Internment in Switzerland during the First World War /
In contrast to the plethora of works focusing on the tragic loss of human lives during the First World War, little is known about the more hopeful realities of thousands of prisoners of war from Britain, France, Germany and Belgium who were sent to Switzerland from 1916. This book explores the every...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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London ; New York :
Bloomsbury Academic,
[2019]
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| Summary: | In contrast to the plethora of works focusing on the tragic loss of human lives during the First World War, little is known about the more hopeful realities of thousands of prisoners of war from Britain, France, Germany and Belgium who were sent to Switzerland from 1916. This book explores the everyday lives of these prisoners and their impact on Switzerland. Internees were warmly welcomed by local people and given education, training and employment. Leading relatively free lives, they were able to engage in leisure activities and develop new relationships. However, they also contributed to the country's economy, helping to keep Swiss tourism alive at a time when businesses were struggling and alleviating Switzerland's labor shortage as Swiss men were called up to defend their borders and preserve the country's neutrality. |
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| Physical Description: | 225 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages [213]-217) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781350037731 1350037737 |