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The name of ‘POW80’ encapsulates commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Allied prisoners-of-war from Wehrmacht camps. They took place on 7 June this year in Manchester on The Online Memorial and Museum of Prisoners of War initiative - a non-profit organisation dedicated to commemoration and remembrance of British and Commonwealth soldiers taken prisoner by Germans during the Second World War.

Dr. Anna Wickiewicz, Head of the CMJW’s Department the Education and Exhibitions, who is hugely involved in collaboration with the British side, but also is the author of the book ‘Captivity in British Uniform. Stalag VIII B (344) Lamsdorf’, represented our Museum in Manchester. She presented interesting facts about the captivity of Anglo-Saxon prisoners-of-war at Lamsdorf, which was well received and resulted in interesting conversations afterwards. This was not the only speech during the meeting - in total, many problems were covered, including issues such as POW escapes, evacuation marches, forced labour and life after liberation.

With no doubt, the event managed to bring together relatives, researchers and all interested parties who could share their stories, obtain and pass on new pieces of information and come into contact with others around common experiences. It was also a chance to learn from experts about the lives and sacrifices made by prisoners.