LEADER 03472cam a2200385Ia 4500001    18650
005    20240621142608.0
008    931105s1990    xx      rb    000 0 eng d
035    ocm29250302
035    18650
049    LHMA
040    MHR |beng |erda |cMHR
090    D805.G3 |bH34 1990a
100 1  Hasselbring, Andrew S.
245 10 American prisoners of war in the Third Reich / |cby Andrew S. Hasselbring.
264  1 [Place of publication not identified] : |b[publisher not identified], |c1990.
300    xi, 372 leaves ; |c28 cm
336    text |btxt |2rdacontent
337    unmediated |bn |2rdamedia
338    volume |bnc |2rdacarrier
502    Thesis (Ph. D.)--Temple University, 1990.
504    Includes bibliographical references (leaves 298-372).
530    Electronic version(s)  |bavailable internally at USHMM.
533    Photocopy. |bAnn Arbor, Mich. : |cUMI, |d1993. |e21 cm.
520    Germany held a total of 92,965 American prisoners of war during the Second World War. This dissertation uses archival materials and 101 interviews with former POWs and others connected to their experiences to examine the history of the American prisoners of war in the Third Reich. It explores the moral and practical reasons Americans were captured. The interrogation and transit camp experiences are also examined. This period was a time of tremendous instability for the prisoner because of the changing surroundings and continual threats to his safety. Germany's interrogation techniques, the military intelligence gained, and the effect on the prisoner are analyzed. The major portion of the dissertation studies the administration of the permanent camps both by the Germans and by the prisoners. German administration is examined on the national and camp level. Since permanent camp conditions varied widely, several examples of the three types of permanent camps (officer, enlisted men, and work detachment) are examined in order to present a more accurate history. The camps' physical makeup, security, outside relief, food and other provisions, medical, care, sanitation, work, and pay are discussed as they relate to German administration on both levels. Then, the dissertation examines the POWs' organization and its struggle to improve the prisoners' plight within the constraints of the Germans' administration. The prisoners' organization primarily focused on building and maintaining morale, through sports, theater, music, education, news, mail, and religion. Also examined is the mental, as well as physical, importance of food to the POW, and the overall affects the prisoner of war experience had on the Americans' mental state. The final chapter summarizes the conclusions of this work, and offers an analysis of the shortcomings of the Geneva Convention and of the United States government in assisting the prisoners of war in the Third Reich.
590     Dissertations and Theses
591    Record updated by Marcive processing 21 June 2024
650  0 Prisoners of war |zUnited States.
650  0 Prisoners of war |zGermany.
650  0 World War, 1939-1945 |xPrisoners and prisons, German.
856 41  |uhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=746158741&sid=28&Fmt=6&clientId=54617&RQT=309&VName=PQD |zElectronic version from ProQuest
956 41  |uhttp://dc.ushmm.org/library/bib18650/9120796.pdf   |zHosted by USHMM.
852 0   |bstacks |hD805.G3 H34 1990a
852     |bwww
852     |bebook