The actual state of German POW camps in Japan and their significance in world history

第一次世界大战期间，在日本的德国战俘营中，根据在日本发现的历史资料，人们对班多战俘营、久鲁姆战俘营和楢野战俘营的实际情况比较了解。但是，迄今为止对其他较小的难民营的调查还不够，因为关于这些难民营的当地资料很少。相比之下，在德国和华盛顿的档案馆中，似乎有许多宝贵的材料几乎没有被检查过。本研究以国外资料为基础，从与日本国内资料不同的角度，揭示了德国在日本战俘营的实际状况。由于分析了来自海外的多种材料，我们能够适当地证实德国在日本战俘营的实际状况，主要是丸game集中营。在新获得的信息中，以下两点特别重要：1。除了最糟糕的库鲁姆集中营外，几乎所有战俘营的负责人都努力按照国际条约人道地对待战俘。与第二次世界大战期间日军虐待战俘的行为相反，这是世界历史上值得重新重视的现象。为了满足日本政府利用德国战俘拥有的先进技术实现日本工业现代化的期望，德国战俘在日本各地进行了工艺美术的技术指导和示范。通过他们在这一时期的活动，德国技术和德国文化的正面形象立即在日本公众中建立起来，并在日本各地推广开来。这也是世界历史上罕见的现象。

Of the German POW camps in Japan during World War I, actual conditions at the big three camps, Bando, Kurume and Narashino, are relatively well known based on historical materials found in Japan. However, investigations into other smaller camps have thus far been insufficient because there has been very little in the way of local information on these camps.In contrast, it seems that there are many valuable materials at archives in Germany and Washington which have scarcely been examined.This research throws light on the actual state of German POW camps in Japan based on foreign materials having points of view different from materials in Japan. As result of analyzing many kinds of materials sourced overseas, we were able to properly substantiate the actual state of German POW camps in Japan, primarily the Marugame camp.Of the newly acquired information, the following two points are of particular importance:1. With the exception of the worst camp, Kurume, almost all directors of POW camps endeavored to treat POWs humanely, in compliance with international treaties. This was a phenomenon to be revalued in world history, opposite to the ill-treatment of POWs by the Japanese army during World War II.2. Meeting the expectations of the Japanese government to use the advanced techniques possessed by German POWs to modernize Japanese industry, German POWs gave technical instructions and demonstrations for arts and crafts across various parts of Japan. Through their activities during this time, a positive image of German techniques and the German culture was immediately established among the Japanese public and expanded all over Japan. This was also a rare phenomenon in world history.