During World War II, could commanders of prisoner of war camps order prisoners to do maintenance on cars and on the camp? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

During World War II, could commanders of prisoner of war camps order prisoners to do maintenance on cars and on the camp?

by unsanemaker

In an episode of Hogan's Heroes, kommandant Klink orders Hogan and two other prisoners to work in the motor pool area. This is done as punishment. Was that actually allowed during World War II?

Georgy_K_Zhukov

Yes, POWs were allowed to be utilized for labor under certain conditions as laid out in the Geneva Convention of 1929, and camp maintenance was one such allowed task. I touch on these rules a bit here.