HC Deb 02 March 1945 vol 408 cc1679-80W
Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for War if camp commandants have been authorised by his Department to punish prisoners of war for failing to give the Nazi salute to German non-commissioned officers in the camps.

Sir J. Grigg

No, Sir. Disciplinary action could be taken by the camp authorities against a prisoner of war charged by his superior officer with a failure to salute, but he would not be punished for failure to use a particular form of salute.

Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for War if British officers in South Wales prisoner-of-war camps have been authorised by his Department to accept the Nazi salute.

Sir J. Grigg

Prisoners of war are required by the Prisoners of War Convention to salute officers of the Detaining Power and they are entitled to use the salute in force in their own Army, which in the case of the German Army is the Nazi salute. Prisoners who prefer to do so may, however, use the British form of salute. British officers employed in German prisoner of war camps acknowledge the salutes of German prisoners of war, whichever form is used, in accordance with military custom.

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