Oflag VIII-F
Encyclopedia
Oflag VIII-F was a World War II
German
POW camps for officer
s located in Wahlstatt, now Legnickie Pole
in Silesia
(Poland
) and Mährisch-Trübau, now Moravská Třebová
in north-central Czech Republic
.
and Belgian officers taken prisoner during the Battle of France
. It was located in a Benedictine Abbey that was a school since the mid-19th century. It was closed in June 1943 and the prisoners transferred to the following camp.
The second camp in Mährisch-Trübau was opened in July 1942 and closed in July 1944. It accommodated British Commonwealth officers taken prisoner by the Germans in the Greek islands after the capitulation of Italy. Others were captured during the Western Desert Campaign
in North Africa in 1942. Originally held in Italian PoW camps, they were transferred by the Germans after Italy's capitulation.
In July 1944, most of the prisoners were transferred to Oflag 79 near Braunschweig
.
In early 1945, the camp was strafed by American and British planes and there were some casualties.
12 April 1945, the camp was liberated by the U.S. Ninth Army
.
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...
German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
POW camps for officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s located in Wahlstatt, now Legnickie Pole
Legnickie Pole
Legnickie Pole is a village in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Legnickie Pole. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(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...
) and Mährisch-Trübau, now Moravská Třebová
Moravská Trebová
Moravská Třebová is a town in the Svitavy District and lies in the Pardubice Region, Czech Republic. It has around 11,300 inhabitants.Moravská Třebová is located on the Třebůvka River in the landscape of the "Schönhengstgau"....
in north-central Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
Timeline
The first camp in Wahlstatt was opened in July 1940 to house FrenchFrance
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...
and Belgian officers taken prisoner 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...
. It was located in a Benedictine Abbey that was a school since the mid-19th century. It was closed in June 1943 and the prisoners transferred to the following camp.
The second camp in Mährisch-Trübau was opened in July 1942 and closed in July 1944. It accommodated British Commonwealth officers taken prisoner by the Germans in the Greek islands after the capitulation of Italy. Others were captured during the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
in North Africa in 1942. Originally held in Italian PoW camps, they were transferred by the Germans after Italy's capitulation.
In July 1944, most of the prisoners were transferred to Oflag 79 near Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
.
In early 1945, the camp was strafed by American and British planes and there were some casualties.
12 April 1945, the camp was liberated by the U.S. Ninth Army
U.S. Ninth Army
The Ninth United States Army was one of the main U.S. Army combat commands used during the campaign in Northwest Europe in 1944 and 1945. It was commanded from its inception by Lieutenant General William Simpson...
.