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Monowai – the ship that rescued Anne Frank's father
New Zealand has a small connection to the poignant story of Anne Frank, via her father, Otto, and the merchant ship TSS Monowai
Woollen escape jacket
Grey woollen jacket made from an army blanket and worn by Brigadier Reginald Miles CBE DSO MC during his escape from a prisoner of war camp in Italy.
POW Kodak camera
A 35mm Kodak Retina camera used in a prisoner of war camp by Gunner Wilfred (Curly) Weakly.
POW escape pack
A prisoner of war escape pack made from parts of a battle dress uniform. The pack was made by Captain A.J. Tillick prior to departure from Oflag VIIB prisoner of war camp on 14 April 1945.
Coconut chess set
A wooden carved 32 piece chess set encased in a coconut shell handmade by Lieutenant Lancelot Hugh Herd while a prisoner of war in Changi Prison, Singapore.
Kriegie's Brew beer
A full bottle of 'Kriegie's Brew' beer from the New Zealand Ex-P.O.W. (Prisoner of War) Association's National Reunion, New Plymouth, 1971.
Featherston incident plaque
This plaque near State Highway 2 outside Featherston is part of a small memorial garden that marks the site where 48 Japanese prisoners of war and one guard were fatally shot on 25 February 1943. Transcript of the haiku on the plaque: Behold the summer grass All that remains of the Dreams of warriors. Steve Watters, 2006
Repatriation - Prisoners of War
Attention was given to the problem of repatriating POWs long before 1945. A New Zealand repatriation unit was established in the United Kingdom under the command of Major-General Howard Kippenberger late in 1944.
Liberation - Prisoners of War
The prospect of liberation was a key to POWs' morale. But a great many had no intention of passively awaiting the arrival of Allied forces, an attitude that was reinforced by the recognition that it was a POW's duty to attempt to escape.
Incarceration - Prisoners of War
The incarceration of most New Zealand army POWs began in transit camps where facilities were rudimentary in the extreme. Generally little more than holding pens, they were invariably overcrowded, lacked shelter, and had insufficient ablutions for large numbers of men.
Capture - Prisoners of War
Most of New Zealand's Second World War POWs were captured in the European theatre in the early stages of the war. Only about 100 New Zealand servicemen fell into Japanese hands, mainly airmen or seamen attached to the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force.
Incident at Featherston - social studies activities Levels 4 and 5
Two kilometres north of the quiet little Wairarapa town of Featherston a small memorial garden marks the site of a riot that resulted in the deaths of 48 Japanese prisoners of war and one guard.
Camp entertainment for prisoners of war
Photographs of some of the bizarre entertainments performed in POW camps.
The 'Tiki Times', POW newspaper
First edition of the 'Tiki times' POW newspaper plus information about the editor.
Secret radio at Stalag 383
A man lies on his bunk in a hut, listening to a secret radio at Stalag 383, near Hohenfels in Germany
Camp cookers - Prisoners of War
A reprint of an article written by John Frizell (ex-POW) about the ovens used in POW camps during the Second World War
Prisoners of war lining up for soup
POWs on an arbeitskommando in Austria queue for their midday soup
Mess time for prisoners of war
POWs at Campo PG57 near Gruppignano in Italy line up for food
Red Cross food parcels for prisoners of war
Because there was so little of it, food played a very important part in a POW's life. The International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva provided food parcels to POWs from those countries which were signatories to the 1929 Geneva Convention.
Prisoners of war library
Two POWs in the library at Stalag VIIIA, near Gorlitz in Germany

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