Axis Allies Treatment of POW

[John Kilmartin]

Hi Guys,
I have two related questions regarding Hungary and Romania. The first being was their treatment of captured Soviets different than that of the Germans? The second being did they make use of their POW as potential recruits as either auxillaries or as fighting units?
I have just finished reading Ivan's War and in the chapter dealing with the Soviet invasion of these two countries it indicates that, while far from treating the civilian population benignly, compared to the brutality which occured in both Prussia and Germany proper was limited in extent. I'm just trying to understand why this was so.
Cheers,
John K

[Victor Nitu]

Dinu Giurescu in Romania in al doilea razboi mondial, ALL Istoric, 1999 wrote a couple of pages on the POWs, which mention mainly the situation from early 1942 onwards and the visits of the International Red Cross representatives and their favorable conclusions. The POWs were relatively well cared for, under the given circumstances, when even Romanian soldiers weren't cared for too well, due to lack of resources. Romania collaborated with the Red Cross and provided around 75,000 names our of the over 82,000 captives. For comparison, Finland only communicated some 3,000 names, Italy 314, Germany 343 and Hungary 250. Some of the POWs were allowed to work and in return received better conditions from the money they earned. The historian also shares his personal experience with such a POW (working on the estate of a family friend) in 1944, who was very peaceful and the the young Giurescu even lent him his hunting rifle to chase away crows.

Another source, more detailed, is col. (rez) dr. Dumitru-Mircea Socolov, Prizonierii de razboi in Romania pe timpul celi de-a doua confragratii mondiale. Ed. Universitatii Nationale de Aparare, 2006.

According to this, out of the 91,058 Soviet POWs in Romanian custody, 82,090 were interned in Romania. On 25 August 1942, there were 59,856 Soviet POWs in the 12 camps. 13,682 have been released (inhabitants of Bessarabia, Bukovina and Trans-Dnestra), 3,331 have escaped and 5,221 have died. This means that 6.36% of the Soviet POWs died in the Romanian POW camps. Unfortunately, 19,84% of the Romanian POWs died in Soviet captivity.

During the autumn and winter of 1941, the conditions were improper. Some 1,300 POWs died during that period. A report of their situation reached marshal Antonescu's office and after his intervention things changed dramatically starting from February 1942. The lack of preparation and organization, the lack of resources (let's not forget that even Romanian soldiers were not dressed or fed properly), coupled with the profits some camp commanders made by diverting a part of the funds for the food led to this situation. As soon as the Ministry of Defense alloted more ressources, started making regular inspections and court marshaled several gendarme officers in charge of the camps, the situation improved.

Romania did not try to recrute Russian soldiers, but did set free those that had been recruited by the Red Army from Romanian territory or Romanian administered territory.

[John Kilmartin]

Hi Victor,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply. It is exactly the kind of information I was seeking.
Cheers,
John K