British and concentration camps?

[Buford]

is it true that the British developed concentration camps (without the negative connotations that has today)? My father said it was to intern Prussians during the Boer war, but Im not so sure.Anyone help me out?

[Jim]

Thats the first i heard about this! Would be interesting to hear more.

[Kelly]

Good question Buford, and I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it were true

[Swan]

Actually yes Buford, your right. They were used as makeshift POW camps, also referred to as internment camps.

[james]

The concentration camps were a strategy used by the British after the first stage of the Boer war to weaken the guerillas by keeping the Afrikaans women and children (and so supplies) off the farms. It actually came from the Spanish in the Cuban war, but Hitler always said that the British started it.

Neither the Spanish nor the British meant them to be used for extermination. Quite barbaric, any way.

[Dave]

Yes solid info James. Surely "concentration camp" simply means a particular group of people are cruelly concentrated in one place? Death camps are a sinister twist on an already sick idea. Invented by people, of whatever nationality.

[Jim]

Agree, the Germans used the concentration camps on their own people well before the war, especially the political members who Hitler wanted rid of and anyone else who he felt was a threat. It was Hitler i believe who took it another step further and it was his disciples who ran or organised it..

[Jeannie]

I really enjoy learning in this forum. I have found that there is many pieces of information that were partials that have come full circle from reading in this forums.

[deb4953]

I've never heard about the British camps. This is interesting.

[tater03]

I have heard about these concentration camps but yes Hitler put his own sick twist on them. I wonder if he got the idea from the British and then just expaned on it in his own sick way?