German POWs in Japan WWI

thomas · Dec 12, 2000, 16:00

Guest Vicky Matthews asked:

I'm looking for any information on German POWs held in Japan during WWI. I know the BBC broadcast a piece on POWs in general, which had a brief allusion to the subjct, but I can't find more detail anywhere.

thomas · Dec 20, 2000, 16:00

Sorry about the late reply, we had troubles getting our board back to work after some self-inflicted server troubles.

Online resources on German POWs in Japan during WWI are very scarce. Our database comprised one interesting site related to that subject:

http://www.japanreference.com/cgi-bin/jump.cgi?ID=1451

This is the web site of Naruto University featuring an story on a camp for German POWs that turned into a German village. Unfortunately, that story has been removed. We will contact the webmasters to inquire about that info.

[...]

I have found the link about the German War Camp at Naruto, it was well hidden among the uni's Japanese pages:

http://www.naruto-u.ac.jp/Local/bando/bandoguide-e.html

You'll find some info on Camp Bando, lots of pictures of the POW camp with detailed explanations as well as some historical background info.

If I find more material on the topic, I'll post it here.

thomas · Jan 7, 2002, 16:00

Wow, it's been a long time. Unfortunately, the links hosted by Naruto University do not work anymore. We contacted the staff in Japanese (the WWW-Admins, as they call themselves), but never received any reply.

It seems the info has been partly shifted to the Naruto City Website:

http://www.city.naruto.tokushima.jp/...and/index.html (in German)

Richard H. Helm · Jul 5, 2002, 02:48

My father was a German POW in WW1 (Kurume, Kumamoto, and Aonogahara) from 1914 - 1920. I have a few copies of pictures and a list of POWs if you are interested. Richard H. Helm

thomas · Jul 5, 2002, 03:14

Hi Richard,

welcome to the forum, it's a pleasure to have you here!

I am very interested in this topic as well, so if you have any scanned pictures, feel free to post them to the forum.

Btw, the original web sites I mentioned above can be seen here (archived by archive.org, very useful!)

=> http://web.archive.org/web/200111090...doguide-e.html

deborah gormley · Jul 5, 2002, 06:11

@richard; wow if you can post the pictures please do, now you'v got me hooked too! hehe,

yokosa (welcome)to the forum and please feel free to post any information you feel might be relavant to this thread,

Richard H. Helm · Jul 5, 2002, 21:38

Thank you for your fast response. Unfortunately, my scanner is out of operation at this time. If, however, there are any questions you have regarding the POWs, I will try to answer them. Best Regards, Richard

jschmidt · Mar 25, 2003, 16:34

Hello from Germany,

I am busy with the topic "German POW in Japan WWI" since my wife found some documents of a former prisoner in the garret of our old house.

Some of the results of my work are published in http://www.tsingtau.info. This site is in German, but I am prepared to translate.

Of course, I hope to get some more informations here, especially from Richard Helm.

Sincerely,
Hans-Joachim Schmidt

**Iron Chef** · Mar 25, 2003, 23:05

Interesting topic indeed and one I am not familiar with although I have since then taken it upon myself to find out more. If I come up with anything in my research that hasn't already been covered, i'll be sure to pass it along.

thomas · Mar 26, 2003, 04:20

Hallo Hans-Joachim, herzlich willkommen!

It's an interesting topic, thanks for sharing your website with us. Perhaps you should try to contact Mr. Helm in private, as he hasn't been around for a while.

caster51 · Jan 8, 2008, 19:32

I found this
http://bando.dijtokyo.org/

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%...AE%B9%E6%89%80

Chi65 · Jan 9, 2008, 03:52

Is there a german version of the last wiki link?
My japanese is by far not good enough to read this. . .

Thanks for the interesting first link though!

But additionally some of you may like to read this wiki page about general german japanese history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany-Japan_relations

(It might also become the base for another thread, that I am planning)

pipokun · Jan 9, 2008, 18:39

I bet Japanese eat more Baumkuchen than German people.
If I remember correctly, a POW started the German cake shop in Kobe after the war.

caster51 · Jan 9, 2008, 20:22

But additionally some of you may like to read this wiki page about general german japanese history

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriegsg...ger_Band%C5%8D

http://www.toei.co.jp/meta/bart/BNG_TR02_1M.asx

hanachan · Jan 12, 2008, 16:57

Originally Posted by caster51

I found this
http://bando.dijtokyo.org/

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%...AE%B9%E6%89%80

I've been there several times. (I live in Sikoku)
Bando is the first place in Japan where Beethoven' shympony #9 was played on Christmas day. Of course German POW orchestra. They played for people in Bando village.
I have some photos of Bando. Later I'll upload them to the Gallery.

hanachan · Jan 14, 2008, 21:18

I have some photos of Bando. Later I'll upload them to the Gallery.

I've already uploaded.
Visit my photo Gallery

pipokun · Jan 16, 2008, 21:59

Glad to know that Gandam was a German or Tokushima origin.

Chi65 · Jan 16, 2008, 22:47

Originally Posted by pipokun

I bet Japanese eat more Baumkuchen than German people.
If I remember correctly, a POW started the German cake shop in Kobe after the war.

But being in Japan, I was fed with most wonderfull cakes (when I started baking for them(most appreciated!), because it was my birthday), new creations and much better than first german inspirations, which made them very happy to hear from me (and why should I not say so, if its true?*). I got them for breakfast for example for a while from a nightshifting policeman. In fact, that one was a real friend and helper and showed me around everything of interest there.
* I happen to know the old asian tradition, coming via China, that this is an honour for the inspirator, or teacher, if used for further development, and for an artist, this makes a lot of (common) sense and meets my own thinking.
A kind of sweet competiiton amongst friends, so to say and thats always fine with me.

I can only hope, that we treat Japanese the same way in Germany. Anyhow, if I meet some Japanese, obviously searching for places, I often make friends immediately, trying to pay back all the friendlyness, that I got in their own country. So far, I also got nice new aspects about us here or surprising coincidences, like this one:
When I invited some such searching "tourists" to a japanese art-teacher, who then happened to be a friend of a friend of my guests in Japan. . .guess the joy on all sides then!
Its fun, seeing things through other eyes than only the own ones, although there are naturally limits, on all sides. . .

For others:
Also thanks for the other links, hat was that film about exactly, also Bando?(I suppose so)
Sorry, my japanese is simply not good enough.

And a special cake

:
Thanks hanchan, you do a very fine job!!

jschmidt · Jan 17, 2008, 03:08

Hello Hanachan,

thank you for remembering the first Japanese release of the 9th symphony at Bando. It took place at Saturday, June 1st, 1918.

I visited Naruto and the German House two years ago - a very nice location, indeed.

Regards,
Hans-Joachim Schmidt

Originally Posted by hanachan

I've been there several times. (I live in Sikoku)
Bando is the first place in Japan where Beethoven' shympony #9 was played on Christmas day. Of course German POW orchestra. They played for people in Bando village.
I have some photos of Bando. Later I'll upload them to the Gallery.

hanachan · Jan 19, 2008, 15:06

Originally Posted by jschmidt

thank you for remembering the first Japanese release of the 9th symphony at Bando. It took place at Saturday, June 1st, 1918.

Kon'nichiwa hans-Joachim san,
Thank you for a correction. Today we enjoy the 9th symphony every December. It is Band German POW orchestra's gift to Japan.
German POW temporarily stayed in Marugame city (Kagawa) before they were moved to Bando.
People in Marugame planted "Lindenbaum" for friendship between two nations a few years ago. There is a grave of a POW who died of a illness in Marugame.

jschmidt · Jan 23, 2008, 02:23

Konnichiwa, Hanachan san,

I have seen that grave. Mr. Amandus Temme is buried there.

Do you have contact to my friend in Japan?
Look at the best site on German POW: homepage3.nifty.com/akagaki/

hanachan · Feb 4, 2008, 01:48

Hans-Joachim san,
I visited the site you told me. I saw your photo there.

Nice to meet you! hehe...
I often go to Marugame, because my relatives are there.
I will e-mail to Akagaki sensei in a few days.
(That site is very excellent)

Doumo Arigatou gozaimasu, Vielen Dank!

P.S.
I'm a great fan of Germany. I'm very interested in the history of both Japan and Germany.

Dec 12, 2000, 16:00	#1
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	German POWs in Japan WWI Guest Vicky Matthews asked: I'm looking for any information on German POWs held in Japan during WWI. I know the BBC broadcast a piece on POWs in general, which had a brief allusion to the subjct, but I can't find more detail anywhere. __________________ Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head!

Jul 5, 2002, 02:48	#4
Richard H. Helm Junior Member Join Date: Jul 5, 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 2	German POWs in WW1 My father was a German POW in WW1 (Kurume, Kumamoto, and Aonogahara) from 1914 - 1920. I have a few copies of pictures and a list of POWs if you are interested. Richard H. Helm

Jul 5, 2002, 06:11	#6
deborah gormley Regular Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2002 Location: Nr. Ireland. Age: 40 Posts: 829	@richard; wow if you can post the pictures please do, now you'v got me hooked too! hehe, yokosa (welcome)to the forum and please feel free to post any information you feel might be relavant to this thread, __________________ Debs

Mar 25, 2003, 16:34	#8
jschmidt jschmidt Join Date: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 3	Glad that I found you Hello from Germany, I am busy with the topic "German POW in Japan WWI" since my wife found some documents of a former prisoner in the garret of our old house. Some of the results of my work are published in http://www.tsingtau.info. This site is in German, but I am prepared to translate. Of course, I hope to get some more informations here, especially from Richard Helm. Sincerely, Hans-Joachim Schmidt

Jan 12, 2008, 16:57	#15
hanachan Regular Member Join Date: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 288	Originally Posted by caster51 I found this http://bando.dijtokyo.org/ http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%...AE%B9%E6%89%80 I've been there several times. (I live in Sikoku) Bando is the first place in Japan where Beethoven' shympony #9 was played on Christmas day. Of course German POW orchestra. They played for people in Bando village. I have some photos of Bando. Later I'll upload them to the Gallery.

Dec 20, 2000, 16:00	#2
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Sorry about the late reply, we had troubles getting our board back to work after some self-inflicted server troubles. Online resources on German POWs in Japan during WWI are very scarce. Our database comprised one interesting site related to that subject: http://www.japanreference.com/cgi-bin/jump.cgi?ID=1451 This is the web site of Naruto University featuring an story on a camp for German POWs that turned into a German village. Unfortunately, that story has been removed. We will contact the webmasters to inquire about that info. [...] I have found the link about the German War Camp at Naruto, it was well hidden among the uni's Japanese pages: http://www.naruto-u.ac.jp/Local/bando/bandoguide-e.html You'll find some info on Camp Bando, lots of pictures of the POW camp with detailed explanations as well as some historical background info. If I find more material on the topic, I'll post it here.

Jan 7, 2002, 16:00	#3
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Wow, it's been a long time. Unfortunately, the links hosted by Naruto University do not work anymore. We contacted the staff in Japanese (the WWW-Admins, as they call themselves), but never received any reply. It seems the info has been partly shifted to the Naruto City Website: http://www.city.naruto.tokushima.jp/...and/index.html (in German)

Jul 5, 2002, 03:14	#5
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Hi Richard, welcome to the forum, it's a pleasure to have you here! I am very interested in this topic as well, so if you have any scanned pictures, feel free to post them to the forum. Btw, the original web sites I mentioned above can be seen here (archived by archive.org, very useful!) => http://web.archive.org/web/200111090...doguide-e.html

Jul 5, 2002, 21:38	#7
Richard H. Helm Junior Member Join Date: Jul 5, 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 2	Thank you for your fast response. Unfortunately, my scanner is out of operation at this time. If, however, there are any questions you have regarding the POWs, I will try to answer them. Best Regards, Richard

Mar 25, 2003, 23:05	#9
Iron Chef Villain Join Date: Feb 26, 2003 Location: Fukuoka (current), Nagoya, Sapporo Age: 38 Posts: 1,962	Interesting topic indeed and one I am not familiar with although I have since then taken it upon myself to find out more. If I come up with anything in my research that hasn't already been covered, i'll be sure to pass it along.

Mar 26, 2003, 04:20	#10
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Hallo Hans-Joachim, herzlich willkommen! It's an interesting topic, thanks for sharing your website with us. Perhaps you should try to contact Mr. Helm in private, as he hasn't been around for a while.

Jan 8, 2008, 19:32	#11
caster51 Regular Member Join Date: Feb 27, 2005 Location: japan Posts: 1,884	I found this http://bando.dijtokyo.org/ http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%...AE%B9%E6%89%80

Jan 9, 2008, 03:52	#12
Chi65 Banned Join Date: Nov 14, 2007 Location: Berlin Age: 62 Posts: 939	Is there a german version of the last wiki link? My japanese is by far not good enough to read this. . . Thanks for the interesting first link though! But additionally some of you may like to read this wiki page about general german japanese history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany-Japan_relations (It might also become the base for another thread, that I am planning)

Jan 9, 2008, 18:39	#13
pipokun Regular Member Join Date: Feb 4, 2005 Posts: 2,499	I bet Japanese eat more Baumkuchen than German people. If I remember correctly, a POW started the German cake shop in Kobe after the war.

Jan 9, 2008, 20:22	#14
caster51 Regular Member Join Date: Feb 27, 2005 Location: japan Posts: 1,884	But additionally some of you may like to read this wiki page about general german japanese history http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriegsg...ger_Band%C5%8D http://www.toei.co.jp/meta/bart/BNG_TR02_1M.asx

Jan 14, 2008, 21:18	#16
hanachan Regular Member Join Date: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 288	I have some photos of Bando. Later I'll upload them to the Gallery. I've already uploaded. Visit my photo Gallery

Jan 16, 2008, 21:59	#17
pipokun Regular Member Join Date: Feb 4, 2005 Posts: 2,499	Glad to know that Gandam was a German or Tokushima origin.

Jan 16, 2008, 22:47	#18
Chi65 Banned Join Date: Nov 14, 2007 Location: Berlin Age: 62 Posts: 939	Originally Posted by pipokun I bet Japanese eat more Baumkuchen than German people. If I remember correctly, a POW started the German cake shop in Kobe after the war. But being in Japan, I was fed with most wonderfull cakes (when I started baking for them(most appreciated!), because it was my birthday), new creations and much better than first german inspirations, which made them very happy to hear from me (and why should I not say so, if its true?). I got them for breakfast for example for a while from a nightshifting policeman. In fact, that one was a real friend and helper and showed me around everything of interest there. I happen to know the old asian tradition, coming via China, that this is an honour for the inspirator, or teacher, if used for further development, and for an artist, this makes a lot of (common) sense and meets my own thinking. A kind of sweet competiiton amongst friends, so to say and thats always fine with me. I can only hope, that we treat Japanese the same way in Germany. Anyhow, if I meet some Japanese, obviously searching for places, I often make friends immediately, trying to pay back all the friendlyness, that I got in their own country. So far, I also got nice new aspects about us here or surprising coincidences, like this one: When I invited some such searching "tourists" to a japanese art-teacher, who then happened to be a friend of a friend of my guests in Japan. . .guess the joy on all sides then! Its fun, seeing things through other eyes than only the own ones, although there are naturally limits, on all sides. . . For others: Also thanks for the other links, hat was that film about exactly, also Bando?(I suppose so) Sorry, my japanese is simply not good enough. And a special cake: Thanks hanchan, you do a very fine job!!

Jan 17, 2008, 03:08	#19
jschmidt jschmidt Join Date: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 3	Beethoven in Bando Hello Hanachan, thank you for remembering the first Japanese release of the 9th symphony at Bando. It took place at Saturday, June 1st, 1918. I visited Naruto and the German House two years ago - a very nice location, indeed. Regards, Hans-Joachim Schmidt Originally Posted by hanachan I've been there several times. (I live in Sikoku) Bando is the first place in Japan where Beethoven' shympony #9 was played on Christmas day. Of course German POW orchestra. They played for people in Bando village. I have some photos of Bando. Later I'll upload them to the Gallery.

Jan 19, 2008, 15:06	#20
hanachan Regular Member Join Date: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 288	Originally Posted by jschmidt thank you for remembering the first Japanese release of the 9th symphony at Bando. It took place at Saturday, June 1st, 1918. Kon'nichiwa hans-Joachim san, Thank you for a correction. Today we enjoy the 9th symphony every December. It is Band German POW orchestra's gift to Japan. German POW temporarily stayed in Marugame city (Kagawa) before they were moved to Bando. People in Marugame planted "Lindenbaum" for friendship between two nations a few years ago. There is a grave of a POW who died of a illness in Marugame.

Jan 23, 2008, 02:23	#21
jschmidt jschmidt Join Date: Mar 25, 2003 Posts: 3	Konnichiwa, Hanachan san, I have seen that grave. Mr. Amandus Temme is buried there. Do you have contact to my friend in Japan? Look at the best site on German POW: homepage3.nifty.com/akagaki/

Feb 4, 2008, 01:48	#22
hanachan Regular Member Join Date: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 288	Hans-Joachim san, I visited the site you told me. I saw your photo there. Nice to meet you! hehe... I often go to Marugame, because my relatives are there. I will e-mail to Akagaki sensei in a few days. (That site is very excellent) Doumo Arigatou gozaimasu, Vielen Dank! P.S. I'm a great fan of Germany. I'm very interested in the history of both Japan and Germany.

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