Uncommon lives is a series on famous and not so famous Australians as revealed in records held by the National Archives Scientist and inventor Wolf Klaphake (1900-67) emigrated from Germany in 1935. This website traces the story of his four-year detention in Australian internment camps during World War II. http://uncommonlives.naa.gov.au/contents.asp?sID=3 This website contains a large number of refs on the issue of internment of "enemy aliens". While the internment of Germans and others during the wars was by and large unjust, the conditions of their treatment were a lot less onerous than that applying to native Australians and nonwhites in general which was of a more continuing nature. While, that an apology is required is undoubted it shouldn't be muddled it into and confused with the more pressing issue of aboriginal reconciliation. I can't recall that any of the aryan internees were shot because they had blue eyes or because they were trade unionists. regards Col -----Original Message----- From: Albert Grulke [mailto:grulke@bigpond.com.au] Sent: Thursday, 14 October 2004 3:59 PM To: AUS-GERMAN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Enemy Aliens I was led to pester my local library for a copy of the book Enemy Aliens as a result of a number of list wide emails recommending this book. Recently I have had numerous friendly interested emails asking about the book since I shared some thoughts on the list because I knew from past emails that many are interested in the internment issue for both WW1 and WW2. It affected many more families than we believe. It certainly explained for me many things that people have asked about attitudes when we were all children and I thought it might help others. The content of the book affected me and perhaps I was too enthused to share that effect. The book is written by Gerhard Fischer who I assume is/was a lecturer at Queensland University because in the foreword reference is made to that institution. He quotes freely from government and other documents to support what he says. I am given to believe that it is not available for purchase except from Queensland University. I obtained a loan copy from my local library. They actually had to get it in for me from another source. Unfortunately I cannot tell more about it because I have returned the book and the library has lent it out. Apparently it is a sought after reference for historians and especially those pursuing Germanic family history. Sorry that I cannot tell you more but the <Librarian assures me that it is obtainable from any library although they may have to get a copy form another source.