Status Updates From Crossing The Wire

The conditions of the Armistice specified that POWs should be freed from camps within fourteen days. This was virtually impossible to achieve.

Once the population started to starve, they were finished.

By 1918, the Allied naval blockade of the North Atlantic had taken hold... the blockade caused the ‘physical deterioration’ of the German people and led to ‘political revolution.’.. Germany simply did not have the manpower or resources...where food and production was maintained, distribution because a significant problem because of any vehicles being commandeered for military use.

Germans would try to plant Russian spies within POW ranks. However, they were pretty easily found out.

Barry’s wholesome diet was possible only because of the reasonably good supply of food in Germany in late 1916 as the Allied blockade of the Atlantic had not yet fully taken hold. By mid-1917, however, when those captured at Bullecourt were in camps or hospitals, the blockade was causing dire shortages for all Germans.

1899 - Regulations Respecting the Laws and Customs of War.

‘Quarantine Theory’

2nd half of 19th century the majority of Western nations accepted a human POW treatment policy.

POW rules were initially following old wars.

Organisations popped up, such as the Red Cross, IOT limit the impact on human life as a POW.

Boer War -

Significant number of other Australian soldiers taken in battle were stripped of their rifles, ammunition and other equipment before being set free to find their way back to their lines.