Lot
314 
Japan, 1915-19 Matsuyama & Tokushima Camp Prisoner of War Correspondence, of 51 covers and cards from the end of 1911 to 1920, all from German officer Gerhard Schultz to Hans Shultz (likely brother) with most addressed to Frankfurt, Germany, early portion of correspondence before internment consisting of three cards; a postcard from Macau and two Offices in China postal cards sent in Canton in 1911, the prisoner of war correspondence consists of 44 covers and cards (19 covers and 25 cards) all endorsed "Service de Prisoniers de Guerre", earliest mail from Matsuyama Prison Camp from March 1915 to the end of 1916, Gerhard was then transferred to Tokushima Prison Camp where the prisoner correspondence continues from 1917 to December 1919, all covers include the original enclosures, one with real photo post card of Gerhard Schultz in dress uniform, another smaller picture enclosed in other letter, the correspondence with an array of camp censor handstamps and chops, censor tape items, with a later letter cut apart most likely due to an inappropriate message, various form cards and covers, etc., three later items includes a postcard sent from Sabang, Indonesia (on his return to Germany) and a cover and postal card sent in 1920 after his arrival back in Hamburg, Germany; most cover and cards in nice condition, few covers slightly rough opening at top, Very Fine overall, a truly remarkable and extremely rare intact WWI prisoner of war correspondence. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
At the outbreak of World War I, Japan participated in the war and attacked Tsingtao in China on the southern coast of the Shantung Peninsula which Germany leased at that time. About 5,000 defeated German soldiers were captured as prisoners-of-war (POW's) and they were sent to the POW camps at twelve locations in Japan. Out of 5,000, about 1,000 POW's from POW camps in Tokushima, Marugame and Matsuyama in the island of Shikoku.
Interned POW's were able to live voluntarily and freely as much as possible thanks to a highly humane administration policy established by Colonel Matsue, Director, and other personnel at the Camps. Bando POW Camp became a center of attention worldwide as a "model POW camp". Later, Bando POW Camp won the highest praise from POW themselves as they gave unreserved praise by saying, "Where else in the world 'Gefangenenlager' (POW camp) such as Bando could have existed?". Because of this, POW's took pride in their camp and even called themselves as "Bandoers".