I've heard of some Korean War prisoners refusing to be repatriated, but did anything like this also happen during WWII?
After all, Europe pretty much needed rebuilding post-war, and for example, some of the German/Austrian PoWs came from the territories that would fall under the Soviet administration.
Or, any cases where the prisoners escaped from the camp altogether, or did something else to avoid repatriation?
Robert Frettloher was a German paratrooper captured by the Polish at Monte Cassino in 1944 and held in the UK. He became something of a local celebrity as a member of a jazz band that played at the Cavern Club. He also features in the Monte Cassino episode of the BBC's Battelfields series.
Frettloher worked closely with the Second World War Experience Centre and in an interview recorded on their website he states that in 1946 he was allowed to return to the UK "under POW status" after a short holiday in Germany. It was at a concert by his POW band at RAF Lindholme that he met his future wife and he decided to stay in the UK.
The story implies an amicable relationship between the British state and German POWs and the existence of an official scheme to extend POW status beyond the end of the war, but I am afraid this is where my knowledge of the matter ends. Hopefully this example can spark some replies to give a clearer understanding of the processes involved.
One of the most famous in the UK is Bert Trautmann.
He was a paratrooper that served on the Eastern and Western fronts. He was captured by the British and sent to a POW camp in Lancashire.
Upon release in 1948 he began playing football (soccer) for a local team as a goalkeeper. By 1949 he was signed by one of the country's top teams - Manchester City. He played for City until 1964.
Famously he was injured in the 1956 FA Cup Final but kept on playing until the end helping his team to a 3-1 victory. Later an X-ray showed he had broken his neck.
Trautman was a very popular sporting figure during his life - receiving many plaudits and honours, including an honorary OBE. Some City fans were against his signing - threatening to boycott matches or return season tickets and as you can expect there was abuse from rival fans. But it's still interesting how readily embraced he was by many given how soon after the war he began playing for one of England's top footballing sides.