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Wednesday, 29 March 2017

The internment camp on Rottnest Island, established for enemy aliens from Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War One, can be considered a historical oddity, not least as there were also indigenous prisoners held captive by Australian soldiers and warders. The coexistence of men from the most diverse backgrounds and social circumstances, some of whom did not even share a common language, yet still cohabited peacefully, serves on reflection as an inspiration. Thanks to a multitude of photographs, we can still gain a very good insight into this period in Australia, when rare scenes of fraternisation transcended contentious national and ethnic boundaries during the Great War.

About the Speaker

Alexandra Ludewig, Head of School (Humanities, UWA)

Alexandra came as a postgraduate student from Munich to Australia, has made Fremantle her home as well as German (West) Australian relations her special research interest.

Between Coral Reef and Barbed-Wire: Rottnest Island during WW1, presented by Alexandra Ludewig

Tuesday 11th April 2017, 7:30pm

Reid Library, Second Floor Conference Room

Doors open 7pm, talk commences 7:30pm Cost: $5 donation (Free for Friends of the Library Members)

Photo: On the seashore, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, ca. 1915. Courtesy of the National Library of Australia .

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