Ilag
Encyclopedia
Ilag is an abbreviation of the German
word Internierungslager. They were internment
camps established by the German Army
in World War II
to hold Allied
civilians, caught in areas that were occupied by the German Army
. They included United States
citizens caught in Europe by surprise when war was declared in December 1941 and citizens of the British Commonwealth
caught in areas engulfed by the Blitzkrieg
.
They also included British
citizens resident in the Channel Islands
. In September 1942 Adolf Hitler
ordered the German commander in Jersey
to deport to camps in Germany all British
citizens, not born in the islands. This was in retaliation for the internment by the British Army of Germans living in Iran
. In total over 2,000 men, women and children were deported.
by the German Army
to hold citizens of the United Kingdom
and the Commonwealth
countries that were caught by the rapid advance during the Battle of France
. The main camps were:
. The camp was opened June 1940 and existed until liberated by the United States Army
in August 1944. Part of the grounds were surrounded by barbed wire to provide open space for exercise.
In early 1942, there were more than 1,000 male British internees in the camp. The meagre food rations were augmented by the International Red Cross packages, so that, overall, their diet was satisfactory. Life was tolerable because there was a good library and recreation was provided by sports activities and theatre.
near Epinal
in the Department Vosges
. Most of the British families and single women were transferred here from St.Denis and Besançon.
In early 1942, women over 60, men over 75 and children under 16 were released. The overall population was thus reduced to about 2,400. The inmates included a number of American families and women.
Provisions for recreation included a local theatre and a park with seven tennis courts.
A young New Zealander and two British women escaped in August 1941 and made their way to England.
The first internees were about 300 British citizens from Poland
. More British were brought in 1941 from Belgium
, Greece
, Netherlands
and other countries. The food rations were augmented with Red Cross packages. The guards were old German soldiers veterans of World War I
and treated the internees well, as several of them had been prisoners of war in British camps and had been treated well. In January 1943 many of the married women were transferred to Vittel (see above).
in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg
. It consisted of 23 concrete huts which had previously served as Oflag V-B
for officers prisoner of war
. Initially the camp was administered by the German Army
, but in spring of 1943 the administration was transferred to the Interior Ministry. This caused a worsening of food rations. Otherwise conditions in the camp were considered satisfactory by the International Red Cross. On clear days there was a spectacular view of the Alps.
In January 1943, the camp held 1,011 internees: 429 men, 437 women and 145 children.
also in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg
. Earlier it had been used as an oflag
housing French
officers. Conditions were less satisfactory because it was located in a three-storey 18th century castle, that had recently been a monastery. The rooms were dark and damp. 618 internees arrived at the end of October 1942, all of them families.
in Bavaria
on the border with Austria
. Also all British single men from the Channel Islands were sent here in September 1942. But in 1943 the younger men who had parents in Biberach or Wurzach, were allowed to join them. These two camps were always administered by the German Army
In April 1944 Laufen held 459 British internees (417 Channel islanders) and 120 Americans.
Over 40 Channel Island internees died during internment.
Ilag Wurzach
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word Internierungslager. They were internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
camps established by the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to hold Allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
civilians, caught in areas that were occupied by the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
. They included United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizens caught in Europe by surprise when war was declared in December 1941 and citizens of the British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
caught in areas engulfed by the Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg
For other uses of the word, see: Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg is an anglicized word describing all-motorised force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken,...
.
They also included British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizens resident in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
. In September 1942 Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
ordered the German commander in Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
to deport to camps in Germany all British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizens, not born in the islands. This was in retaliation for the internment by the British Army of Germans living in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. In total over 2,000 men, women and children were deported.
Internment Camps in France 1940–1944
Several Ilags were set up in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
to hold citizens of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries that were caught by the rapid advance during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. The main camps were:
Besançon
Also called Frontstalag 142. At the end of 1940, 2,400 women, mostly British, were interned in the Vauban barracks and another 500 old and sick in the St. Jacques hospital close by. In early 1941 many of them were released, the rest were transferred to Vittel.St.Denis
The camp was located in the old barracks built in the middle of the 19th century at St.Denis, close to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The camp was opened June 1940 and existed until liberated by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in August 1944. Part of the grounds were surrounded by barbed wire to provide open space for exercise.
In early 1942, there were more than 1,000 male British internees in the camp. The meagre food rations were augmented by the International Red Cross packages, so that, overall, their diet was satisfactory. Life was tolerable because there was a good library and recreation was provided by sports activities and theatre.
Vittel
Also called Frontstalag 121, this was one of the more hospitable internment camps as it was located in requisitioned hotels in this spaSpa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
near Epinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
in the Department Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
. Most of the British families and single women were transferred here from St.Denis and Besançon.
In early 1942, women over 60, men over 75 and children under 16 were released. The overall population was thus reduced to about 2,400. The inmates included a number of American families and women.
Provisions for recreation included a local theatre and a park with seven tennis courts.
A young New Zealander and two British women escaped in August 1941 and made their way to England.
Ilag V Liebenau
A camp in Liebenau, close to Meckenbeuren in Württemberg, on Lake Constance was opened in 1940 and operated until 1945. It was situated in a castle and four adjacent buildings. Originally it had been a mental hospital run by nuns. By orders of Hitler, about 700 of the patients were exterminated with injections, to provide room for internees.The first internees were about 300 British citizens from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. More British were brought in 1941 from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and other countries. The food rations were augmented with Red Cross packages. The guards were old German soldiers veterans of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and treated the internees well, as several of them had been prisoners of war in British camps and had been treated well. In January 1943 many of the married women were transferred to Vittel (see above).
Ilag V-B Biberach
This camp set up to accommodate Channel Island families and was located on a plateau north-west of Biberach an der RißBiberach an der Riß
Biberach is a town in the south of Germany. It is the capital of Biberach district, in the Upper Swabia region of the German state of Baden-Württemberg...
in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
. It consisted of 23 concrete huts which had previously served as Oflag V-B
Oflag V-B
Oflag V-B Biberach, was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Biberach in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg from 1940 to 1942. Most of the prisoners were British officers captured in the Battle of France in 1940 or in Greece in June 1941...
for officers prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. Initially the camp was administered by the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, but in spring of 1943 the administration was transferred to the Interior Ministry. This caused a worsening of food rations. Otherwise conditions in the camp were considered satisfactory by the International Red Cross. On clear days there was a spectacular view of the Alps.
In January 1943, the camp held 1,011 internees: 429 men, 437 women and 145 children.
Ilag V-C Wurzach
This camp also held Channel Island families. It was in the town of Bad WurzachBad Wurzach
Bad Wurzach is a small town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is a well known health-resort destination, and home to the oldest moor-spa in Baden-Württemberg, as well as one of the biggest connected high-moor areas in Europe. It is situated 25 km northeast of...
also in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
. Earlier it had been used as an oflag
Oflag
An Oflag was a prisoner of war camp for officers only, established by the German Army in both World War I and World War II in accordance with the requirements of the Geneva Convention ....
housing French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
officers. Conditions were less satisfactory because it was located in a three-storey 18th century castle, that had recently been a monastery. The rooms were dark and damp. 618 internees arrived at the end of October 1942, all of them families.
Ilag VII Laufen and Tittmoning
British and American citizens were interned in the castles of Laufen and TittmoningTittmoning
Tittmoning is a town in the district of Traunstein, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the border with Austria, on the left bank of the river Salzach, 38 km northwest of Salzburg. Population 6,151 . Postal code 84529....
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
on the border with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Also all British single men from the Channel Islands were sent here in September 1942. But in 1943 the younger men who had parents in Biberach or Wurzach, were allowed to join them. These two camps were always administered by the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
In April 1944 Laufen held 459 British internees (417 Channel islanders) and 120 Americans.
Over 40 Channel Island internees died during internment.
Repatriation
- At least one small group of internees returned from LaufenLaufenLaufen is a municipality on the southeastern border of Bavaria with Austria.-History:It was first mentioned in a deed of 748. The rapids that gave the town the name were also responsible for the town's wealth from the salt trade...
to Jersey prior to D-Day in 1944. - After lengthy negotiations in SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, 900 British internees, mostly elderly or ill, were exchanged in LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
for a similar number of Germans interned in South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in July 1944. Among the British there was a large number of the Channel Islanders. However they were returned to the British Isles, not to the Channel Islands. - The remainder were repatriated after the camps were liberated by the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
or the French Army (Biberach) in May 1945.
Sources
- Deportation from Channel Islands
- Commonwealth citizens interned in France p.94
- Conditions in Ilags, p.439
- Story of Armenian woman living in Holland, interned in Libenau, etc
- Das war nicht nur "Karneval im August - by Adler, Reinhold. Biberach 2002 (ISBN 3-9806818-2-3) - in German.
- Das Wurzacher Schloss 1940 - 1945 - by Rothenhäusler, Gisela. Lindenberg 2008 (ISBN 978-3-89870-502-8 - in German
- Channel Island internees who died during internment
See also
- InternmentInternmentInternment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
Ilag Wurzach