{"product_id":"stalag-xv111-a-pow-camp-entertainment-programme","title":"Stalag XV111-A POW Camp entertainment programme","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis signed rare original paper programme belonged to former POW Ken Childs who was a race official for the Grand summer meeting  2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e July 1944.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eSigned at the top right corner.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe entertainment programme at Stalag XVIII-A in Wolfsberg, Austria, during World War II was a vital part of prisoner life, designed to stave off boredom and boost morale among British, Australian, and New Zealand prisoners of war.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e The activities were often organized by the prisoners themselves, though all theatrical performances had to be approved by a German censor officer. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eStalag 18A\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eKey components of the entertainment included:\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eConcert Parties and Revues: POWs staged regular concert parties and revues, which included skits, musical performances, and theatrical acts.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eChristmas Pantomimes: A specific \"Babes in the Wood\" pantomime was documented as being performed on Christmas Day, 1941.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eMusical Performances: Concerts often featured musical talent from the prisoners, including piano accordion performances.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eSports and Physical Activities: Football (soccer) was played in the main square of the camp, with tournaments such as the 1943 \"Whirlwinds Cup\" taking place.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe \"Searchlight\" Program: While not traditional entertainment, this was a critical, clandestine activity where prisoners with a hidden radio (nicknamed \"The Two Ernies\") would listen to BBC broadcasts and share news in a performance-like, informative briefing to other inmates.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eOne of the performances was called \"Hitting High\" ans was staged on 19th June 1944. On leaving the Theatre it was requested that cigarettes and marks was left in collection boxes in order to purchase materials for future camp entertainment.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003ePOW's printed out paper programmes for many of the events and were sold to fund further activities in the camp. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eCrown and Anchor: A popular, albeit clandestine, gambling game, for which prisoners created custom cloth mats. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eStalag XVIII-A was a major World War II German prisoner-of-war camp in Wolfsberg, Austria, operating from 1939 to 1945. Originally Oflag XVIII-B, it became a Stalag (Mannschaftsstammlager) in March 1941, holding up to 48,000 Allied prisoners—including British, Commonwealth, French, Belgian, and later Soviet\/Italian soldiers—and managing extensive Arbeitskommandos (work camps). \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eStalag 18A\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eKey Details About Stalag XVIII-A (Wolfsberg):\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eLocation: Situated in Carinthia, Austria, specifically in the district of Priel in Wolfsberg.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eDuration: The site operated as a POW camp from 1939 to 1945. It converted from Oflag XVIII-B (officers) to Stalag XVIII-A (enlisted men) on March 1, 1941.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eCamp Structure: It was divided into three compounds for different nationalities, including British and Commonwealth forces (around 300 men in central, others in huts), French, and Russian prisoners.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eArbeitskommandos (Work Camps): Many prisoners were sent to over 300 smaller work camps in the region for labor, with the main camp acting as a central hub.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eConditions: The camp was known for being a center for POWs captured in the Greek campaign. While generally better than eastern camps, life included boredom, hunger, and reliance on Red Cross parcels.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eUnit\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eLiberation: The camp was liberated in 1945. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eIf you require any more information please feel free to contact me.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eFREE U.K. Delivery\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003ePlease contact me for International Delivery\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"m_6996897227005291342ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Antiques Medals Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56967230882057,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0837\/5992\/3465\/files\/1000024207.jpg?v=1775559033","url":"https:\/\/antiquesmedalsmilitaria.co.uk\/products\/stalag-xv111-a-pow-camp-entertainment-programme","provider":"Antiques Medals Militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}