Kriegsgefangene#

Prisoners of War: During World War I many Austrians were taken prisoner in Russia (especially 1914/1915) and in Italy (especially on November 3 and 4, 1918), many of them returning only long after the war had ended. On the other hand there were also large prison camps in Austria (e.g. in Sigmundsherberg, Spratzern and Gneixendorf near Krems, all Lower Austria) where prisoners died in their thousands. During World War II Austria had prison camps for prisoners of the Allied Forces (at first for French and Belgian, then for Soviet, British and American soldiers). Some prisoners were forced to work as labourers on Austrian farms. From 1943 onwards and at the end of the war Austrians were taken prisoner in large numbers. Many were transported to the USA; in French, Yugoslav and Soviet camps the death toll was particularly high. Since the opening of Russian archives in 1990 the fate of prisoners of war in Russia has been examined more carefully.

Literature#