Thinking about Europe: The Fate of German and British ‘Enemy Aliens’ during the First World War

Interactive Workshop (free), Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery (Sheppard Room), with Claudia Sternberg and organised by the Lifelong Learning Centre, University of Leeds

In 1914, British and German men were mobilised to fight each other on the Western Front while the populations at home also braced themselves for war. But what happened to the thousands of British and German husbands, wives and children, tourists, business travellers, seamen, artists, exchange students, teachers, academics, waiters, hairdressers and more who visited or lived in Germany and Britain, respectively, when war was declared?

This interactive workshop addresses the topical questions of European borders, migration, intermarriage and expatriate communities by taking us back 100 years to Britain and Germany during the years 1914-1919.

Drawing on archival material and memoirs held in the Liddle Collection at the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds, we will explore the phenomenon of civilian internment and the Engländerlager Ruhleben near Berlin, where British civilians were held, as well as Lofthouse Park Camp between Wakefield and Leeds, one of many camps for German civilians across the British Empire.

More information about the venue and registration: http://www.llc.leeds.ac.uk/events/thinking-about-europe-the-fate-of-german-and-british-enemy-aliens-during-the-first-world-war

This event is connected with the project ‘In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time’. For more see the website: ruhlebenlofthouse.com