German Internees in Australia 1939-1947: Women's Perspectives: A Research Note

Abstract

Female internees are one focus of a larger study of Germans interned in Australia (1939-47). The experience of camp life from the women's perspective can only be derived from analy sis of official documents and the testimony of ex-internees. Notwithstanding the practical problems inherent in working with these resources, the preliminary research has identified many important methodological and sociological issues. It has also provided the context in which women came to be interned, a demographic profile of the various groups of women inter nees and themes in the perception of internment.