REPATRIATED WAR PRISONERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24092, 30 October 1943, Page 5

REPATRIATED WAR PRISONERS

NEW ZEALANDERS’ STORIES (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 29. The British prisoners of war repatriated from Barcelona included 383 New Zealanders, 512 Australians, eight men from Britain, and one South African. The remainder are Indians, mostly merchant seamen. All the men who arrived at Barcelona seemed to be in good spirits, especially when they were met by New Zealand and Australian nurses. • A New Zealander, aged 35, said that he was taken prisoner in Crete and was in a German camp near Breslau for two years. The New Zealanders’ and Australians’ first questions invariably were: "How are things at home?” and “How soon will we see our families and homes?” New Zealand and Australian prisoners say the German soldiers who have been on the battlefront and have "been bled” are war weary and anxious for peace, but they are deeply afra’id of the Russians. The Nazi prison guards at first were arrogant and confident of victory, and they told the prisoners that Germany would soon overrun their countries. The guards latterly had asked the prisoners how long they thought the war would last. The Germans were so completely disciplined that they appeared to have no individuality, but latterly most of them were ready to do favours for the British prisoners. The Germans were envious of the quality of the goods in the Red Cross parcels. The Germans’ clothing was usually patched. The men said that the Poles were virtually slaves and were in fear of their lives, but they offered kindness whenever it was possible. , The ships' Cuba and Taqria. carrying 479 Empire war prisoners and 604 protected personnel, have sailed from Barcelona for Port Said. _