Mercy Ships: The Untold Story of Prisoner-of-War Exchanges in World War II [Hardcover]

Remarkably, throughout World War Two, and even when the violence was its height, the allied and axis governments remained in contact through third parties in order to achieve humanitarian ends such as the exchange of wounded prisoners-of-war, of protected persons, such as medical personnel and priests, and of civilian internees. This involved detailed negotiations, careful planning and coordination, and the movement of protected ships and trains through war zones.

This book fills an important gap in the history of World War Two describing how the warring governments of Britain, America, Germany and Japan not only communicated with each other but also exchanged large numbers of people and goods, thus showing that, despite the bloodshed and killing, a spark of humanity still existed.

1: The Historical Background2: British-German Exchanges3: US-German Exchanges4: German Exchanges5: Jewish-German Exchanges6: The Zamzam Affair7: The Channel Islanders8: British-Italian Exchanges9: The French10: Red Cross parcels for Camps on mainland Europe11: Re-employment of Repatriates12: Selection for Repatriation13: Education and other Support14: Japan - the first US Exchange15: The Second US-Japan Exchange
16: British-Japan Exchange
17: Relief Supplies to Prisoners of War and civilian internees in the Far East18: The Sinking of the Awa Maru19: Postal Service to and from Japanese-controlled Territories 1942-4520: Failed Attempts21: Conclusions