Kindertransport - Internment and War Service

Internment and War Service

In 1940, the British government ordered the internment of all male 16- to 70-year old refugees from enemy countries — so-called "friendly enemy aliens". Many of the kinder who had arrived in earlier years were now young men, and so they were also interned. Approximately 1,000 of these "prior-kinder" were interned in these makeshift internment camps, many of which were in the The Isle of Man. Around 400 were transported overseas to Canada and Australia. (and see HMT Dunera.) As the camp internees reached the age of 18, they were offered the chance to do war work or to enter the Army Auxiliary Pioneer Corps. About 1,000 German and Austrian "prior-kinder," but now adults, went on to serve in the British armed forces, including in combat units. Several dozen joined elite formations such as the Special Forces, where their language skills could be put to good use during the D-Day Invasion and afterwards, during the WWII progress of the Allies finally into Germany.

It is important to note that this British internment of "friendly enemy aliens" lasted only for short duration (generally a few months). The British Government processed the internees as fast as they could, and soon released them.