We Were Each Other's Prisoners

We Were Each Other's Prisoners presents oral histories from both German and American POWs during World War II. Through interviews with veterans who experienced captivity on both sides, the book documents their experiences in prison camps across Europe and the United States. The narratives cover the capture, transport, daily life, and eventual liberation of these soldiers. The parallel accounts from Germans held in America and Americans held in Germany create a complete picture of the POW experience during WWII. The soldiers' stories reveal episodes of both cruelty and unexpected kindness, along with the universal challenges of surviving imprisonment. The book includes photographs and historical context for the personal accounts. By presenting both perspectives side-by-side, the work explores themes of shared humanity amid conflict and the complex relationships between captors and captives. The dual viewpoint challenges conventional war narratives and demonstrates how individual experiences often transcend national divisions.

Readers value this book's oral history format that gives voice to both American and German POWs from WWII, presenting their parallel experiences. Many note how it reveals shared humanity between captors and prisoners through firsthand accounts. Readers appreciate: - Balanced perspective showing both sides - Personal narratives that feel immediate and authentic - Details about daily life in POW camps - Inclusion of photos and primary documents Common criticisms: - Interviews could be better organized by theme - Some accounts lack context or follow-up - Limited coverage of Pacific theater POWs Ratings: Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 reviews) Goodreads: 3.93/5 (14 ratings) One reader noted: "The raw personal stories tell a deeper truth about war than any textbook." Another mentioned: "The parallel structure comparing American and German experiences is what makes this unique." The most frequent complaint was wanting more depth from certain interviews that felt cut short.

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📚 Author Lewis H. Carlson conducted over 150 personal interviews with American and German WWII POWs over a five-year period to create this intimate oral history. 🔍 The book's title comes from a German POW's reflection that both guards and prisoners were equally trapped by their circumstances, just on opposite sides of the wire. ⚔️ Unlike many POW accounts that focus on a single nationality, this book provides parallel perspectives from both American and German prisoners, showing how their experiences often mirrored each other. 🏃 Many German POWs who were held in America chose to stay or return to the US after the war, with some even becoming American citizens - a phenomenon explored in detail through firsthand accounts. 📖 Several of the interviewed POWs maintained decades-long friendships with their former captors, demonstrating how shared humanity could transcend wartime divisions.