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- Notes:
- Here are examples of two program covers from the prison camp at Doeberitz. The cover on the left is from a theatrical performance of "The Last of the Mohicans," which the prisoners presented on 23 February 1918. The cover on the right is from a souvenir program from the New Doeberitz Empire for a July 1915 production. The smiling British sailor was the symbol of the camp and lived by the motto "Always bright and merry!"
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- The British prisoners produced this Easter card in 1916 which shows the Doeberitz sailor breaking out of an Easter egg sitting on a nest of made of barbed-wire. The British prisoners in this camp constantly demonstrated an ability to find humor in their situation.
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British, Russian, and French cobblers work in their shop at Doeberitz making new and repairing old shoes and boots. These shops offered important services to prisoners and offered young POW's an opportunity to learn a trade.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- A group of Scottish and English prisoners of war relax in the compound at Doeberitz smoking their pipes and cigarettes. Note the German non-commissioned officer standing to the extreme right smoking a cigarette.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British prisoners of war stand about the compound at the prison camp at Doeberitz early in the war. They appear to be undergoing some kind of interrogation or registration with the seated civilian. The prisoners are wearing the pre-war field hats British soldiers wore before the army issued helmets.
- Date Created:
- 1914-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- French, French North African, Belgian, English, and Scottish prisoners of war at Doeberitz pose for a photograph in front of their barrack. The Germans mixed POWs of various nationalities in the same prison camp to avoid accusations of favoritism.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Captured English sailors from a British submarine constructed this underground barrack at Doeberitz. They called the facility the "English Submarine" and the designer is standing in the middle of the British sailors by the entrance to the barrack in the white coat. Earthen barracks were warmer in the winter than wooden buildings and cooler in the summer.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Two British soldiers and a sailor stand outside of the YMCA Reading Room at Doeberitz. The photograph caption indicates that these men were members of the YMCA camp committee. The room is busy as several POW's look out the window at the photographer. Prisoners enjoyed the availability of books for entertainment and education.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- This photograph shows the British sailors and soldiers who lived in the "English Submarine," an underground barrack, at Doeberitz. The barrack is definitely crowded, like a submarine, but is well-stocked with tables and benches, a large wooden stove, and there are lots of provisions on the shelves in the back of the room.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- Cast of a theater production pose for this photograph in the prison compound in Doeberitz in the middle of the winter. The actors, including the women, wear a wide range of costumes representing the various nationalities in the camp, in preparation for a fancy dress ball.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- A group of Scottish prisoners of war at Doeberitz light up pipes and cigarettes in the prison camp compound.
- Date Created:
- 1914-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British soldiers and sailors check out the the New Doeberitz Empire's early summer concert series (May 1915) on the bulletin board on the side of a barrack at Doeberitz. These bulletins provided POW's with camp news and official orders.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British prisoners of war relax in the compound at Doeberitz in the first few months of the war. They eat at the outdoor tables and live in the tents in the background. These men will provide the labor for the construction of the wooden facilities that will house them in the coming years.
- Date Created:
- 1914-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- This drawing shows the symbol of the prison camp at Doeberitz: a British sailor with a mended uniform, holes in his elbows, and barefoot, leaning against a broken anchor with 'ope (hope) as his motto.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British prisoners of war on a labor detachment march along a snowy road in support of a supply train. One POW is pulling a cart filled with boxes, which may have been parcels for the prisoners. The heavily laden wagon in front is also pulled by several prisoners. POW's often had to march to the railroad depot to load wagons with supplies and parcels for the prison camp.
- Date Created:
- 1917-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- German non-commissioned officers carefully inspect food parcels for contraband while British, Scottish, and French prisoners prepare to distribute the censor-approved packets to fellow prisoners. German enthusiasm for detecting banned items sometimes spoiled food preservation by opening cans and tins or cutting through bread and meat products.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- This portrait of Joe Parsons, a popular entertainer at Doeberitz, dressed as a knight with a broken lance, outside of a barrack.
- Date Created:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- British prisoners eat their lunch of soup at outdoor tables in the compound at Doeberitz. This photograph was taken early in the war as the British soldiers are wearing pre-war issue field hats, are eating outdoors, and live in the tents behind them. The prisoners had not yet constructed the wooden barracks which would be their homes for the rest of the war.
- Date Created:
- 1914-01-01T00:00:00Z
- 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:
- The program cover for a New Doeberitz Empire performance in November 1915, which features an English soldier instead of the traditional sailor as the camp's mascot.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries
- Notes:
- A group of English and Scottish soldiers and sailors stand in front of their barrack along with several German non-commissioned officers for a group photograph.
- Date Created:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Western Michigan University. Libraries