PRISONERS IN GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 6

PRISONERS IN GERMANY

EARLY LIBERATION EXPECTED 1,177 OF 6,867 ALREADY FREE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 27. " According to official advices received up to last evening, 1,177 New Zealand prisoners of war have been released from camps in Germany and the European area," said the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Nash, to-night. " Of this number, 1,080 are Army personnel, 93 Air Force, and four Navy. Of the total of army personnel, 134 were freed by the Russians, while the remainder were liberated by other Allied forces. " Reference was made in a statement issued earlier this week to various reasons contributing to the delay in the receipt here of official information concerning the release of prisoners of war," Mr Nash continued. " The figures I have given should, therefore, he regarded as a conservative estimate of the numbers actually released. The actual numbers will, in fact, be somewhat greater. " The majority of the British and other Allied prisoners of war in German hands are, according

to advice received here, now held in Bavaria," Mr Nash.added. "It is expected, in view of the offer made by the German authorities, to leave them in their existing camps, and, subject to the course of military operations, that they should all be liberated shortly."

Mr Nash said' that the total number of New Zealand prisoners of war held in camps in Germany and the European area at the end of March was: Army, 6,392 j Navy, 10; Air Force, 465.