Censorship in the First World War varied and became more intense as the war continued. This article, however, is still surprising. A Canadian prisoner of war being held in Giessen claimed that he and some others had surrendered after being heavily fired upon for two days and nights by rifles, machine guns, and shells. This soldier himself had bullets go through his sack and cap. While he hoped that those at home would understand why they surrendered and not be disgraced by their actions, they were being treated well. Their prison was very clean and they were well fed, receiving three meals per day, including bread and coffee for breakfast and vegetable soup for dinner and supper and they could buy butter and sardines. The soldier claimed in regards to cleanliness and comfort, they were better off in the prison than at Salisbury Plain. The experiences of this Canadian soldier and British officer C.B. Vandaleur stand in stark contrast to each other.
“Canadian Prisoners of War are Well Treated,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, May 27, 1915.
