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German Prisoners of War in Japan During the First World War: Letters from the Colonial Frontline.

In 1914, approximately 4500–4800 German men were transported to Prisoner of War (POW) camps in Japan following the occupation of the German colony in China. They were the only European POWs held captive by an Asian Great Power, making this a unique colonial case study. This is the first essay to ana...

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Published in:Journal of War & Culture Studies Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 253 - 266
Main Author: Barkhof, Sandra
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Aug2017
Subjects:
Prisoners of war
Concentration camps
Patriotism
Diaspora
German colonies
Germany
Japan
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:In 1914, approximately 4500–4800 German men were transported to Prisoner of War (POW) camps in Japan following the occupation of the German colony in China. They were the only European POWs held captive by an Asian Great Power, making this a unique colonial case study. This is the first essay to analyse how German POWs in Japan perceived of and narrated their experiences in their letters, with particular focus on the recurring themes of patriotism, nationalism, and cultural-racial constructs. I will analyse the ways in which the POWs used these socio-cultural concepts to make sense of their circumstances and maintain a link to the German diaspora and metropolis.