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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

Disturbance at Tatura:
Nazi Internment during World War Two

Figure 1.

On the 29th of September 1941, in Tatura Internment Camp 3, a riot broke out between Nazi

and Jewish internees. Internees grabbed whatever they could get their hands on, brooms,

spades, rocks, and even pieces of wood, to fight other internees.1 The unrest began with

the anti-Semitic chanting and singing by Nazi youth directed at Jewish internees. The ordeal

ended with the intervention of Australian soldiers who fired shots into the air from their guns.

This disturbance, as it was dubbed by an investigation by the Australian Army, highlights

the anxiety surrounding Nazis housed in internment camps around the country during World

War Two by fellow internees, as well as the fear that arose from the general public towards

these individuals.

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

Internment in Australia authorised to prescribe any action to be

taken in regard to enemy aliens or any


During both World War One and World War
persons having enemy associations or
Two, the Australian government interned
[connections].5 This ultimately lead to the
thousands of men, women, and children in
construction of Internment Camps across
camps around the country in the interests of
the nation.
national security. During the Second World

War, over 15,000 people were interned in

Australia, including Japanese, German, and

Italian nationals.2 These people were

classified as enemy aliens. Being not part

of the British race, it is little wonder that

enemy aliens were vulnerable to exclusion

and marginalisation, with their loyalty to

both Australian and the Empire in question

during wartime.3 When war broke out, any

person not born in Australia was required to Figure 2.

register as an alien, regardless of how long Individuals identified as being high risk to

an individual had resided in the country.4 national security were arrested, and sent to

internment camps.6 Many camps were built


The National Security Act 1939, released by
in remote areas of the country, away from
the Australian government, sanctioned the
highly populated areas, in the fear of the
detaining of these individuals into
possible security risk these camps could
Internment Camps during World War Two.
offer.7 Each camp was different in its
This piece of legislation was introduced to
facilitates, but a common feature was the
upkeep the safety and the defence of the
barbed wire fences surrounding the camps.
Commonwealth and the Territories of the

Commonwealth, and within this act, the This was no different for Tatura Internment

Governor-General of Australia was Group.

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

Tatura Internment Group Camp 3 was formed to create one family

camp. Life in Tatura Internment Group was


Tatura Internment Group operated between
not easy for internees. One internee noted
the years of 1940 and 1947, and consisted
the demoralisation felt in camp, these
of four separate camps. Two of these camps
people did not feel like human any more,
were located at Tatura, and two at
because they were not treated as human by
Rushworth in northern Victoria. The camp
the guards and officers.8 Most of those held
was operated and run by the Australian
in the camp had never committed any
Army, and housed people of all ages during
crimes, however, they were guarded day
the Second World War. Across the country,
and night by soldiers from the Australian
internment camps were typically separated
Army. Compounds A, B and C housed
upon the nationality of internees. However,
mostly German internees and access was
Taturas Camp 3 D Compound was the only
granted for internees from these compounds
family compound among the four camps,
to mix between camps during the day,
and therefore housed people of several
however, curiously, D was kept separate,
nationalities, with Jewish, Italian, and
and locked off from the other compounds.9 It
German families together in the one
was in this camp that the riot occurred.
compound. From August 1941, the rest of

Figure 3.

Tatura
Internment
Camp 1

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

The Riot population, and the riot began. Private

Sharpe was the first to fire a shot into the


In hindsight, it is not all that surprising that
air in an attempt to stop a group of
a riot could occur between Nazis and
internees from attacking Mr Weber. A
Jewish people detained within an
sentry then fired two shots into the air to
internment camp. Tensions between Nazi
stop one internee from climbing the fence
and Jewish internees started in the
between Compounds C and D. This put an
evening of the 28th of September 1941,
end to the riot, and it was recorded that no
when a group of young Nazi internees
other disturbances occurred in the camp
from Compound C approached the fence
after this outburst.
adjoining Compound D. The Jewish

internees in Compound D reported that Within a report published by the Australian

the songs sung by the young Nazis were Army, the riot was downplayed to a mere

provocative and [anti-Semitic in nature] disturbance.11 Lieutenant Colonel

and that the Nazis marched in Tackaberry saw that internees were

formation.10 One internee, Mr Weber, a singing German songs merely to amuse

self-professed Nazi, admitted freely that themselves with no ulterior motive.12

he had used provocative words and However, for a riot to have occurred more

gestures, including calling out Heil must have happened than just a few

Hitler. harmless songs. There was evidently a

tense relationship between Nazi and


The following morning, Mr Webers wife
Jewish internees, with much tension,
reported to command that she had been
bitterness and arguments occurring
insulted by Jewish internees, most likely in
between those housed in adjoining
response to the occurrences of the night
compounds.13 One possible reason for
before. The decision was made that Mrs
these was the strong presence National
Heymann, a Jewish internee, should be
Socialism had within Tatura Internment
placed in a cell. This provoked the Jewish
Group.

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

The Nazi Camp limited intervention from Australian

soldiers, Nazism was extremely prevalent


When Australians think of Nazis, they
in Camp 3.14 Even with the introduction of
think of Europe, of Germans, and of Hitler.
camp rules in March 1941 which banned
Rarely do people link Nazis with Australia.
behaviours or activities associated with
However, during World War Two, there
Nazism, many internees still continued to
were a significant number of Nazis and
perform such actions.15 Jewish internees
Nazi sympathisers who were forced to call
noticed Nazi behaviours being
Australia home. These individuals had a
demonstrated by some, such as the
significant impact on Tatura Internment
exchanging of Nazi salutes between some
camps. This can easily be observed
internees.16 Even National Socialist
through the riot; however it is also
celebrations and commemorations were
interesting to view the impact National
observed in camp, and German children
Socialism had on camp life.
attended a Hitler-youth program.17
Due to the large intake of German

internees at Tatura, as well as to the

Figure 4. - German Internees line up for a one of their regular marches


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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

There was a very clear us versus them under control, it was left to the Camp

mentality for German and pro-Nazi Commandants discretion the extent to

internees. In a report from the Army in which such rules were enforced.21 It would

1941, official visitors to Tatura stated that seem, that as long as internees were

some internees complained that they were generally behaving, little acts of support

regarded as enemies by German towards Nazism by some internees was

internees, and that they were unhappy ignored. Post the camp riot, the Australian

within the camp.18 This is especially so for Army conducted a review on the camp,

Jewish internees, who felt threatened by and highlighted a disjunction between

displays of Nazism in camp. the Armys policy within internment camps,

and the application at Tatura with rules not


There was even tension within pro-Nazi
being followed.22 This comment from the
family units. Within these families, the idea
Army seems to confirm that it was the
that a family members loyalty was with
disobedience by internees that caused the
Australia, and not with Germany, was the
riot, and that just an event could have
cause of strain. In a letter sent to an
been avoided if proper rules had been
internee, a mother spoke of her son who it
enforced, which could have avoided the
was rumoured to have joined the A.I.F, to
strong presence of Nazism in the camp.
which she said she should have shown

him the door should it be true.19

It is important, however, to note that not all

camps at Tatura saw internees supportive

of National Socialism. Internees at other

camps would proudly claim their camp to

be anti-Nazi.20

To a large extent, as long as the general

day to day runnings of the camp was


Figure 5.

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

Nazis in Australia panic

Throughout the war, reports were printed Germany to the Nazi camp leader, who

in Australian newspaper about the threat would then administer bashings to those

Hitler and the Nazis imposed on Europe, he believed to be unfaithful.25

and the British Empire. Articles were

released all over the country discussing

the Nazi terror in Europe.23 These

articles had a direct impact in Australia,

with Australians becoming increasing

more fearful of Germans and Nazis over

the course of the war. By wars end in

1945, Australians had had enough of


Figure 6. The Canberra Times 10 Jan. 1946
Nazis on their shores. Australians began

to question the influence National


It was only at the end of the war that the
Socialism was having in internment
wider Australian public found out about the
camps, and whether Nazis should be
Nazi behaviours happening at Tatura
allowed to reside in the country once
Internment Group. It seems that the
released from internment camps, as many
Australian Army was attempting to keep all
internees wanted to create a new life for
Nazi activities occurring at Tatura
themselves in Australia.24 An inquiry was
Internment Group secret. It would seem
held, chaired by Justice W B Simpson,
that the Army was afraid of how the public
into reports of Nazis at Tatura. There were
would react had they known of the Hitler
reports by some at the enquiry of a
Youth programs operating, or Nazi salutes
Gestapo operating out of Tatura.
exchanged by internees. Were they
Internee Johan Krauel reported spies
scared of a panic that would instil itself in
operating within the camp, reporting any
society should the nation find out about
German internees who were disloyal to
the influence National Socialism had in the

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

internment camp, or was it more a fear of their own country. It was as if until now,

embarrassment at not being able to Australians had tried to pretend that Nazis

enforce rules to counter such behaviours. only existed on the other side of the world.

It wasnt until the threat was more


It is surprising that it wasnt until the end of
immediate, with ex-internees wanting to
the Second World War that newspaper
settle in Australia, that they began to take
articles started arising about Tatura, and
action. If more attention had been paid to
the fear of the Nazis housed there. Those
Nazi internees, events like the riot at
years of reading about Nazi terror all over
Tatura, might not have occurred.
Europe had worn off on Australians, who

now turned their fear to the threat facing

Thousands of people were interned in Australia during World War Two. These people came

from all over the world, and had many different cultural backgrounds. Clashes would have

been common, especially with groups so prevalent as the pro-Nazis held at Tatura.

Figure 7. Painting by Tatura Internee, Fred Lowen, 1942

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

Bibliography

Figure List
Figure 1: Fred Lowen, Tatura, 1942, in Trove [online database], accessed 16 Oct. 2017.
Figure 2: NAA: A1336, 7597
Figure 3: Tatura, VIC. 1946-06-24. No. 1 Camp, Tatura Internment Group, showing most of
the compounds but excluding headquarters and the hospitals [image], (24 June
1946) <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C16812>, accessed 16 Oct. 2017.
Figure 4: Tatura, VIC. 1943-06-15. Internees of No. 1 Camp, Tatura Internment Group
(German), line up for one of their regular route marches [image], (15 June 1943)
<https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C16695>, accessed 16 Oct. 2017.
Figure 5: L. CPL E. McQuillan, Liverpool Prisoner of War and Internment Camp, NSW 1945-
11-21. A group of Italian Prisoners of War behind the wire perimeter fence of the
main compound [image], (21 Nov. 1945)
<https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C199169>, accessed 10 Oct. 2017.
Figure 6: Gestapo alleged in Tatura Camp, Canberra Times, 10 Jan. 1946, 2, in Trove
[online database], accessed 16 Sep. 2017.
Figure 7: Fred Lowen, Tatura Internment Camp Landscape through a barbed wire, 1942,
in Trove [online database], accessed 16 Oct. 2017.

Primary Sources
Alien Internee Inquiry at Tatura, The Canberra Times, 25 Oct. 1945, 1, in Trove [online
database], accessed 9 Oct. 2017.
Emery Barcs, His Majestys Most Loyal
Internees, Quadrant, 12/3 (1968), 70.
Gestapo in Camp for Internees, The Sun, 9 Jan. 1946, 3, in Trove [online database],
accessed 9 Oct. 2017.
Internment Camps, The South Eastern Times, 10 Dec. 1940, 4, in Trove [online database],
accessed 3 Oct 2017.
NAA: MP70/1, 36/101/45.
NAA: MP70/1, 37/101/185.
NAA: MP508/1, 255/715/143.
National Security Act 1939 (Cth) s5.
Nazi Threat, The Mercury, 25 Jan. 1940, 1, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct.
2017.

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

Secondary Sources
Bashford, Alison, and Strange, Carolyn, Asylum-Seekers and National Histories of
Detention, Australian Journal of Politics and History, 48/4 (2002).
Beaumont, Joan, Introduction: Internment in Australia 1939-45 in Joan Beaumont, Ilma
Martinuzzi OBrien, and Mathew Trinica (eds.), in Under Suspicion: Citizenship and
Internment in Australia during the Second World War (Canberra: National Museum
of Australia, 2013).
Koehne, S. P., Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian
Internment Camps during World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006).
Seitz, Anne and Foster, Lois, German Nationals in Australia 1939-1947: Internment, forced
migration and/or social control?, Journal of Intercultural Studies, 10/1 (1989).
Spizzica, Mia, Italian Civilian Internment in South Australia Revisited, Journal of the
Historical Society of South Australia, 41 (2013).
Wartime internment camps in Australia, National Achieves of Australia [website],
<http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/snapshots/internment-camps/index.aspx>.
Winter, Christine The Long Arm of the Third Reich: Interment of New Guinea Germans in
Tatura, The Journal of Pacific History, 38/1 (2003).

1
S. P. Koehne, Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian Internment Camps during
World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006), 71.
2
Wartime internment camps in Australia, National Achieves of Australia [website],
<http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/snapshots/internment-camps/index.aspx>.
3
Joan Beaumont, Introduction: Internment in Australia 1939-45 in Joan Beaumont, Ilma Martinuzzi OBrien,
and Mathew Trinica (eds.), in Under Suspicion: Citizenship and Internment in Australia during the Second World
War (Canberra: National Museum of Australia, 2013), 5.
4
Alison Bashford and Carolyn Strange, Asylum-Seekers and National Histories of Detention, Australian
Journal of Politics and History, 48/4 (2002), 518.
5
National Security Act 1939 (Cth) s5.
6
Mia Spizzica, Italian Civilian Internment in South Australia Revisited, Journal of the Historical Society of South
Australia, 41 (2013), 66.
7
Internment Camps, The South Eastern Times, 10 Dec. 1940, 4, in Trove [online database], accessed 3 Oct
2017.
8
NAA: MP70/1, 37/101/185.
9
S. P. Koehne, Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian Internment Camps during
World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006), 74.
10
NAA: MP70/1, 36/101/45.
11
S. P. Koehne, Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian Internment Camps during
World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006), 71.
12
NAA: MP70/1, 36/101/45.
13
Anne Seitz and Lois Foster, German Nationals in Australia 1939-1947: Internment, forced migration and/or
social control?, Journal of Intercultural Studies, 10/1 (1989), 15.
14
S. P. Koehne, Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian Internment Camps during
World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006), 75.

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Disturbance at Tatura, by Jennifer Rix

15
Christine Winter, The Long Arm of the Third Reich: Interment of New Guinea Germans in Tatura, The
Journal of Pacific History, 38/1 (2003), 98.
16
S. P. Koehne, Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian Internment Camps during
World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006), 75.
17
Christine Winter, The Long Arm of the Third Reich: Interment of New Guinea Germans in Tatura, The
Journal of Pacific History, 38/1 (2003,) 100.
18
NAA: MP508/1, 255/715/143.
19
NAA: MP70/1, 37/101/185.
20
Emery Barcs, His Majestys Most Loyal Internees, Quadrant, 12/3 (1968), 70.
21
Christine Winter, The Long Arm of the Third Reich: Interment of New Guinea Germans in Tatura, The
Journal of Pacific History, 38/1 (2003), 99.
22
S. P. Koehne, Disturbance in D Compound: The Question of Control in Australian Internment Camps during
World War II, Melbourne Historical Journal, 34 (2006), 72.
23
Nazi Threat, The Mercury, 25 Jan. 1940, 1, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2017.
24
Alien Internee Inquiry at Tatura, The Canberra Times, 25 Oct. 1945, 1, in Trove [online database], accessed
9 Oct. 2017.
25
Gestapo in Camp for Internees, The Sun, 9 Jan. 1946, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

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