Much of what has been written about the treatment of prisoners of war
held by the British in various conflicts point to the belief that they
have often been treated in a more caring and compassionate way than the
prisoners of other countries. This was seen as especially true in the
First World War as to how British prisoners were treated. This would
seem to point out that Germans held in Britain were treated leniently
while there were claims of British prisoners being mistreated by the
Germans. Was the British sense of fair play present in the prison camps
and did this sense of fair play include the press and public who often
called for harsher treatment of the Germans in captivity. Were those
seen as enemy aliens living in Britain given similar fair treatment?
Were they sent to internment camps because they were a threat to the
country or for their own protection to save them from the British public
intent on inflicting violence on them. This book will examine the truth
of these views while also looking at the number of camps set up in the
country and the public and press perception of the men held here.