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- Notes:
- Russian sergeants and corporals enjoyed a higher standard of living in relation to the rank and file depicted in this drawing of a Russian non-commissioned officer's room in Muensingen. Not only does the non-commissioned officer have a single bed, wall cabinet, and desk, he has a number of musical instruments (a mandolin, balalaika, and accordion) and fans decorate the walls.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The French orchestra performs an afternoon concert for recuperating sick and wounded prisoners of war in a garden outside of the hospital ward at Goettingen. The civilian standing to the extreme left, talking to the wounded Russian soldier is probably Archibald C. Harte.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Russian prisoners stand bare-headed in the prison compound at Purgstall during a Christmas celebration during the dedication of the new Association hall in January 1917. A group of Austrian officers stand to the left, next to the POW choir. The YMCA hall is decorated with garland and a large Christmas tree. On the platform by the door stands a WPA secretary, Edgar MacNaughten, and the camp commandant.
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The stringed orchestra performs during the Christmas service in the YMCA building in Braunau-am-Inn in 1916. Note the extensive decorations in the building which include garland, paper chains, pine boughs, and a large, decorated Christmas tree behind the stage. There are Christmas presents on the floor to the right of the stage, near a phonograph. Association secretaries went to great lengths to provide POW's with Christmas cheer at a time when many prisoners suffered from depression and home sickness.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- A group of British prisoners stand in front of their barrack displaying some of their belongings at Schneidemuehl. The prisoners enjoy a gramophone, several musical instruments (including drums, a mandolin, and harmonicas), and what appears to be a set of Indian clubs for exercise.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Scottish, Irish, and Canadian prisoners were not the only soldiers who carried bagpipes into battle. These two Serbian prisoners of war stand outside of their one-story wooden barracks at Koenigsbrueck with the bagpipes in hand. Note the identification badges on their field caps and the right breasts of their tunics.
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Ruhleben was a segregated prison camp and imperial prisoners from Africa and the West Indies lived in separate barracks. Several of these men have musical instruments (guitars and an accordion), while the man seated at the right is enjoying his lunch. A German guard stands at the back of the room.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The Russian prisoners in Reichenberg display the contents of the recreation chest they just received from the YMCA War Prisoners' Aid organization in Vienna. Each chest held games (Tambola, dominoes, chess, checkers, and Mensch aergere dich nicht), musical instruments (accordions and harmonicas), books, and Russian Orthodox crosses. An unidentified Association secretary, in the civilian clothing and wearing the C.V.J.M. armband), poses with the Russian prisoners. The YMCA committee in the prison camp then sent these recreation chests to POW's working outside of the camp in Arbeitskommandos (labor detachments).
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- After the YMCA building inauguration and Christmas service at Purgstall, the Austrian officers and visitors stop for a photograph. The visitors included Austrian Baron von Haitin, the Swedish minister to Austria-Hungary; His Excellency Berks-Fries, Charge d'Affairs; Leche; Pastor Neander (a YMCA secretary); and Edgar MacNaughten, the Senior WPA Secretary for Austria-Hungary, who stand on the front porch of the building. Russian prisoners look on the scene from the background.
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The dining hall at Werl is set for lunch. The tables are covered with table cloths, cutlery, and dishes and there are decanters for liquid refreshment. The room is decorated with pictures on the wall and the prisoners have access to a piano to the left.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Russian prisoners assemble in the snow in the prison compound at Wieselburg for Christmas celebrations in January 1918. Secretary John Klanmann, a Swedish YMCA worker, addresses the prisoners from the platform in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Prisoners carry a cross and religious banners and the POW band stands to the left of the platform.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Serbian and Russian prisoners assemble in the prison compound at Nagymegyer on their day off. A band, standing to the right at the front of the assembled men, prepares to play. Hungarian officers and NCO's stand in the foreground and one can see the one-story wooden barracks in the background.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- This marks the official inauguration of the YMCA building in the prison camp in Wieselburg in 1916. Austrian officers and a visiting delegation stand in the center of the prison compound and Russian POW's stand at attention along the perimeter. The prison band is assembled on the perimeter to the left side of the photo. Wieselburg had over 5,000 permanently disabled prisoners in its ranks.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- A Polish band performs in the prison compound at Plan. These Russian prisoners received their musical instruments from the American Red Triangle secretary. Austrian officials supported the establishment of nationalist organizations among the subject peoples of the Russian Empire in support of the Dual Monarchy's post-war goals of a Polish kingdom under Austro-German control.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Six British officers occupied this room at the officers' prison camp at Friedberg. In comparison to the enlisted men, officers enjoyed a much higher standard of living. They had access to furniture, standing closets, and desks in addition to a large common table. They could also decorate their room with pictures and maps and a guitar hangs in the corner.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Seven Russian officers shared this room in the prison camp at Friedberg. They enjoyed individual beds, several chairs and tables (one with a table cloth), standing closets, and individual cupboards, a far better standard of living in relation to enlisted prisoners. The inhabitants decorated the walls with maps, publications, and pictures and a guitar on the wall in the corner.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Several Christmas trees stand on a platforms in the prison compound at Theresienstadt, probably outside of the YMCA building. The prisoners have decorated the trees with paper chains and ornaments. On the right hand side of the platform sits an accordion, which will bring music into the camp.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British interrnees could participate in a full orchestra in the prison camp at Ruhleben. Among the prisoners there were a number of accomplished musicians and composers. Concerts provided by the orchestra provided the camp population with a diversion from their problems and homesickness.
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The YMCA provided musical instruments which allowed French POW's to form bands and orchestras in prison. Access to instruments gave skilled musicians the opportunity to continue practicing for post-war performances and concerts improved the morale of the general camp population. The band at Muenster is performing an afternoon concert in the prison compound. Note the laundry drying outdoors outside of the barracks.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Serbian fiddlers strike up a tune in the prison compound at Nagymegyer to provide entertainment for the prisoners on their day off from work.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- French prisoners sing a song outdoors in the prison compound in Zossen under the direction of a choir director. German NCO's and officers stand in the background next to the barrack. The choir leader has set up his stand on top of a narrow gauge railway line. Due to the size of the camp, the Germans used a small railway line system to transport supplies to the camp.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- This was the interior of an enlisted men's barrack for French prisoners of war in the prison camp at Goettingen. While the prisoners did have some belongings, which are stacked on the shelves behind the POW's, the conditions were very cramped in this barrack. There is room, however, for a piano against the back wall which one of the soldiers is playing.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The prison orchestra at Doeberitz, composed of British prisoners, is about to give an outdoor concert in front of a barrack. Prisoners are equipped with a wide range of musical instruments and have wooden music stands, most likely produced in the prison carpentry shop. Note the camp bulletin board on the wall behind the orchestra which announced news and orders.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Prisoners assemble outside of a YMCA hall in an Austrian prison camp in preparation for their Christmas celebration. Dignitaries are standing on the steps of the building by the front door.
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries