Between1916and1918,morethan3,800menoftheAustralianImperialForceweretakenprisonerbyGermanforcesfightingontheWesternFront.AustralianscapturedinFranceandBelgiumdidnoteasilyintegrateintopublicnarrativesofAustraliaintheFirstWorldWaranditscommemorativerituals.Captivitywasastoryofsurrenderandinaction,atoddswiththeAnzaclegendandatriumphantnationalmemory.SoldierscapturedontheWesternFrontenduredabroadrangeofexperiencesinGermancaptivity,yetallregardedsurvivalasapersonaltriumph.SurvivingtheGreatWaristhefirstdetailedanalysisofthelittle-knownstoryofAustraliansinGermancaptivityintheFirstWorldWar.Byplacingthehardshipsofprisonersofwarinabroadersocialandmilitarycontext,thisbookaddsanewdimensiontothenationalwartimeexperienceandchallengespopularrepresentationsofAustralia’sinvolvementintheFirstWorldWar.
