I am thrilled to announce the imminent release of ...
Who could pronounce Kriegsgefangener? The
German for prisoner of war was too much of a mouthful. More to the point, it
reminded POWs of their status as unwilling non-combatants. They were ashamed of
it. Instead, airman POWs dubbed themselves ‘kriegies’, based on the first
syllable – war. It became a ‘fun’ word which emphasised that they were still
men of war. It was one of the many ways in which they coped with captivity.
Kriegies: the Australian Airmen of Stalag Luft III explores how Australian POWs and their families responded to
captivity. Drawing on letters, diaries, memoirs, interviews, and medical
records, Kriegies describes – in their own words – how the
airman POWs coped with the trials of incarceration: monotony, separation from
loved ones, absence of sex, homosexuality, and threats to their mental
health. Kriegies also
delves into the reactions of those on the home front who provided love and
support as they anxiously awaited their loved ones’ return. It features the
events of the Great Escape – perhaps the most notorious mass escape from German
captivity – the tragic fate of five young Australians, and the grief expressed
by their comrades and families. Based on the author’s award-winning PhD
thesis, Kriegies is an
intimate portrayal of captivity. It reveals the human story of wartime
imprisonment. It is an inspiring account of love, courage, and resilience.
Award-winning aviation author Kristen Alexander (that's me, folks) has been writing about
Australian pilots for over two decades. Published in Australia, the United Kingdom, and
Japan, her works include Clive Caldwell Air Ace, Jack
Davenport Beaufighter Leader, and Australia’s Few and the Battle of
Britain. Two of her books have been included on the Chief of Air Force’s
reading list. She is the 2021 winner of the Australian War Memorial’s Bryan
Gandevia Prize for Australian military–medical history. Her sixth book, Kriegies:
the Australian Airmen of Stalag Luft III, is based on that award-winning
PhD thesis.
I am honoured to have received these endorsements.
Professor Peter Stanley, FAHA
Kriegies is a
rich and powerful work of historical research. This insightful book takes us
behind the barbed wire, physically but also emotionally, going beyond wartime
bravado to reveal the profound effects of captivity on individual airmen and
their families.
Dr
Karl James FRHistS, Head, Military History Section, Australian War Memorial
An
impressive piece of work. Meticulously researched, Kristen Alexander
skilfully blends the experiences of Australian airmen held as prisoners of the
Germans with those they left behind in Australia. These are powerful personal
stories of shame, fear, boredom, humour, defiance, love and loss. This is the most
significant work published on the RAAF in the Second World War in some time.
Dr
Kate Ariotti, author, Captive Anzacs and winner, 2015 CEW
Bean Prize for Military History
Kriegies is a
fascinating take on the lives of Australia’s POW airmen of the Second World War
that is not afraid to tackle sensitive topics like selfishness, suicide, and
sex. Alexander’s meticulous research and engaging prose combine to offer a
profound new contribution to our understanding of wartime
captivity. Kriegies is a must-read.
Peter
Rees, author, Lancaster Men
Kristen
Alexander reveals the existential challenges 351 Australian POWs faced at
Stalag Luft III in their battle to survive the brutal Nazi war machine. Kriegies is insightful, compelling and sensitive; a very human story of war.
Andy
Saunders, Aviation Historian and Author
This
is the most powerful read I have ever encountered on the Kriegie experience of
the Second World War. At times almost shockingly visceral, Kriegies is
an emotional and thought provokingly honest account of what it meant to be a
POW in German hands. Another truly masterful offering from Kristen Alexander.
Here's the table of contents to whet your appetite!
If you'd like to read a sample chapter, click here:
https://alexanderfaxbooks.com.au/Catalogues/KriegiesSampleChapterOne.pdf
Stay tuned for more release date and ordering details ... but if you would like to be included in my mailing list when the book is released, please get in touch.
