Page 26 - All About History - Issue 52-17

Prisons

5 shocking facts about…

WWII PRISONERS OF WAR

ALLIED AND AXIS POWERS, 1939-1945

AT A GLANCE

Millions of people were
captured and imprisoned by
both sides during World War II,
but their treatment during this
time varied. Countries including
the US, UK and Germany
mostly adhered to the Geneva
Convention’s provisions for
POW treatment, while Japan
and the Soviet Union had no
such obligations.

Playing There was a Some enjoyed Thousands Homosexuals
01 cards helped 02 canine POW 03 their stay 04 were 05 were never
prisoners escape Judy the dog, a Royal Some POWs, particularly experimented on liberated
During WWII, The United Navy mascot, was officially German soldiers in the UK, More than 10,000 Chinese, POWs sentenced in Germany
States Playing Cards Company registered as a POW after US and Canadian camps, Korean and Russian POWs as homosexuals were known
designed a special deck of being captured with the crew actually enjoyed a better life were subjected to experiments as ‘175ers’, in reference to the
cards known as the ‘Map of HMS Grasshopper in Japan. than they had back home, like live vivisections and organ law that criminalised their
Deck’, which was sent to She intelligently protected and chose to immigrate there removals, as part of Japan’s sexuality, and were made to
Allied prisoners. When soaked them by distracting the camp once the fighting was over. biological warfare programme. wear pink triangles on their
in water, the cards could be guards when they were Many received paid work and After the war, the US offered clothing. After the war, they
peeled apart to reveal a hidden administering punishment to an education, while higher- Japanese officers immunity were not acknowledged as
map that could potentially help the prisoners, and was later ranking officers and admirals from prosecution for war victims of Nazi persecution,
them to escape from German awarded the Dickin Medal for were even wined, dined and crimes in return for their and so were forced to serve
POW camps. her bravery. entertained there. experimental data. out the rest of their sentences. © Alamy

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