The most offbeat WW2 story you'll ever see - German POWs in Canada, Camp 30
- Thread starter wetnose
- Start date
My Grandparents housed many P.O.W.s from W.W. II. In their home, in their attic, in a bunk house that we still have. The men would come from camps during spring, summer, and fall to help with seeding the crops, putting hay up and then harvest the crops. Many of those men kept in contact with my Grandparents by letters through out the years. Several that stayed in Canada and some that re-patriated brought their families back to meet their Canadian family.
From Wikipedia:
"In October 1942, between 1,500 and 4,000 prisoners revolted against the POW guards after they were shackled as retribution as part of the escalation of Germany's new Commando Order."
"Approximately 100 requisitioned from another base in Kingston arrived, and together stormed the mess hall using only ice hockey sticks, so the two sides remained evenly matched. After several hours of brawling, the Canadians brought high pressure water hoses and soaked the cabin thoroughly until the prisoners agreed to come out peacefully."
How Canadian can you get?
"In October 1942, between 1,500 and 4,000 prisoners revolted against the POW guards after they were shackled as retribution as part of the escalation of Germany's new Commando Order."
"Approximately 100 requisitioned from another base in Kingston arrived, and together stormed the mess hall using only ice hockey sticks, so the two sides remained evenly matched. After several hours of brawling, the Canadians brought high pressure water hoses and soaked the cabin thoroughly until the prisoners agreed to come out peacefully."
How Canadian can you get?
In the video, the Allies had concerns over England being invaded and lost to the Nazis. They did not want German P.O.Ws., particularly the officers being re-patriated.
If the troop ships going to England were lucky enough to make it, I imagine they would be making a return trip back to Canada for more troops. May as well make the back haul a paying trip with P.O.W.s.
The front haul pays the expenses...the back haul makes the money.
It was a good tactical choice since they allowed POWs to report of the good treatment. Later on, this made surrendering very viable since the Germans knew that they'd be treated well.
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May I suggest this for a read... Operation fish ------> https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/operation-fish-ottawa-british-gold-1.6092275
