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German prisoners making a road in southern England 1917
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German prisoners making a road in southern England 1917
Some 102, 000 German prisoners making a road through the woods in a picturesque corner of southern England, where they are building their own camp.
1917
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Media ID 14412157
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This evocative photograph captures a moment in history during the First World War when over 102,000 German prisoners of war were put to work building roads in a picturesque corner of southern England. Taken in 1917, the image shows the prisoners making steady progress through the woods, each man focused on his task. The camp, established in 1915, was one of several in the UK where German prisoners were held and put to work as part of the war effort. The prisoners were housed in huts and provided with food, clothing, and medical care, but they were subjected to strict discipline and long working hours. The roads they built were essential for the transportation of troops and supplies to the Western Front, and the labour provided by the prisoners helped to alleviate the strain on British manpower. Despite the challenging conditions, the prisoners were paid a small wage for their work, and some were even allowed to send money home to their families. This photograph offers a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the unexpected alliances that could form in even the most adversarial of circumstances.
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