History
When France was defeated in 1940, many thousands of French soldiers were taken as prisoners of war by the German army. These men were taken to camps in Germany where they lived until the end of the war.
Life in the camps was very hard for the prisoners. They had little food and worked on farms or in factories to help the German war effort. They missed their homes and families back in France very much.
Despite the difficult conditions, many prisoners found ways to keep their spirits up. Some tried to escape, while others organized groups to stay healthy and support each other. They held onto the hope that the war would end and they could go home.
When the war finally ended in 1945, the camps were opened by the Allied forces. Most of the French prisoners were allowed to return to their country. Their return was a time of great joy for France after years of being occupied.
