Captivity in War during the Twentieth Century: The Forgotten Diplomatic Role of Transnational Actors

Description

This book offers new international perspectives on captivity in wartime during the twentieth century. It explores how global institutions and practices with regard to captives mattered, how they evolved and most importantly, how they influenced the treatment of captives. From the beginning of the twentieth century, international organisations, neutral nations and other actors with no direct involvement in the respective wars often had to fill in to support civilian as well as military captives and to supervise their treatment. This edited volume puts these actors, rather than the captives themselves, at the centre in order to assess comparatively their contributions to wartime captivity. Taking a global approach, it shows that transnational bodies - whether non-governmental organisations, neutral states or individuals - played an essential role in dealing with captives in wartime. Chapters cover both the largest wars, such as the two World Wars, but also lesser-known conflicts, to highlight how captives were placed at the centre of transnational negotiations. Contents List of Contributors 1 The Diplomatic Role of Transnational Actors in Wartime Captivity Introduction: The Beginnings of an International Interest in War Captives Transnational Actors and Wartime Captivity in the Twentieth Century Structure and Contents Areas for Further Research References Literature 2 “Any Unfavourable Condition or Untoward Circumstance Will Receive Immediate Attention”: American Consuls’ Visits to British Colonial Internment Camps of the Great War The Protecting Powers’ Representatives American Consuls’ Camp Visits in British Colonies Reports and Complaints Conclusion References 3 “Heraus mit unseren Gefangenen!” The German Home Front and the International Campaign for Prisoner of War Repatriation, 1918–1919 Wartime Prisoner Advocacy and the Repatriation Question Prisoner Advocacy After the Treaty of Versailles At Home and Abroad: Gaining the Support of the International Community Seizing the Momentum: The Campaign for the “Moral Isolation” of France Conclusions References 4 An Uneasy Balance: International Relief Efforts in the Chaco War Pre-war Activity: From the Red Cross to the Nansen Commission Prisoners of War: From Local Relief Groups to International Aid International Peace Conference: Repatriation Efforts Conclusion: The Politics of Prisoners References 5 Japanese Civilian Internees in New Caledonia: A Gap Between the Protecting Powers and the ICRC Introduction The 1929 Geneva Convention: Protecting Powers and the ICRC New Caledonia in the Pacific War New Caledonian Japanese Interned in Australia The ICRC in the South West Pacific The ICRC Visit to New Caledonia Morel’s Report The Aftermath Conclusion References 6 Japanese Prisoners of War, the American-Soviet Conflict, and the Role of Repatriated War Veterans in the Early Cold War in East Asia MacArthur’s Rule of Japan Japanese Prisoners of War During the Early Cold War The Perceived Menace of Ideologized Veterans Conclusion References 7 The ICRC and Communist Captives During Vietnam’s American War The ICRC as a “Neutral Intermediary”: Mandate and Mission International Oversight on the Ground Conclusion: A Paper Tiger or the “Conscience of the World”? References 8 Biafra’s Captives: The “Oilmen Incident” and International Diplomacy in the Nigerian Civil War The Capture of the Oilmen Initial International Reactions to the Oilmen Incident Reactions of the Western European Union Italian Diplomacy The Role of the Portuguese The Release and Repatriation of the Oilmen Conclusion References Index