Captives: Prisoners of War and Internees 1939-45

A unique glimpse into stories of survival from the Second World War.

During the Second World War, millions of people were held in captivity. Service personnel captured in conflict became prisoners of war, and civilians were confined in internment camps. The prisoners had hugely varied experiences based on their nationality, race, where they were captured and whether they were in the services or a civilian internee. Nearly all sought some kind of escape, from successfully breaking out of camps to finding solace in setting up theatre performances, writing to loved ones, secretly producing artworks, and falling in love.

Join collection specialists Will Butler, Roger Kershaw and Ela Kaczmarksa to discover more about some remarkable individuals. The talk will be followed by an opportunity to view some of the original records featured in the book, as well as a book signing.

This event takes place at The National Archives in Kew. The event will last approximately one hour, followed by a book signing and an opportunity to view original records from The National Archives' collection.