German PoWs In & Around Birmingham

As the war progressed and I could register what was being said, two phrases have stuck: “It’s the war” and “*!*@#* Germans!” I only encountered Germans or ‘non-British’, come to that, much later, c.’44-’45. The Germans were small parties of PoWs, detailed off dismantle air-raid shelters, and later on to build ‘pre-fab’ houses. Their uniforms were different and as I recall, were their own standard issue, including the cap, which featured a long peak, similar to a base-ball cap today.

My mother’s sister was married to an uncle who was on service in Burma. Her pre-fab was built by PoWs who would trade items they had made, when we were there to check progress on the house. I had a pair of rope-soled slippers, made by the Germans. I remember them showing their family photos, with concerns expressed about their fate. My mother and aunt were able to suppress any comments they might have made.

One more mention of the German PoWs. Many of them stayed in England when it was all over. A school friend mentioned a farm-worker who was notable for his ‘corn-dollies’, made to top-off the rick. Much later I met another German who was a labourer at Land Rover. Pre-war, he was a pastry chef who was employed by Drückers in Birmingham for a while.

This story has been entered by Jenni Waugh, BBC Outreach Officer, on behalf of Eric Branson, who accepts the site’s terms and conditions.

For other stories by Bran, see
Now That I Hear Planes: bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A9001748
The Chicken Expedition: …/A9002251
Strangers In Uniform: …A9002288
Out & About Around Yardley: …/A9002341

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