Episode 306 - The Cowra Breakout (1944) Part 2

Weird Crap in Australia

What do the Kokoda Trail, the Bombing of Darwin, the Brownout Strangler and Australian Codebreakers have in commmon?
The Cowra Breakout.
The Cowra Breakout remains a special episode in Australia's wartime history, reflecting the complexities of captivity, resistance, and conflict. Its enduring legacy prompts continued examination of the human experience in times of war, offering insights into the psychological, social, and political dynamics that shape such events.
By delving into the motivations, actions, and consequences of both the prisoners and their captors, the Cowra Breakout invites deeper reflection on themes of resilience, identity, and the enduring quest for freedom. In a world still grappling with the scars of war, the Cowra Breakout stands as a reminder of the enduring pursuit of dignity and liberty amidst adversity.
Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the cause of the breakout, and link the event to 4 different events already covered (with more to come!)
Sources used:

• 900 Jap Prisoners Mutiny | The Daily News | 8 Sep 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78522978
• Banzai Charge at Cowra | History.net | https://www.historynet.com/banzai-charge-at-cowra/
• Blankets on the Wire (2006), Steven Bullard, Australian War Memorial, ISBN: 9780975190470
• Cowra breakout, 1944 | National Archives of Australia | https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/fact-sheets/cowra-breakout-1944
• Cowra Camp. Prisoners of war-Japanese escapees. Prime Minister's statement and diary entries | Nathional Archives of Australia | NAA: SP112/1, M 57 Page 14 of 17 1944 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=267552&S=14&N=17&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=267552&T=P&S=14
• Cowra prisoner of war breakout remembered | Max Blenkin | 4 Aug 2019 | https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/6308887/cowra-prisoner-of-war-breakout-remembered/
• FEATURES: The night the sky was glowing red | The Canberra Times | 9 Jul 1994 | Page 42 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118189979
• Japanese prisoner of war's ashes recovered in historic, emotional repatriation | Hannah Sinclair | SBS | 12 Sep 2015 | https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/japanese-prisoner-of-wars-ashes-recovered-in-historic-emotional-repatriation/jqswk5qck
• Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 Prisoners of War | W. Wynne Mason 1954 | Victoria University of Wellington | https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Pris-_N95664.html
• Prisoners Of War Break From Camp At Cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• Prisoners of war break from camp at cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• The Bugle and the Breakout | Claire Hunter | Australian War Memorial | 30 Jul 2019 | https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-bugle-and-the-breakout
• The Cowra Breakout (2002), Mat McLachlan, Hachette Australia, ISBN: 9780733647628
• War prisoners escape from camp | The Daily Telegraph | 6 Aug 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247871178

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.