondence between the British government, the Red Cross and the Protecting Powers, including inspection reports on POW camps, is among the records of the Consular (War) Department of the Foreign Office, in FO 916 . In addition, the Home Office Internment (General) Files in HO 215 contain a large amount of material on Home Office involvement with the internment of enemy aliens and POWs. Numerous files on individual POW camps in the United Kingdom are also among the records of the Prisoners of War Section of the London-based Control Office for Germany and Austria in FO 939 . The Medical Historian's Papers in WO 222 include reports on the health of POWs and on the work of PoW hospitals. War Diaries of a few hospitals, depots and camps are in WO 177/1833 to WO 177/1855 . In addition, War Diaries of units of the British Army contain material on PoW camps, labour companies etc. in the various theatres of war. These can in most cases be identified from the indexes at the front of the appropriate catalogue.

7.4 Other records

Correspondence between the Home Office and the Prisoners of War Information Bureau (UK) and general correspondence concerning the treatment of interned enemy aliens is in HO 213/494 -498 .

The War Office was responsible for the custody of PoWs of all services. The War Diaries of the Directorate of Prisoners of War are in WO 165/59 -71 , and minutes and reports of the Imperial Prisoners of War Committee meetings can also be found there. Registered Papers concerning prisoners both during and after the war are in WO 32 (code 91).

The Admiralty Prisoners of War and Internees Files ADM 1 (code 79) contain documentation on many aspects of the Royal Navy's involvement with the capture and internment of enemy and Allied POWs, naval and other services. Similar correspondence and papers are to be found in ADM 116 (code 79).

For lists of enemy POWs in various colonial territories, see CO 968/33 -36 . Correspondence about the employment of Italian merchant seamen taken prisoner is in MT 9 (code 106).

Correspondence with the United States authorities on policy concerning PoWs in general can be found among the papers of the British Joint Staff Mission in Washington, CAB 122 . The Operational Papers of the Prime Minister's Office (PREM 3/363 -364 ) contain material relating to both enemy and Allied POWs.

8. Ex-PoWs and Displaced Persons, 1945 onwards

After the cessation of hostilities there were an estimated 11 million ex-PoWs, displaced persons, former slave labourers and concentration camp inmates in Northern Europe, of which nearly 2.5 million were within the British Zone. Between 1945 and 1949 Allied authority in Germany was exercised by the Commanders-in-Chief of the various Allied military zones, and jointly through a Control Council. In 1949, that authority was transferred from the military governors to Civil High Commissioners. In London, the department responsible for the exercising of British control in Germany and Austria was the Control Office, which in 1947 became the German Section of the Foreign Office.

Most of the records described below were generated by the Control Commission for Germany British Element (CCG) and its predecessors, of these an estimated 29,000 files have survived. Initially, it should be noted that The National Archives does not hold nominal rolls of detainees (except No.3 Civilian Internment Camp Fallingbostel), displaced persons (DPs), former forced labourers or comprehensive lists of those released. Nor does it hold any nominal lists or the personnel files of those employed by the CCG or similar organisations. Occasionally, confirmation of a release or transfer can be found in individual camp records or regional camp administration records. The reasons behind detention are also scarce, however, this is sometimes mentioned in camp administrative records, usually in connection with incidents occurring within the camp, or as the result of separate investigations into an individual's wartime or post-war activities.

Documentation on all aspects of the work of the Control Office's Prisoner of War Section may be found in FO 939 . This class includes files on individual PoW camps in the United Kingdom. The records of the Control Office’s General Department, in FO 945 , contain files on the repatriation of ex-PoWs (mainly Austrian and German) in pieces FO 945/441 -459 . Files of the Displaced Persons Section are to be found in FO 945/359 -404 and 541 -773 , and material on the resettlement of displaced persons exists in pieces FO 945/460 -527 . The financial aspects of DP administration in Austria and Germany are documented in the Control Office Finance files in FO 944 . In addition a few files concerning travel into and out of Germany by ex-POWs and DP holders of Ministry of Labour permits is in the Control Office Travel files in FO 940 .

9. Control Commission for Germany

Material relating to all aspects of the CCG's responsibilities for PoWs and DPs, 1944-1952, is in the records of the Prisoners of War and Displaced Persons Division in FO 1052 . Files concerning the employment of ex-PoWs and DPs, PoW and DP camps, repatriation of German ex-PoWs etc. are in FO 1038 (CCG Military Divisions). Documents on the resettlement of DPs in 1946 are in the records of the CCG Political Division in FO 1049/505 -506 ; various other files concerning DPs and ex-PoWs are scattered throughout FO 1049 . The DPs files of the Military Government Civil Affairs Headquarters Secretariat can be found in FO 1032/310 -311 . Files of the Prisoners of War and Displaced Persons Division of the Headquarters Secretariat of the Zonal Executive Committee Offices are FO 1032/803 -812 .

The files of the Education Branch Headquarters (Berlin and Bad Rothenfelde) of the CCG Internal Affairs and Communications Division concerning ex-PoWs and DPs are in FO 1050/1242 -1244 .

Denazification policy with respect to German prisoners still held in camps in 1947 is in FO 1033/43 .

A potentially fruitful source of information on ex-PoWs and DPs in the immediate post-war period are the Control Commission's Regional Files. Those relating to Schleswig Holstein include documentation on PoWs and DPs policy (FO 1006/289 -293 & 500 -589 ), DP camps (FO 1006/294 ), and the resettlement of German ex-POWs (FO 1006/296 and 297 ). Various files concerning German ex-PoWs and Soviet DPs in Lower Saxony are in FO 1010/13 -14 and 51 , and DPs files occur throughout the records of the CCG: Berlin, especially in FO 1012/25 -39 . DPs policy directives and returns for Hamburg are in FO 1014/378 -379 , and also further on in FO 1014 . Similar material for the North Rhine-Westphalia region is in FO 1013/2088 -2111 .

10. Miscellaneous Records

An indispensable means of reference to Foreign Office material on post-1945 DPs and PoW policy is the printed Index to General Correspondence held in the Research Enquiries Room at Kew. Documents are listed under 'Displaced persons' and 'Prisoners of War'. Most are grouped by country or (for PoWs) by nationality.

Information concerning ex-PoWs and DPs policy in post-war Austria can be gleaned from the records of the Allied Commission for Austria. The files of the Prisoners of War and Displaced Persons Directorate are in FO 1007/149 -153 , and those of the Prisoners of War and Displaced Persons Division can be found in FO 1007/393 -397 . The bulk of the Division's papers is in FO 1020/2378 -2543 . Papers of the Prisoners of War and Displaced Persons Branch (Carinthia) are in FO 1020/2832 -2848 , and Displaced Persons Branch papers of the Vienna Civil Liaison are to be found in FO 1020/3039 -3051 .

Home Office involvement in the administration of PoWs and DPs between 1945 and 1949 is documented in the Aliens General Files, HO 213/1130 -1134 (PoWs) and HO 213/996 -1007 (DPs). Ministry of Labour files on the employment of ex-PoWs and DPs in the United Kingdom after 1945 can be located in LAB 8 .

Finally, it may be worthwhile contacting the International Tracing Service (ITS) at Bad Arolsen http://english.its-arolsen.org/ Particularly if you are attempting to trace: former concentration camp prisoners and those held in other places of detention controlled by the Reichsfuhrer-SS (1933-45); Jews who were deported during the Nazi era; foreigners who were on Reich territory; displaced persons under the care of international relief organisations, such as the UNRRA, IRO etc.; children of the aforementioned groups who were displaced or separated from their parents due to the events of the war or who were born on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany during the war. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the records of the ITS are not complete as a large percentage were destroyed before the liberation or evacuation of the camps or were lost for other reasons during the war.

(ri2029) Last updated: 28 June 2004 | © Crown Copyright 2002