The castle was then used as an Internment Camp Ilag VII for men from the British Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey until the camp was liberated in May 1945. Previously, in September 1944, after lengthy negotiations, 125 elderly and sick prisoners were repatriated to Great Britain via Sweden. In April 1944 the count of internees in Laufen included 459 British internees (417 Channel Islanders) and 120 American civilians who had been trapped in Europe when war was suddenly declared in December 1941. Even though the camp housed civilians, it continued to be operated by the German Army. The camp was liberated by the U.S. 3rd Army on 5 May 1945.
Eight Channel Island internees died in Laufen camp during the period of internment.[1]
Notable inmates
John Lingshaw, Channel Islander internee and subsequent German collaborator.
Josef Nassy, a black expatriate artist of Jewish descent, holding a US passport who created a visual diary of life in the camp.[2]
Captain Pat Reid, arrived 5 June 1940, escaped 5 September 1940, later British escape officer at Colditz.
Ambrose Sherwill, President of the Controlling Committee in Guernsey, who became British Camp Senior.
Jean-Claude Miller, youngest inmate (18 years old), interned early December 1942 with his father John Vassar Miller, because they were Americans trapped in Europe when war was declared.[3]
.jpg)
