Trench Art

Written by Yngve Sjodin

Yngve Sjodin has made a foray into the art world....

A selection of items made by soldiers and POW's during WWII.

Many soldiers spent off-duty time carving and creating different objects from materials that were at hand. These could be practical items, or decorations, toys and gifts.

The German army even provided pocketbooks with recipes and ideas of things that could be made. POW's also made things, but in many camps they were forbidden to do it and could be shot for it. Nonetheless, enough stories and items have survived to prove that even under very harsh conditions, and with roughly made tools, small pieces of art could be made, which might then be used for trading.

After liberation many Soviet and Yugoslav ex-prisoners showed their gratitude to the locals who had secretly been helping them with packets of food, clothes or medicines with beautifully hand made gifts.

Cigarette boxes. The belt was made by foil from cigarette packets....

Ashtray with matchbox holder made from the bottom of a shell, engraved 'With memories from the Narvik front', and a lamp made from a Mills grenade....