Thai-Burma Railway
On the 15 February, 1942, the troops defending the Singapore Fortress was forced to surrender to the invading Japanese soldiers. In the act of surrendering, many Australian soldiers became prisoners of war to the Japanese. Surrendering in war was seen as a great act of dishonorable military conduct by the defending troops and the only reason the Japanese didn't kill them is because there were too many people.
Many Australians (up to 9500) were taken by the Japanese troops to Thailand to begin work on a new project called "The Thai-Burma Railway". This was built because the Japanese troops planned to invade India and needed a fast way to move troops and supplies to a more appropriate area of attack. This project was started in 1942 and finished in August, 1943.
Many Australian soldiers died while building this railway from malnutrition, disease, injury, execution or over-working. While building, medical assistance was very rare, if not non-existence, and as a result even small afflictions could lead to death in such hot, muggy and unsterile conditions as were in the forests in South Asia.
Changi
Other POWs taken from the Fall of Singapore were transported to a prison camp called Changi which was located in Singapore. The number of Australian soldiers totaled at 14 972. This camp acted as a holding bay for prisoners of war and was guarded by Korean and Japanese soldiers.
Causes of death at Changi also came from execution, torture, malnutrition and diseases. Medical assistance was not prominent and it was rarely effective given that the supplies were dismal. Confinement, torture and fear led to many mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Causes of death at Changi also came from execution, torture, malnutrition and diseases. Medical assistance was not prominent and it was rarely effective given that the supplies were dismal. Confinement, torture and fear led to many mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Australian POWs in Germany
The German prison camps (more properly known as "Stalags") first became a holding place for Australian POWs in 1941 when battles were won in North Africa, Italy and Greece. prisoners were taken to these prison camps and kept there until 1943 when the advancing Allied forced posed a threat. At this time, important prisoners, such as air pilots and significant commanders were moved to further locations, behind enemy lines.
The movement of prisoners from their current Stalags was to prevent the Allies getting access to the German's prisoners. The Allies, however, continued their advance and were soon the POWs were forced to march through winter into the heart of Germany.
To see where POW's were being marched see: http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/behindwire/map_europemarch.html
The movement of prisoners from their current Stalags was to prevent the Allies getting access to the German's prisoners. The Allies, however, continued their advance and were soon the POWs were forced to march through winter into the heart of Germany.
To see where POW's were being marched see: http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/behindwire/map_europemarch.html