Prisoners of war in World War I

German prisoners in a French prison camp during the later part of the war

During World War I between 7–9 million soldiers surrendered and were held in prisoner-of-war camps. Approximately 10% (~750,000) died in captivity.

While the Allied prisoners of the Central Powers were quickly sent home at the end of active hostilities, the same treatment was not granted to Central Power prisoners of the Allies, many of whom served as forced labour, e.g., in France until 1920.