Dulag Luft

Background

Dulag Luft (Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe, Transit Camp of the Airforce) were German Prisoner of War (POW) transit camps for captured airmen from any of the allied air forces during World War II. Their main purpose was to act as collection and interrogation centres for newly captured aircrew, before they were transferred in batches to the permanent camps. Several camps were set up throughout Germany and the occupied countries, however the main centre used throughout the war was at Oberursel near Frankfurt. A satellite camp at Wetzlar was set up later in the war to help cope with the large numbers of aircrew captured as the bombing campaign intensified against Germany. Allegations of interrogation under torture have been made by numerous POWs who passed through the camps. After the war, five German Luftwaffe officers were prosecuted for abusing detainees.

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