Oflag
Encyclopedia
An Oflag was a prisoner of war
camp for officer
s only, established by the German Army
in both World War I
and World War II
in accordance with the requirements of the Geneva Convention (1929)
(or the 1899 Hague Convention
in WWI).
Officers cannot be required to work. A limited number of non-commissioned soldiers working as orderlies
were allowed in Oflags to carry out the work needed to care for the officers. Officers of the Allied Air Corps were held in special camps called Stalag
Luft, but were accorded the required preferential treatment.
In general the German Army complied with the provisions of the Geneva Convention regarding care of officers of the armies of the western Allies, including Poland. There were notable exceptions, for example the execution of recaptured prisoners, specifically from Stalag Luft 3 and Oflag IX-C
. However, the inhumane treatment of Soviet prisoners
, soldiers as well as officers, did not comply with these provisions, according to Joseph Goebbels
"because the Soviet Union had not signed the Convention and did not follow its provisions at all"
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp for officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s only, established by the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
in both World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in accordance with the requirements of the Geneva Convention (1929)
Geneva Convention (1929)
The Geneva Convention was signed at Geneva, July 27, 1929. Its official name is the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Geneva July 27, 1929. It entered into force 19 June 1931. It is this version of the Geneva Conventions which covered the treatment of prisoners of war...
(or the 1899 Hague Convention
Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907)
The Hague Conventions were two international treaties negotiated at international peace conferences at The Hague in the Netherlands: The First Hague Conference in 1899 and the Second Hague Conference in 1907...
in WWI).
Officers cannot be required to work. A limited number of non-commissioned soldiers working as orderlies
Orderly
A medical orderly , is a hospital attendant whose job consists of assisting medical and/or nursing staff with various nursing and/or medical interventions. These duties are classified as routine tasks involving no risk for the patient.- Job details :Orderlies are often utilized in various hospital...
were allowed in Oflags to carry out the work needed to care for the officers. Officers of the Allied Air Corps were held in special camps called Stalag
Stalag
In Germany, stalag was a term used for prisoner-of-war camps. Stalag is a contraction of "Stammlager", itself short for Kriegsgefangenen-Mannschafts-Stammlager.- Legal definitions :...
Luft, but were accorded the required preferential treatment.
In general the German Army complied with the provisions of the Geneva Convention regarding care of officers of the armies of the western Allies, including Poland. There were notable exceptions, for example the execution of recaptured prisoners, specifically from Stalag Luft 3 and Oflag IX-C
Oflag IX-C
Oflag IX-C Molsdorf was a prisoner of war camp specifically created to house women officers from the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. It was the worst of all Oflags operated by the German Army during World War II. It consisted of 7 huts used by workers building the Autobahn near Erfurt in 1938 and an...
. However, the inhumane treatment of Soviet prisoners
Nazi crimes against Soviet POWs
The Nazi crimes against Soviet Prisoners of War relate to the deliberately genocidal policies taken towards the captured soldiers of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany...
, soldiers as well as officers, did not comply with these provisions, according to Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
"because the Soviet Union had not signed the Convention and did not follow its provisions at all"
See also
- List of POW camps in Germany for complete list of Oflags by military districts
- Geneva Convention (1929)Geneva Convention (1929)The Geneva Convention was signed at Geneva, July 27, 1929. Its official name is the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Geneva July 27, 1929. It entered into force 19 June 1931. It is this version of the Geneva Conventions which covered the treatment of prisoners of war...
- Oflag 64 Association web site