Heimkehrer

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Heimkehrer (literally "homecomer") refers to World War II German prisoners of war and internees—Wehrmacht (Heer), Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS, Ordnungspolizei, behind-the-lines Hiwi security and civilian personnel—who were repatriated to West Germany, East Germany and Austria after the war. Some of the late returnees were convicted war criminals who were subsequently tried in West Germany.

By 1948, the number of German internees still held in captivity by major Allied powers was as follows:

• United Kingdom: 435,295
• United States of America: 30,976
• France: 631,483
• Soviet Union: 890,532

• Forced labor of Germans in the Soviet Union