When nearly 7,000 people with German and Austrian heritage were detained by the Australian authorities following the outbreak of World War I, Paul Dubotzki, a talented Bavarian photographer, was among them.
These unlikely prisoners-of-war came from all walks of life – merchant sailors, visiting academics — and many, including beer baron Edmund Resch and acclaimed orthopaedic surgeon Dr Max Herz, had lived in Australia for decades.
In The Enemy at Home Dubotzki’s rediscovered photographs and never-before-published excerpts from inmates’ diaries reveal what life was like inside the Holsworthy, Berrima and Trial Bay internment camps. Dubotzki’s stunning images offer a rare and surprising snapshot of the theatrical events, small businesses and sports that boosted the men’s spirits.
Contents:
Introduction
Internment Through Paul Dubotzki's Lens
Fighting the War at Home
The Camps
- Holsworthy German Concentration Camp
- Trial Bay Internment Camp
- Berrima Internment Camp
- Camp Politics
The Experience
- Passing the Time
- Creating a Camp Economy
- Cultural Life
- Learning and Lectures
- Sports and Leisure
The Aftermath
- Deportation and Repatriation
Notes
Sources
The Enemy at Home: German Internees in WWI Australia
