Heimkehrer


Heimkehrer refers to the German prisoners of war and internees—Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS, Ordnungspolizei, behind-the-lines Hiwis security and civilian personnel—of World War II who were repatriated to West Germany, East Germany and Austria after the war. Some of the late returnees were convicted war criminals who were subsequently tried in West Germany.
By 1948 the number of German internees still held in captivity was as follows: