Interrogation of German POWs

[PhilB]

An Edmonds quote from Writing the Great War:-

19/3/18

"A captured german artillery NCO, a group of infantry prisoners and Alsatian deserters from a trench mortar battery all told the same story, each in his own way, and in some cases unwillingly......."

What am I to make of that last word?

[Aaron Pegram]

Hi Phil,

My reading of this is that the prisoners were hesitant in disclosing information to their enemy. We all know that prisoners were treated badly by belligerents on both sides of No Mans Land, but I don't think we need to be getting too bogged down in semantics. That the interrogation takes place a few days before the launch of Operation Michael perhaps explains why the prisoners were a little nervous.

It kind of reminds me of getting collared by the vice-principal after mucking up in English. Whole truths were never disclosed in fear of getting your mates in trouble; worst still, getting the cane.

Just out of curiosity, does Edmonds say how they were captured?

Cheers,

Aaron