‘An important contribution to the allied war effort’: Canadian and North Atlantic intelligence on German POWs, 1940–1945

ABSTRACT

This article examines inter-allied efforts to collect, categorize and analyse material gathered from the thousands of German prisoners of war (POWs) in their hands during the Second World War. The different information gathered from enemy captives was valuable to British, Canadian and American intelligence services, helping them to evaluate morale of ‘Hitler’s soldiers’, to improve the security of their camp networks and to understand National Socialism ideology. Often viewed as a primarily British-American operation, POW intelligence also involved Canadian authorities. This article argues that Canada, far from being a secondary actor, had a central role within this transatlantic network.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank to Alan Malpass, Talbot Imlay as well as the two anonymous assessors for their help and comments on various versions of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Department of External Affairs, RG25, Vol. 1961, Letter Department External Affairs, Ottawa, to Ernest Maag ICRC, 2 October 1941.

2. The National Archives (TNA), Foreign Office, FO916/89, Personal Memo, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Ottawa, Gerald Campbell to Roger Makins, Foreign Office, London, 27 July 1941.

3. Stafford and Jeffreys-Jones, American-British-Canadian Intelligence, 1–4.

4. Jensen, Cautious Beginnings, 3–12.

5. Jones, “From the Horse’s Mouth,” 60; Tyas, “Allied Intelligence Agencies and the Holocaust,” 1–2; and Fry, The London Cage, 1–10.

6. Neitzel and Welzer, Soldaten, 15–25; and Neitzel, Abgehört, 7–11.

7. Mallett, “Western Allied Intelligence,” 383; and Römer, “Tapping Alfred Andersch,” 563–4.

8. Fedorowich, “Axis Prisoners of War,” 156–7; and Bell, “One of our Most Valuable Sources of Intelligence,” 49–51.

9. Aldrich, “‘Special Relationship’ during the Cold War,” 331–2; Goodman, “Evolution of a Relationship,” 1–4; Jenner, “Turning the Hinge of Fate,” 165–6; and Moran and Murphy, Intelligence Studies in Britain and The US, 1–15.

10. Vance, “Men in Manacles,” 504.

11. Kelly, “Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence in Canada,” 285; St. John, “Canada’s Accession to the Allied Intelligence,” 7; and Page, “Tommy Stone and Psychological Warfare,” 110–5.

12. Jensen, Cautious Beginning, 78–90.

13. Cruickshank, The Fourth Arm, 61.

14. Fedorowich, “Axis Prisoners of War,” 165.

15. Ibid., 166 and 172.

16. Pluth, “German Prisoners of War Camps in the United States,” 15–41.

17. The Home Defence (Security) Executive (HD(S)E) suggested evacuating internee and POWs.

18. TNA, FO916/2580, Meeting between WO, FO, DO, HO and High Commissioners for Canada, London, “Conference on move of Prisoners of War and Internee,” 17 June 1940.

19. LAC, RG25, Vol. 824, Two Telegrams from High Commissioner for Canada in Great Britain to Secretary for External Affairs, Canada, 28 June 1940 and 1 July 1940.

20. LAC, RG6, Vol. 207, Telegram from High Commissioner for Canada in Great Britain to Secretary of State for External Affairs, Canada, 10 October 1940.

21. Römer, “A New Weapon in Modern Warfare,” 119.

22. BAC, RG24, Vol. 11250, Memo Lt. Col. Streight, DOI, Ottawa to Home Office London, 30 December 1941.

23. Fedorowich, “Axis Prisoners of War,” 163.

24. LAC, National Defence RG24, Vol. 11252, N. Stethem, DOI, “Report on the Reaction of Prisoners of War and Internees in Canada to the News of the Arrival in the United Kingdom of Rudolf Hess, Deputy Fuehrer of the Reichstag,” 24 May 1941.

25. National Administration and Records, College Park, MD (NARA), Office of Provost Marshall General, RG389, 452, Box. 1409, Letter of Harold Ickes, War Department to the Secretary of State, Washington, 30 January 1941.

26. NARA, RG389, 452, Box. 1409, Memorandum from Canadian Legation to Secretary of State, Washington DC, 30 December 1941.

27. NARA, RG389, 452, Box. 1409, Military Intelligence Division, Military Attaché Report Canada, “German POW in Canada,” 8 October 1942.

28. Kelly, “Prisoners of War Camps in Canada,” 167–8.

29. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Note for Mr. Scott, “Broadcasts of Messages by German prisoners of war in Canada,” 28 April 1942.

30. LAC, RG12, Vol. 1070, Committee for Protection and Welfare of Canadian POW in Enemy Hands, 12 January 1943.

31. BAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Letter Dep. External Affairs Ottawa to High Commissioners London, 15 September 1941.

32. BAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Letter High Commissioners London to Dep. External Affairs, Ottawa, 23 December 1941.

33. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Report “Broadcasting by German Prisoners of War,” 23 June 1942.

34. LAC, RG12, Vol. 1070, Memo Alfred Rive DEA to H.H. Wrong, Canadian Legation Washington, 10 April 1942.

35. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Memo N.A. Robertson to High Commission for Canada London, 16 October 1942. Material is available in RG24, Vol. 6585, Files “Weekly Broadcasts of excerpts from Letters Written by GAF POW in Canada.”

36. NARA, RG38, Box. 301, Report by Canadian Joint Staff Intelligence Committee, Washington, “Broadcast by German Prisoners of War,” 25 February 1943.

37. The project was titled “Hello Mother, I’m in Canada and I’m Good.” LAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Correspondence between High Commissioner for Canada, London to General N.A. Robertson from DEA, Ottawa, March 1943.

38. TNA, WO219/329, Report from Capt. Steed to Wing Cdr. Hitch, “Broadcasting by POW,” 2 April 1943.

39. TNA, WO219/329, Report, “Propaganda to Enemy Prisoners of War,” January 1943.

40. TNA, WO32/9908, Letter from War Office to G. Ignatieff, London, 19 February 1943.

41. TNA, WO32/9908, IPOWC, “Prisoners of War Propaganda to Enemy Countries,” 8 February 1943.

42. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2779, Memorandum for Mr. Robertson, 1 April 1943 and Notes for Mr. Glazebrook, 29 March 1943.

43. The American and British authorities signed the “50–50 Agreement” in 1942 stating that both countries could share responsibility for enemy soldiers captured during joint operations. Krammer, Nazis Prisoners in America, 3–10.

44. NARA, RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1411, Memorandum for OPMG, “British Censorship of POW Mail,” 11 May 1942.

45. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2777, File “Enemy Prisoners of War in the British Empire,” Memorandum from Canadian Legation at Washington and State Department, 27 January 1943.

46. NARA, RG389, Entry 467, Box. 1521, Memorandum from Canadian Chargé d’Affaire, Canadian Legation in Washington to Secretary of State, 16 September 1943.

47. NARA, RG389, Entry 467a, Box. 1533, Report “Internment Operations – Canada,” 1942.

48. As Examples: NARA, RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1409, Col. R.O. Bull, “Internment Camp No. 132,” Veterans Guard of Canada, Camp Standing Orders, Medicine Hat, 1 April 1943; Lt. Col. C.P. Lavigne, Internment Camp No. 33, Veterans Guard of Canada, Camp Standing Orders, Petawawa, 1 March 1943.

49. NARA, RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1431, Col. H.N. Streight, “Information on Labour Projects,” 5 September 1944; Memos from Military Attaché, Ottawa to Chief G-2, War Department, Washington, 17 April 1944.

50. As Examples: NARA, RG389, Entry 467, Box. 1521, Lt. Col. Kippen, camp Commandant to U.S. Legation, Standing Orders, Grande Ligne Internment Camp, 1943; RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1408, Report by D.M. Ladd, “Escaped Prisoners of War in Canada,” 23 August 1943.

51. NARA, RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1408, Monthly Reports from Veteran Guards of Canada to OPMG, “Attempted Escape-Tunnelling,” 13 July 1943 to 8 March 1944.

52. NARA, RG38, Box. 299, Many reports from George Kinnear, U.S. Naval Liaison Officer, to Director of Naval Intelligence, Internment Camp 130, 132 and 133, Canada, Intelligence Report, 31 July 1943 to 20 September 1944.

53. NARA, RG389, Entry 459A, Vol. 1637, Report by National Defence, “PW 14913, Muller, Kurt,” 6 September 1944.

54. NARA, RG389, Entry 461, Box. 2678, Memo from ASF to all Commanding Generals, “Suicide Clubs in Prisoners of War Camps,” 30 April 1945. Auger, “The HARIKARI Club,” 56–62.

55. NARA, RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1408, Report, “Escaped Prisoners of War in Canada, by Inspector Joseph Lynch FBI,” 23 August 1943. Canadian intelligence was informed of this situation. Auger, “The HARIKARI Club,” 49.

56. BAC, RG24, Bobine C-5387, National Defence, Report from U.S. Army, Washington, “Prisoner of War Employment,” 21 November 1944.

57. NARA, RG38, Box. 300, Report by Sergeant R. F. Walter, Naval Intelligence Officer to District Intelligence Officer, “German Prisoners of War. Internment Camp No. 44, Grande Ligne, Quebec, Canada,” 26 May 1944.

58. BAC, RG18, Vol. 3566, Folder Escapes from Internment camps, Document Minister to Immigration Ottawa, Under Secretary of State for External Affair to Washington, 15 April 1942.

59. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2761, Two telegrams from High Commissioner for Canada, London to DEA, Ottawa, 22 April 1942 and 15 May 1942.

60. NARA, RG389, Entry167, Box. 1531, Report from A.M. Tollefson, Prisoner of War Division, 27 September 1943; Starkey, “Camp Alva: Suppression by Recreation,” 2; and Hurt, The Great Plains during World War II, 312–46.

61. LAC, RG24, Vol. 11250, Internment Camp Operation, Intelligence Reports, September to December 1942.

62. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2777, Report to Deputy Minister for National Defence, Ottawa, 16 September 1943.

63. Lomas, “A Tale of Torture?” 252–3.

64. TNA, WO32/9908, Report by Alexander Patersons, “The Adjustment of a Prisoner’s Perspective. Can a Young Nazi face a non-Nazi Germany,” 25 October 1942.

65. TNA, WO32/9908, Memo from DPW to Vincent Massey, London, 8 March 1943; Faulk, Group Captives, 9–13 and 52.

66. NARA, RG389, Entry 452, Box. 1408, National Defence, DPW, Intelligence Report for August 1943, 28 October 1943; Page, “Tommy Stone and Psychological Warfare,” 112–4.

67. American and British emphasized this effort by June 1944: Laurie, The Propaganda Warriors, 205, 231–2; and Cruickshank, The Fourth Arm, 67–8, 131, 150 and 174–5.

68. TNA, FO371/34473, Report by Psychological Warfare Branch, “Declaration by the British and American Governments,” 4 October 1943.

69. NARA, RG38, Box. 299. Report by George Kinnear U.S. Naval Liaison Officer, “Viewpoints of German Prisoners of War in Alberta Canada,” 20 September 1943.

70. Beinecke Library (BL), Edward Davison Papers, 9. Report “Notes on Canadian Visit,” 10–15 May 1943.

71. BL, Edward Davison Papers, box 9, “Prisoners of War Camps in the United States,” May 1943.

72. Many reports are available in archives: NARA, RG389, Entry 459A, Box. 1631, War Department Pamphlets, “What About the German Prisoner? and Facts vs Fantasy,” 1944.

73. NARA, RG389, Entry 467, Box. 1521, Memorandum by OPGM for Col. Tollefson, “Pro-Allied Prisoners of War,” 26 July 1943; RG389, Entry 467, Box. 1517, Report by Commanding Officer, Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky to Commanding General 5th Service Command, 26 October 1943.

74. BL, Edward Davison Papers, box 9. Col. D.P. Page to Lt. Col. S. Marshall by, “Indoctrination of Enemy Prisoners,” 25 May 1943; Report by Edward Davison, “Report on Education of Prisoners of War,” May 1943.

75. BL, Edward Davison Papers, box 9. Major General Allen W. Gullion to Chief of Staff, Army Service Forces, “Orientation of Enemy Prisoners,” 24 June 1943.

76. Many reports in Canadian national archives. LAC, RG24, Bobine C-5416, Department of National Defence, Report from Veteran Guard’s and Intelligence Officers, Intelligence Reports for January and August 1944, Camp Medicine Hat, No Date; Intelligence Reports for March 1944, Camp Petawawa and Bowmanville, No Date; Intelligence Reports Camp Grande Ligne June 1944, No Date.

77. LAC, RG24, Vol. 8035, Report by National Defence, Canadian Postal Censorship, “Celebration on Hitler’s Birthday (20 April) in German Prisoners of War Camps in Canada,” Ottawa, 24 May 1944.

78. TNA, WO32/11121, Memorandum from FO to Washington, 13 October 1944; LAC, RG25, Vol. 2768, DO to High Commissioner for Canada, London, 24 September 1944.

79. TNA, FO939/389, Report by P.W.E., “The Re-Education of Prisoners of War,” No Date.

80. NARA, RG389, 459A, Box. 1637, Reports by H. V. Dicks, Directorate of Army Psychiatry, War Office, London, “National Socialism as a Psychological Problem,” January 1945; “Germany after the War, A Résumé,” February 1945.

81. NARA, RG389, 459A, Box. 1653, War Department to Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, “Psychiatric and Psychological Studies of German War Prisoners,” 31 May 1945; Box. 1637, Report to Chief of Staff, “Studies of German War Prisoners in the United States,” 22 March 1945; and Hoffman, “American Psychologists, 1941–1945,” 264.

82. TNA, WO32/11121, Letter from Admiralty, Military Branch, to War Office, 27 March 1944.

83. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2784, Memorandum from E.H.P. M.I.5. to D.M.I, “London Visit (Sept. 5 to Oct. 15),” 14 October 1944. Held, Kriegsgefangenschaft in Großbritannien, 241.

84. TNA, WO32/11121, Report by DPW, War Office, 24 June 1944.

85. TNA, CAB121/301, Memo War Cabinet, Foreign Office to British Staff, Washington, 14 June 1944.

86. NARA, RG165, Entry 43, Box. 516, Meeting Interdepartmental Board on Prisoners of War, OPMG, 18 April 1944.

87. TNA, FO916/907, Letter C. Warner, American Embassy, London to Henry Satow, PWD, FO, 4 May 1944.

88. NARA, RG 389, Entry 459A, Box. 1637, Report from P.H. Gore-Booth, British Embassy, to John Mason, Special War Problems, 23 August 1944; Extract Letter from Canadian Embassy to British Embassy, Washington, 21 July 1944; Memo from M. Gufler, State Department to British Embassy Washington, 24 July 1944.

89. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2783, DEA, Ottawa, to Morley Scott, Canada House, London, 2 March 1944.

90. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2784, Report by Canadian Psychological Warfare Committee, “Segregation, Interrogation and Reorientation of Prisoners of War in Canada,” 21 July 1944; Memo DEA, 26 July 1944.

91. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2784, Memorandum from DEA, Ottawa, to Canadian Minister, Washington, 20 October 1944; Memorandum from DEA, Ottawa to L. B. Pearson, Washington, 7 September 1944; RG24, Bobine C-5409, Memorandum, Committee for the Re-Education of German Prisoners of War in the US, No Date.

92. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2762, Telegram from High Commissioner for Canada, London to DEA, Ottawa, 11 July 1945; and Kershaw, The End, Germany 1944–45, 56, 70–1.

93. NARA, RG389, 459A, Box. 1633, Memorandum from P.W.E., Washington, D.C., “The Political Re-Education of German PW,” 23 January 1945.

94. There are many documents for this period: NARA, RG389, 459A, Box. 1637, ASF to all Commanding Generals, “Interview with Newly Arrived Prisoners of War,” 4 April 1945; Report By JM, “Studies of German War Prisoners in the United States,” 22 March 1945; LAC, RG24, Bobine C-8250, DPW National Defence, Information Summary From March 1945, 4 April 1945.

95. NARA, RG389, 459A, Box. 1633, Report by Walter Schönstedt, Chief Programs Branch to Col. Davison, Special Projects Division, 12 February 1945. Several exchanges by January 1945. RG389, 459A, Box. 1603, Report from Patterson, Director Films Division in London to Col. Edward Davison, 16 April 1945.

96. LAC, RG24, Bobine C-8250, Memorandum to Director of Military Intelligence, Ottawa, “Liaison Visit to British & U.S. Intelligence, N.Y.,” 16 May 1945.

97. LAC, RG25, Vol. 2784, Report by DEA and National Defence to Governor General, 5 February 1945.

98. NARA, RG38, Box. 300, From U.S. Naval Attaché, Ottawa to Director of Naval Intelligence, Washington, “Prisoners of War, Naval Information Compiled,” 7 May 1945.

99. NARA, RG389, Entry 459A, Box. 1633, “Reaction of PW to Announcement of Unconditional Surrender of Germany on 8 May 1945,” June 1945. Similar comments were made on camps in Britain: TNA, FO371/46742, Memo FO, “Action Taken in German PW Camps in United Kingdom on Cessation of Hostilities,” 18 June 1945.

100. TNA, FO371/46742, Telegram from Washington to Foreign Office, 15 June 1945.

101. Fedorowich, “Axis Prisoners of War,” 157.

102. Bell, “One of our Most Valuable Sources of Intelligence,” 18–19.

103. Rettig, “A De-Programming Curriculum”; Robin, The Barbed Wire College, 17–19; and Smith, The War for the German Mind.

104. Steinbach, “Die Konfrontation deutscher Kriegsgefangener mit der Demokratie,” 281.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fonds de recherche Société et Culture du Québec.

Notes on contributors

Jean-Michel Turcotte

Jean-Michel Turcotte completed a PhD at Laval University in 2018. His thesis was about the treatment of German POWs in Western Allies’ hands during the Second World War. His current research focuses on war captivity and international politics during the Korean War. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies in Berlin.