Academic Journal
Mourning the Dead of the Great Escape: POWs, Grief, and the Memorial Vault of Stalag Luft III.
| Taitara: | Mourning the Dead of the Great Escape: POWs, Grief, and the Memorial Vault of Stalag Luft III. |
|---|---|
| Ngā kaituhi: | Alexander, Kristen, Ariotti, Kate |
| Puna: | Journal of War & Culture Studies; Aug2023, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p332-353, 22p |
| Whakarāpopotonga: | In March 1944 seventy-six Allied prisoners of war escaped from Stalag Luft III. Nearly all were recaptured; fifty were later shot. This article examines what happened in the period between recapture and the interment of the dead prisoners' cremated remains at Stalag Luft III. It positions what came to be known as 'the Great Escape' as an event of deep emotional resonance for those who grieved and reveals the dual narrative they constructed to make sense of their comrades' deaths. In discussing the iconography of the vault constructed by the camp community to house the dead POWs' ashes, this article also suggests a dissonance in meaning between that arising from personal, familial grief and the Imperial War Graves Commission's standardised memorial practice. Focusing on the Great Escape's immediate aftermath from the perspective of the POWs themselves provides a more nuanced understanding of the emotional impact of this infamous event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Ngā kupu marau: | PRISONERS of war, COMMUNITY housing, WAR, GRIEF, BEREAVEMENT, WORLD War II, MEMORIALS, INTERMENT |
| Copyright of Journal of War & Culture Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| ISSN: | 17526272 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/17526272.2022.2097774 |
| Pātengi raraunga: | Complementary Index |
Wāteatanga