New Zealand POWs
This summary is provided by Philip Baker, founder of the Online Memorial and Museum of Prisoners of War.
The experiences of New Zealand POWs were not really any different to those of the British, Australians, Canadians, etc.
Around 140,000 New Zealanders served in the Second World War, with the majority fighting in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. Over 8,000 became prisoners of war.
Most New Zealand POWs were captured in North Africa, Greece and Crete in 1941 or in Italy.
Some were taken in Europe during later campaigns.
Prisoners of Japan
Those captured by the Japanese were mainly from the fall of Singapore in 1942. Around 800 New Zealanders were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese during. Many New Zealanders were sent to work on the Thai-Burma Railway, where they faced forced labour, disease, malnutrition, and brutal treatment. Some were transported to Japan and used as forced labour in mines and factories. Survival rates were lower compared to POWs held in German or Italian camps. About half of the New Zealanders held by the Japanese died in captivity due to starvation, disease, or mistreatment.
Prisoners of Italy
Approximately 2,000 New Zealanders were taken prisoner by Italian forces.
Most were captured in North Africa, Greece, Crete (1941), and the Western Desert campaigns.
Some were taken during the fall of Tobruk (1942) when Axis forces overran Allied positions.
Prisoners were held in POW camps across Italy, such as:
PG 57 (Gruppo, Udine) – One of the largest camps, holding many New Zealanders.
PG 52 (Chiavari, Liguria) – Harsh conditions with poor rations.
PG 78 (Sulmona, Abruzzo) – A major camp where many were held before being moved to Germany.
Living conditions varied but were generally better than in German or Japanese camps.
Food shortages and overcrowding were common, though Red Cross parcels helped sustain prisoners.
After Italy surrendered in September 1943, approximately 500–600 New Zealand POWs managed to escape from Italian camps. When Italy announced its armistice (8 September 1943), chaos followed, and guards abandoned many POW camps. Some camps had orders to release prisoners, while others stayed put until German forces took over. Many New Zealanders fled into the Italian countryside, where they were helped by local villagers and resistance groups. Some joined Italian partisan fighters against the Germans. Many made their way south toward Allied lines, often travelling long distances on foot. Others were recaptured by German forces and sent to German POW camps. A few escaped to Switzerland, where they were interned for the rest of the war.
Those who escaped and reached Allied forces returned to active service. Others remained in hiding, relying on Italian civilians who risked their lives to shelter them.
The experiences of these escapees are well-documented in memoirs and war records.
Prisoners of Germany
After Italy’s armistice on 8 September 1943, around 2,000-2,200 New Zealand POWs were forcibly transferred from Italian camps to Germany by the Germans. New Zealanders, along with other Allied prisoners, were rounded up and put on trains bound for Germany and Poland. They were sent to German Stalags and Oflags, including:
Stalag VIIA (Moosburg, Bavaria)
Stalag VIIIB (Lamsdorf, Poland)
Oflag IXA/Z (Rotenburg, Germany)
Stalag XVIIIA (Wolfsberg, Austria)
Conditions in German POW Camps were harsher than Italian camps—rationing was stricter, and working parties were more demanding.
It is estimated that 66 New Zealand POWs held by the Germans died as prisoners.
(An estimated 300–400 New Zealanders managed to escape during the transfer from Italy, before reaching German camps).
After the war
Many New Zealand POWs suffered long-term physical and psychological effects from malnutrition, disease, and trauma.
Some found it difficult to reintegrate into civilian life, while others used their experiences to advocate for better treatment of veterans.
See also@
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/second-world-war/prisoners-of-war/capture
Some well-known New Zealanders who were POWs:
Charles Upham (VC & Bar)
One of the most famous New Zealand soldiers of the second world war.
Captured in 1942 during the Battle of Ruweisat Ridge in North Africa.
Repeatedly attempted to escape from German captivity, eventually imprisoned in Colditz Castle, a high-security POW camp.
One of only three people to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Upham
James Hargest
A New Zealand politician and military officer.
Captured in North Africa in 1941 and sent to Italy as a POW.
Escaped from Campo 78 (Sulmona) in Italy and made his way to England via Vichy France and Spain. Later returned to active service but was killed in action in Normandy in 1944. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hargest
Reginald Miles
A senior New Zealand officer, Brigadier in the 2nd New Zealand Division.
Captured after the fall of Tobruk in 1942.
Escaped from an Italian POW camp in 1943 but tragically took his own life before reaching safety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Miles
A good summary Philip, thank you. After Campo 57 my father, a New Zealander, was processed thoroughly at Stalag XVIII C Markt Pongau for only a few days before being entrained to Stalag VIIIA Gortitz for allocation to a succession of work parties; E732, E494 & E535.