Many times as a young child, I listened to the stories of fathers speaking of imprisonment in Nazi prisons. I even listened to stories of American farmers speak of German soldiers captured and brought to the States. What I personally experienced as a young woman in 1959 was a German who volunteered to turn himself over to Americans rather than the Russians in 1945 as one of the rocket program scientists. I came to love and respect him as a gentle soul who had lived to see his entire family bombed in Dresden where they lived for many generations and he never saw any of them alive ever again. So he became valuable to the space program and became an old man. Yet he remained forever locked into the trauma of war. Our own men came back traumatized forever with nightmares of screaming fellow soldiers lying out in the fields being tortured by German soldiers prodding them with force and our boys could do nothing knowing the Germans were baiting them. They lived with that guilt most of their lives. War is indeed hell and many of our own boys from Vietnam were never even acknowledged by Americans and instead came home to insults which greeted them as they came off ships in wheel chairs, or carried off on stretchers. The thing those protesters forgot was, they were drafted. Not volunteered. And so they came back home to yet more trauma. Some never got over it. My brother didn't.

One aspect does not quite ring true: "By 1946, all prisoners had been returned to their home countries." The U.S. may have shipped all prisoners out of the U.S. but not necessarily to freedom. Many tens or hundreds of thousands were sent to the UK where they were used as forced labor in the agriculture and not released until 1948. The U.S. also sent 740 000 to forced labor in France, where many were killed while being forced to clear minefields. Others were used as forced labor in the coal-mines, some until 1949. Wikipedia has a brief summary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_labor_of_Germans_after_World_War_II

I don't like tacos, even though I am one.

My grandad is German. He was born in a farm in what is now Poland and lived amongst the polish. He started school at the age of 7 and left at 14 to attend agricultural school. He speaks fluent polish also. At the age of 17 he had to join the army, his father and brother had already joined. My grandad was basically guarding trains and we have talked lots about his experience. He never knew anything about what was going on, he was captured in Cherboug and you will find many were hastily put together and many were labourers. He was taken to Liverpool England then shipped to Boston then Scotsbluff. I have a book sketched in pencil one side in english and the other german. It has an Indiana seal 'Prisoner of war camp, camp atterbury, John L Gammell, Colonel U.S army commanding. My grandad ended up in Comrie scotland where eventually he was free, but his aunt from germany told him not to go home as many were going missing, some in russia. He met my gran and they married. My grandads mother unbeknown to him was given 24 hrs by polish civilians, people they had lived with all their lives and a previous generation also, and left the family farm, and with a horse and cart took the rest of the sibblings and headed to Halle in Germany. They had not much else as everything was left. My grandad never saw his mum until 27 years later 1969 when the Berlin wall went up. My Grandad had been living in scotland up to that point. He is a great guy and talks very positively of his experience and he learned a lot, the sketch book I have reflects this. I think you will find many German POWs did not support the nazi idealogy.

Also comparing current POWs to German POWs is not fair. First off many of the German POWs that this article where just regular joes. They where grunts who got caught and where happy they weren't getting shot at any more. Most Germans from this era that I spoke to didn't believe in the Nazi belief. This is evident even among German high command. My Great Grandmother who is German said she never believed in Hitler, and thought that the killing of Jews was senseless. When you ask why she didn't do anything about it she said "because I had 9 kids to raise and the Nazis put food on the table"

My family had 6 german POWs working on our farm in Neberaska. We had one POW who worked from us from approx 1943 to 1954 (yes 1954, after the war he hid out and the Army wasn't that concerned with tracking him down) During this time both during the war and post war he had developed a deep relationship with my Aunt? (my Grandpa's Sister) In 1954 he was finally deported in 1955 my Aunt flew to Germany and married him where they lived out the rest of their days. He passed in 93 I got to meet him although I was very young. I however do remember my Aunt who passed away in 2001. Their relationship was famous in the town, everyone knew the story and loved it. I remember he used to joke, he said "Had I known Americans would treat POWs with as much respect and dignity as they did. I would of joined the Army and in my first encounter with an America i'd of thrown my rifle down and raised my hands up"

As a kid growing up in Dearborn, Michigan, during the war, I think I remember my family driving by some German and some Italian POWs near Willow Run, west of Detroit. I think they were playing soccer in their shorts and without shirts. My Father wanted my brother and me to know that the Italians were not bad guys, but he said the real enemies were the Germans. I remember looking at the two groups and not being able to see any difference. I also have a vague memory of our driving near Leamington, over in Canada, and seeing POWs picking tomatoes out in big tomato fields. A neighbor two doors north of where we lived on North Waverly went down in Europe in a B-17. He was taken prisoner, sent to a camp in eastern Germany, and forced to march westward as the Soviet army approached. He received some very rough treatment on that march near the end of the war, but he survived the war and I never heard him speak badly of his German captors. The young man in the house just to the north of us also served in the European Theater, and I can recall some of the German "souvenirs" he brought home at the end of the war, including a pistol, a few badges or insignia, and two-lens, large "flak finder," one that stood on a tripod and that we kids enjoyed looking using to read small inscriptions on a Charles A Lindbergh school over a half a block away.

I had another Uncle who is an American who was at a pow camp in Florida. He said the German pow could get anything just about it in their PX's. He said he would talk to a pow and get him to get him hosery for his girlfriends because you couldn't buy them on the open market. He said of one incident a guard had a thompson MG and opened up on a prisoner and cut him in half. He was then courtmartialed and then charged for the cost of the bullets. But this was not a german pow but was an American soldier.

My Uncle Hugo had first talked about his experience as a pow after I had returned from Viet Nam and went to Germany on vacacation. He said he surrender with 15,000 other Germans at the Battle of The Bulge. He was I believe in with the Panzas. He said first he was in Colorado and worked in the fields. He said that they would let them go to town on weekends. He said then he was sent to ElPaso, Texas. He said everyone seemed to be real nice to them. He said they always smiled and spoke, but he said that they may have cussed them out while they smiled they wouldn't known. They had PX privilages and were abel to buy cigareets and about anything else including hosery. He didn't smoke so he sold his cigareets and when he returned back to Germany he was able to buy property and build a house. When the war was finally over he said people would spit at them and throw rocks.

When I was living in Australia, I found an autobiography in the local library written by a German WWII tank driver who was taken POW by the US. It was a fascinating read. Because he could speak excellent English, he found himself working in the admin offices of the POW camps. In his book he tells many amazing stories of events that happened while he was a POW. But you can tell that the really enjoyed his time here and really respected his treatment. He wasn't a Nazi. Just an 18 year old kid who was drafted in to the war. He ended up at a POW camp in the UK for many years after WWII, and married a local English woman and spent the rest of his life in England. He says he wrote to book to explain his experiences to his grandchildren. I really, really have tried to find the title of his book. I'm so sorry I can't find it. It was published in the UK and doubt he sold more than 5 copies. I read it in 2002. My favorite bits are the stories from his time at a POW camp near Phoenix. He and another POW were transferred to a camp in San Bernardino, CA. The army assigned two MP's in two jeeps to transport them there, about an 8 hour drive across the desert. As soon as they left base, the two MPs stopped and told the two POW's to drive one jeep so that the two MP's could chat on the long drive. The POWs were told told to follow the MP jeep. It wasn't long before the POWs got lost, never to find their MP's again. So they drove on to San Bernardino on what is now Interstate 10. When he crossed the Colorado River into California, he encountered the agriculture stop where Calif. officers check for prohibited fruit and veg. He panicked, thinking it was a security check. Two German POW's, driving alone in a US Army jeep in WWII across the Southwest US would not look good. But, they just asked him if he had any fruit and waived him on. He eventually found his way to the base, late a night, and their MP's were already there, fed, and bed.

My Grandfather who spent his whole life in the southwestern corner of Minnesota told me about his work during WWII. As a civilian, he was in charge of transporting German POW's to work as farm labor in the area farms. He told me that they never ever gave him any problems. He said the reason was that the German officer POWs kept all the enlisted POWs in line. He told me was very impressed with their discipline. I don't know where the camp was. Sorry. Probably near Marshall, MN.

I grew up in NW Indiana and met several Germans that were interned at a POW camp south of Chicago. The buildings were still there in the early 70's and were part of a Girl Scout camp. Think it was part of the Sweetwoods South park system. Believe the Germans said they were captured in Italy and were surprised by the generousity of thier captors. Said the gaurds allowed people to pass them sandwiches and fruit at railroad stops. They worked on area farms that were owned by folks of German and Dutch heritage who fed them like family along with home made beer. They were encouraged to stay in touch after the war, which they did. Many returned home only to find all of their families dead or missing and their towns utterly destroyed. They went to the US Army looking for work and were offered to become recruits in the US Occupational Army to serve as interprators working with the DP's trying to go home. Once their enlistment ended then they were eligible to immigrate to the USA. They did and returned to camp area where they were warmly welcomed back.

German POWs worked at the JP Ritter compamy in Bridgeton, New Jersey during WWII. Does anyone have pictures or stories of this time in history?

I live in Orange County, in Southern California as I have all of my life. Grew up on an orange ranch in Fullerton, Ca. As a child I have memories of German POWs with guards that came to pick our oranges at harvest time. It was an interesting time, but have found no one else now that I'm in my later years to confirm this. Does someone have any information about POWs in Orange County, California.

My father was an Army MP stationed in Georgia as a POW guard during WW II. He was born in Germany and therefore spoke fluent German. Does anyone know which Camp he was stationed at? Does anyone have any photos that my contain pictures of my father. His name was William Topka and was from West New York, New Jersey at the time.

Hi there,
So far as I know the Germans love to keep very detailed archives. So If you're looking for someone I should try first at the German Army named Bündeswehr and/or The German Department of Defense. If you contact them they will lead you to other opportunities.

Grtz.
A friend from The Netherlands

My grandfather was in a POW camp in either Chicago or Detroit, my mother doesn't remember where and returned to Austria in 1946 to be reunited with his family 3 girls of which he wife had died in 1936 before the Germans marched into Austria and demanded each available man to fight for them. I am dying to find out were his camp was. If their were records kept of the soldiers that were kept at the POW Camps. I just do not know who to contact for this.

Looking for anyone who was at or knew anyone who spent some time at Camp Hortonville Wisconsin during WWll.Local residence with stories welcome.

yeah, i agree. the germans would act sincere, honest, and understanding to the americans because 1.) they are western europeans and have a closer understanding of democratic society with the Allies than with the USSR 2.) they are Christians as well 3.) they are thousands of miles away from home with no intent on escaping 4.) the anti-nazi Germans (non-SS) were the ones who were interred into these work forces rather than the Fallschirmjaeger and Waffen-SS who were interred in northern scottland, completely isolated.

I cant tell if the author of this article is naive or trying to push an agenda. Respectfully thats how ridiculous I think this idea is. As a vet who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I think they are right where they need to be. Comparing muslims to Germans, is an insult. Can anyone picture jihadis helping to harvest crops and interact with the locals? They are more likely to behead a child, than hand out candy and play with them. German POWs served because a sense of duty to their country, instead of making a pact with god, to kill themselves and take as many infidels as they can with them. At the end of the day, you knew Germans wanted to live in peace.

Does anyone know if POWs from Beale (near Marysville/Yuba City, CA) were hired out to local farms and orchards as they were in other places? I'm working on historical fiction set in 1945 in that area and would love to know if that was the case.

I am looking for any information on a German prisoner of war held at Fort Niagara, New York. After the war he went out west and painted some wonderful watercolors. His name is M. Vollert.

This is in reference to Jim Cote's note about the painting that was given to his mother, while she worked at Ft. Devens. I have some paintings that where done by a german gentleman. My father was stationed in France and he met him. This man said that he was a prisioner of war and held at Ft. Devens, Mass. I just wonder if they are done by the same person. He signed them on the right lower corner and it says KODEDA. Would be interested in finding out any information.

A German POW during WWII named Adolf Schulte worked on my father's farm in Coffee County, Ga. He was housed in Fitzgerald, Ga.and was trucked to the farm daily. They became friends and corresponded with each other after the war. I would like to make contact with him or his family if I can find some info on where he lives or lived in Germany. Any directions in the search would be greatly appreciated.

This is in response to Gene Russel's post or anyone else who may have information regarding the German POW camp in Arbuckle, CA, Colusa County: I am very interested in learning more about this camp and especially any photos that may be out there somewhere. My father was in the migrant camp next to the POW camp and always told stories about the German prisoners and the guards. He now lives a half block from where the old camp once was and I would love to show him some old photos before his time comes and maybe jog some old memories before his time comes. He used enjoy talking about the experience and I got the impression he made friends, both prisoners and guards. Anything anyone may have would be greatly appreciated
Thank you

I was in charge of German POWs at four (4) Army Posts in the U.S.: Camp White, Oregon: Tule Lake, CA.; Madera, CA.; and Ft. Ord, CA. In addition to my other administrative responsibilities,one of my duties was to see that the Geneva Comvention rules and regulations related to POWS was strictly adhered to - and it was at all times

The POWs did various jobs on farms and worked in other capacities such as repairing military assets returned from Alaska and made ready for use in other theaters of war. For the most part, there were no discipline problems. Also, it was a good place to learn the German language.

I am currently undertaking some local history research into a couple of working POW camps in my hometown of Crewe, Cheshire, England. Fortunately, I have been able to interview some exPOWs who are still alive and live in my area.
One of those gentlemen gave some details of his life as a POW in a camp in Idaho - he said it had 4 crossroads and a big warehouse with lots of consumer goods. Which was a revelation to a German prisoner from Europe where everything was in short supply.
Can anyone, from this regretably short description id the camp and provide any information on it.
Thank you.

This information is very informative and interesting. In the 1940's the harvesting of potatoes and sugar beets in southern Idaho was very labor intensive. I recall that my parents brought at least a dozen POWs on a daily basis to our farm to pick potatoes. My job was to steer the truck between the rows of potato sacks while my dad and others loaded them on the truck. As I steered down the row, I remember looking at the POWs and wondering what they had done that required a guard with a rifle at each end of our potato field! It was very strange and kind of scary to feel this way on my parent's farm. However, at the age of 6-7, it was difficult for me to fully comprehend the war and the presence of POWs from Germany in our rural Idaho community. Since this is in the heart of south central Idaho's potato country, I assume there must have been many POWs in the area. I am writing some family and Burley, ID area history and would like to have more details about the number, their housing, how they were fed, their time in the area, and who was in charge of them. POW pictures from this area would be invaluable. I should note that the Minidoka Internment Camp or "Hunt Camp" for Japanese was about 50 miles away, but my parents did not know about it! I believe it was still occupied by Japanese, some of whom worked in the harvest.

My father was an MP guarding German and Italian prisoners. My mother said he was in several POW camps. My sister has a painting done by an Italian pow and I have a plane made from melted silverware. Do not recall if it was made by a German pow or Italian. I believe it is a replica of a B-28.

My comments here are addressed to a post by Mike Carrasco on February 12, 2010/12:17, regarding a German Prison Camp located at the Bercut-Richards Cannery/Sacramento Army Depot during WWII. I am an artist and former employee at the Sacramento Army Depot, having worked there between 1968 and 1979. During the period 1976-79, I painted a series of murals for the depot's Administration Building for the U.S. Army's Bicentennial celebrations. One of the 3 murals I painted was one entitled, "The Sacramento Army Depot Story," a pictorial depiction of the evolution of the depot up to that time (1978). In the mural I depicted a scene of the German Prison Camp, apparently referred to at the time as "Tent City" German Prison Camp based on an old photograph. When I painted the mural (in a representational style), I gleaned reference materials from old photographs and even snippets off old movie film that were available at that time in the depot's Public Affairs Office. Anyway, I still have a copy of that particular scene of the mural if you (or anyone else interested in this topic) would like a .jpeg copy (in full color), I would be more than happy to forward it to you as a photo attachment. Just e-mail me at . Best regards, Dean Gleisberg

I am a high school English teacher in Teague, Texas. My dad was a bombardier in WWII. After reading the novel, NIGHT, I am having my sophomore english classes do a project researching answers to questions about Auschwitz and a WW2 prison of war camp in the U.S. We would love to hear from some of you about questions on the US camps.such as nationalities, work, food, clothing, luxuries, accomodations, remains, weapons and medical care. Is anyone interested?

bayfield wisconsin pow camp, any info on this camp would be very interesting and valued

My mother worked in the POW office doing payroll for prisoners and menus in german. It was the camp at Fort Devens in Ayer MA. She has a painting of a river that was given to her by a prisoner. Only some of the name can be seen.

I am working on an article for a local historical journal on the POW Camp that was just outside of Arbuckle, California during the latter part of World War II. It was a sub-camp from Camp Beale (now Beale AFB). Being able to contact one of the former prisoners would be awesome!
My father was the last commander of the POW Camp that was at the US Navy base at Camp Farragut in Idaho. Mom and dad did keep in touch with several of the men and years later visited them in Germany and Austria.

I have a letter written by a german pow detained in augusta georgia, he thanked my grandfather for some clothes he had sent him when he got back to austria I also have a painting (cannot tell name signed pow 1945 of the worksite. A log cabin above the savannah river. the worksite was a logging camp. I always have wondered about this man and the painting. The letter was signed adolph swartz, I think my grandmother sent him food while he was a pow and my grandfather tried to help him. This is part of my family history and have batted zero in trying to find this man or his family. I have the letter and address. Any ideas and should this painting be in a pow museum or something?

In Anniston, Alabama is a German-Italian PW Cemetary. There are two German PWs buried there that our records show did die on 11 Nov 44 at the old PW Camp. The Grandson of one says that his Grandfather died at a PW Camp in Mississippi as a result of a vehicle accident on 11 Nov 44, and his body was later exumed and relocated to the PW Cemetary at Anniston.I can find no records of this. How can I obtain a death certificate or any info pertaining to those two former PWs ???? Mississippi Archives reveal nothing. Also, where can I find the official reason why WWII German-Italian PWs were sent to the US....

My dad told me that one of his Army duties at Ft. Francis E. Warren near Cheyenne, Wyoming was guarding the 6000 German POW's interned there, and described them as decent guys who put their pants on one leg at a time as we did. In his footlocker he had a 3'x4' rug woven of white string that one of them had made for him. I got the impression it was pretty boring for them at the camp, but a lot safer than combat.

My friends' Mom was a beautiful young Scandinavian-American telephone switchboard operator who grew up in Ogden, Utah during the war. She said that the local Italian POW's were driven up to the mountains around Morgan and worked on the dirt roads, in a truck filled with POW's, shovels, hoes, picks, rakes, and in the front of the truck, a driver, a guard with a shotgun, and a large container of food for lunch. They'd work the morning hours, and then lean all the garden tools and the shotgun up against a tree, eat lunch, and all of them including the guards would have an afternoon siesta in the shade of the tree before getting up for the afternoon's work and a ride back to the camp in the evening. On Fridays the switchboard operator's supervisor would get a call from the sergeant of the camp guards inviting all of the switchboard operators to a dance at the camp, and the same truck would stop by after work for them to go dance with the nice Italian boys at the armory. She said nearly all the girls went. She said that the Italians were very happy to be out of the war [and dancing], and many expressed the desire to stay in the states afterward.

On the other hand, my uncle told of Japanese POW's that were detailed to the huge open pit Kennecott Copper Mine. He said there were several "accidental" deaths of those POW's in the hazardous areas near the railroad tracks and that the POW's had to be removed for their own safety after a short while, since many workers at the mine had lost relatives in battles our side was not winning in the Pacific up to that time.

I am interested in any information regarding a German POW camp in an army base located in Weequahic Park in Newark, NJ during world war II. Please respond to my e-mail address. Thank you!

Ron Freiman

I COLLECT SELL AND MOSTLY SAVE UNUSUAL ITEMS. I HAVE 2 DRAWINGS AND 1 HAND DONE PRINT. THEY ARE VERY UNUSUAL BECAUSE THEY SHOW A MAN IN PRISON GARB PLOWING A FIELD WITH A HORSE AND A PLOW , IN THE CLOSE BACKGROUND IS A LARGE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING . THIS IS QUITE A CONTRAST. THE DRAWING IS LARGE 2FT BY 2FT. THE DRAWING IS PENCIL SIGNED ON THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT WITH TWO DIFFERENT GERMAN NAMES. I HAVE BEEN INTO ANTIQUES ETC. FOR OVER 40 YRS SO I KNOW IT IS FROM THE 1940s period. THE PAPER IS YELLOWED. THESE CAME FROM SOME SORT OF GERMAN BOOK STORE THAT OPERATED FOR AT LEAST 75 YRS AND CLOSED. THE CONTENTS WERE JUST THROWN INTO AN AUTION AND I BOUGHT THEM. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN NJ . I BELIEVE THE STORE WAS IN THE PITTSBURG PA AREA. THE PIECE SEEMS TO CONTRAST INDUSTRY AND AGRICUTURE BUT THERE ARE STENCILED SERIAL NUMBERS ON THE BACK. I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE FROM THE ISLAND FARM CAMP IN ENGLAND BUT I AM TOTALLY LOST ON THESE. ANY IDEAS ? PHONE 856 745 3740 I THINK THEY COULD BE IMPORTANT ? ED MALESINSKI HADDON TWP NJ 08108 I HAVE TROUBLE SENDING EMAILS RIGHT NOW BUT MY COMPUTER WILL BE FIXED SOON. I HAVE NO TROUBLE RECIEVING THEM. THE PIECES HAVE ALL BEEN FRAMED , ORIGINAL, AND THEY ARE SIGNED BUT HARD TO READ. ANY HELP OR DIRECTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU , ED PS SORRY ABOUT THE LARGE CASE LETTERS BUT I TYPE WITH ONE FINGER AND THIS HELPS ME GO FASTER. THIS TOOK ALMOST 15 MIN TO WRITE. GIVE ME A CALL OR GIVE ME YOUR NUMBER AND I COULD CALL YOU . THANKS AGAIN ED MALESINSKI

For Richard Morrison Re:Cambridge, Oh camp. Fletcher Camp became Fletcher State Hospital and is still in existance. Contact Guernsey County Historical Society, Cambridge, OH. 43725 and someone there should be able to give you some info.

Would like to find any info about a POW camp in Little Rock, Ak during 1944-45. My father worked as a guard there after his service in England, from 8th Army Air Corp.

This comment is directed to Julia Clark-Foster in regards to your father Myrvin C. Clark. My name is Daniel Hutchinson, and I'm a historian at Florida State University. I am researching about the German POW camp at Opelika, Alabama, and your father's work there. I would very much like to share what documents I've found about your father's time there, and I'd like to ask a few questions if you wouldn't mind. Feel free to contact me via email: jdh06d at fsu.edu.

Looking for information on German POW Camp in Cambridge, OH.(Guernsey County). Believe it was called Camp Fletcher and the POWs were part of the German Afrika Corps. Need to know whether there were any fatalities and where they are buried.

Also desiring information on the 9 German fatalities buried in Fort Sheriden cemetary in Highland Park Michigan.

I have very many fond memories as a 7-9 year old child talking to the POWs during my recess at grade school. They served as gardeners at a home next to my grade school. I couldn't wait for the bell to ring, so that I could talk to them!

Later in life, I would teach my two grand daughter to ride their bicycle in the Fort Sheriden Cemetary. Their I located the grave sites of 9 Germans in the back corner of the cemetary. For the last 15 yeara I have visited the graves of these Germans during my visits to Chicago.

I am now, at the age of 76, interested in raising funds for their relocation to Germany. Would appreciate any information that you may have.

I am looking for photos of German POWs who were held at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas. Any suggestions??

Interested in and German Prisoner of War soldiers that were held at the canning factory in Oakfield NY.

I belong to the Oakfield Historical Society and we have recently been given some pencil sketches done by a prisoner in 1945. We are interested in finding out more about him as well as anyone that was held at the Oakfield Canning Factory.

Please contact me with any information you may have.

Thanking you in advance.

Darlene

I found this article to be very informational except for the part in which the author blurrs the line between captured forces of an enemy army (German) in which rules of war were generally followed by both sides and the current terrorist zealots murdering innocent people in the name of Islam and observing no rules of war. According to the Rules of the Geneva Convention insurgent fighters who do not dispay readily identifiable uniforms and insignia and provide no humane treatment to captives if captured may be executed. You shouldn't confuse the two issues or add any form of legitimiate cover for savages who aren't accorded any type of protection under the Laws of Armed Conflict.

When I was about 9 or 10, German POW's were brought to our farm in the central valley (about 40 mies from Fresno) of California to help with picking cotton. My memory of them is very dim--I know that they were treated well and my father who spoke German would visit with them. Our local priest who was also German would visit them and hold services. I still have a copy of a letter that one of the prisoners wrote to my father after the War. I would love to find more information and would appreciate if anyone could furnish this news. Thank you. MDB

Does anyone have any information on the POW Camp in Bridgeton, New Jersey. (On Robinson Farm) Many of the prisoners worked at the R.J. Canning factory in Bridgeton, New Jersey. As a child I remember seeing the guard towers and barbwire fence. Thank you. Dr. O.

Sacramento Cal. Richards Bercut -Cannery
In August 2009, my uncle dropped by my office which is located on Richards Blvd [of Interstate 5]. In the 1940s, my uncles built at least 1 or 2 houses in this industrial area. My uncle mentioned to me that as a teenager, he recalled seeing the German POWs being driven in trucks to work in the peach orchards and hop fields in the area. As I understood, they were always waving to the young lades. He also mentioned that the German POWs were held in the Richards Bercut Cannery which was at the time called Sacramento Army Depot-satellite to Camp Beale.
There are no photos of the Sacramento Army Depot that I can find during those times. I too am curious about this part of history in Sacramento and that fact that my family witnessed the German POWs presence in Sacramento.
I plan on writing a short article about this subject in my agencies newsletter to share the City's history and to share alittle about my family's presence in this area.

My father was Myrvin C. Clark (major) serving in the army. My father had a german prisoner commissioned to do oil paintings while living in Georgia (US). The artist name was Willie Sachs or Willie Sacks. I would like to know more about this artist. How would I research this subject?

Does anyone have any information about the German POW camp that was in Houlton Maine? Absolutely no remnants of it remain and little information. I was hoping to start gathering some info.

My dad fought in ww2. I was born 12/41 just two weeks after Pearl Harbor. I never knew there were prison camps in Alabama untill I read these articles. I never liked history in school, but I am drawn to these. I live not to far from where there was a camp in Auburn, Alabama. But i cant seem to find out anyting more about it, except what is written in the article at the beginning. I guess it got my interest because I had a son and son-law that served in the military and now I have a grandson serving.

After learning about several POW camps in my area, I did some research, as well as asked around. What a surprise, Camp Blanding the largest Camp, with Gordon Johnson the second largest. Several men of that age group told several instances of encounters with POW's. One unique tell of the missing honey, as told by my former boss Monson. Out of camp Gordon Johnson, the POW's were sent out to the logging crews to assist in what ever. My Boss who worked for the U S Forest Service at the time, was stopped by one of the local Bee keepers and asked if he had seen anyone getting into his hives as he keeps missing honey. Monson replied no he hadn't seen anyone around in these part of the woods all week, the only activity going on was a logging crew about 3 to 5 miles down the road. Some days later the Bee Keeper came by where Monson was working and stopped to chat, Monson asked if he was still was missing honey, the Bee Keeper, laughed as he began to tell how the honey thief was caught. At Camp Gordon Johnson the MP's busted up a liquer making operation, the main ingriedent was honey, in their questioning the truth came out one of the POWs who had apirary skills was hiking to the hives and stealing the honey for the liquer operation.

Small camp in Fargo Georgia, to assist loggers, been looking for some information on that one no luck yet.

Got a few more, if anyone is interested

My mother was a WAC in WWII she was stationed in the dakodas in around 1942 as i recall she was in the motor pool and she said she used to to transport prisoners. Her name was Francics P. Hammond She Was born in 1922. I Have pictures of her troop and pictures of snow storm so bad they had to shovel out of there barriks. if anyone has a similar story please contact me.

My Grandfather received a couple of oil paintings and a photo from a German POW that was at Camp Ogden. I'm not sure if he received them after his release or while he was still in Camp Ogden. His name was Albin Faulwetter the pictures are in excellent shape and I have them hanging on my wall. I always thought that it was kind of strange when I was told where the paintings came from.

First, equating the prisoners at GTMO to the AVERAGE Germans and Italians from WW2 is bogus. There were SS and the like that were held under tighter security. The ones who worked outside were mainly regular soldiers who were just happy to not be fighting.

The article talks about the camps being in the south, there were more than a few in other areas, one, Camp Michaux was near my home. If you search my name and that camp you will find an article about it.

when I was young, I LIVED IN NORTH EAST pHILA. pA. NEAR A SMALL mILITARY CEMETERY. i REMEMBER THEY HAD SOME GERMAN POW WORKING ON THE GROUNDS THERE. I CAN NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT YEAR.

My grandfather, Curtis C. Baldwin raised wheat in NW Neb, not far from Fort Robinson. Family lore says he used POW labor during harvest. I now have a "ship in a bottle" (a vinegar bottle, according to the story) which one the POW's made and sent to Grandpa after he returned home. I would like to hear from anyone who might know anything about this.

Hello, Mt. Pleasant! Coincidentally, I was telling my husband just recently about my memories of my Grandfather, whose small farm was just north of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, having several German prisoners of war "delivered" to the farm every week day. He lived in Midland and had never heard of this program. I would have been ten or eleven years old. We lived in town and visited "the farm" every week. I recall being interested that there were German prisoners working for Grandpa, but my brother and I never felt afraid. Grandpa, who was not a kind man and would have reacted to any sign of laziness or insubordination, thought they were fine, hardworking young men.

I read that "interesting little paperback" referred to above aby Art Pease. I have seen the area where the POW camp (for-merly a CCC camp) near the Canadian border of NH. I gave copies to my grandchildren, so that they may realize that are alternatives to treating incarcerated people. It can be with respect and kindness, or fear and suspicion. The little book STARK DECENCY (from Stark, NH) elevates the goodness of people of good will . It also teaches us not to jgeneralize from the worst - that can be very unfair & misguided.Expect the best. You might be surprised!

There were quite a few Italian POW's in Ogden, Utah. We used to watch them play baseball in Ogden Canyon. They mingled freely with the women who worked at the Navy Depot and Second Street. We had them to Sunday Dinner on occasion, and gave them presents on Christmas. I never learned Italian, but many of them expressed a desire to return to Utah after the war (or remain, if they could). Utah also had Japanese camps, (Topaz, for instance) many stories have been told of the hardships the Japanese suffered. The majority of them were born and raised, married and had children here in Utah, yet were treated as the enemy by the Govt...one of the many shames our country has done...i.e. Andersonville, the notorious POW came in the Civil War. When will "civilized" people become civil???

Camp Shelby, just south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has an excellent museum highlighting its ~100 year history. A few alcoves are dedicated to photos, letters, and memorabilia describing its time as a WWII German POW camp. What impressed me the most was the German's liberal treatment and freedom of expression.

The prisoners formed a symphony orchestra with instruments provided by the local area. In return, the orchestra gave concerts at many local churches, functions, and at what is now the University of Southern Mississippi.

The prisoners formed a soccer league that included a number of teams. Not only were there intra-mural games and championship playoffs, but some of teams played exhibition games at local schools.

Many years ago, a feature article in the local paper reported that a number of prisoners returned to south Mississippi after the War to create a new life and become US citizens. The article went on to say that many married local girls they had met while working at farms or in towns during the War.

I am not old enough to remember events in the 1940s but I have heard things. I haven't read much of anything about the POW workers I found had had been used near my birthplace by the canning factory we had for sweet corn on the Minnesota and South Dakota border area near the southern end of Big Stone Lakr.

Well, I guess I have to add my two cents. As a little fellow, my family would come to the pocono mtn (long pond, pa) and we would stay most of the summer working on Starkey' farm. We would pick beans cabbage and spinach. There were German soldiers that would pick right along with us. I was quite young (13 or so) and didn't mind trying to talk with them. they were housed at the Tobyhanna Depot base. don't remember any of them trying to excape. (the good old days)

I took my Army dischard and stayed in Germany following my 3-year tour. As a civilian I was subject to German income tax. Well, I was audited.

I went to the audit looking as poor as I could, and hoping for the best. The auditor said he had been to America and he though it was a great country. I immediately felt better, until I asked where he had visited.

He said, "Well, I was a POW camped outside of Chicago".

Boy, I almost passed out! I knew this audit would not go well.

He contined, "They treated us very well, and even took us to Chicago to buy Christmas presents for us to send home."

"Getting back to you taxes", he said. "You say you don't owe anything?" I forgot what I said, I couldn't think.

He said, "I agree, you should have to pay a thing." He stamped all my papers, I gave a sigh of relief and left the office.

There is an interesting little paperback book titled Stark Decency, by Alan Koop [C.Everett's son], about the POW camp for German prisoners in Stark, NH. This was on the location of a former CCC camp in northern NH. The book chronicles the interesting contacts between pows and area citizens.

My Uncle Bill, was in charge of a group of German POWs that were picking cotton in southern Arizona. One of the POWs told him that he remembered when the Fuehrer promised that the German troops would march across the US, but he never told them that they would be pulling 100 lb sacks of cotton. My uncle loved to tell this story and he would often bring one or two home to his family for dinner.

I had never heard of German POW's being 'housed' in America before, I was born in 1947. Amazing story. What compassion. I somewhat understand the need factor for the labor in the crtical time during the war, however, my first thought that came to mind as I was reading this story was what a contrast it was, the treatment of the German POW's to the treatment of the Japanese Americans at the beginning of the war. Many Japanese Americans lost everything they had and were not treated all too well in their camps. They were view as the enemy, even though many were U.S. citizens. Only in America can there be such folly. I wonder what our veterans who fought in Germany feel about this story. Amazing how much there is to know about our American history and what motivates us to do the things we do. America took from those who were living and contributing to building of the country, Japanese Americans, and gave to those who took up arms against America, Germans! Now isn't that interesting!

There was even a POW camp here in Utah. More sad history from here is that a guard went crazy & opened fire on a large group of German POWs - Several were killed and are buried in the Fort Douglas Cemetary in Salt Lake City.

Who would have thought that being a German P.O.W. at Fort Benning, Georgia during WWII would cause a fight between two brothers. After my Uncle Gustav was released at the end of the war he got two pairs of shoes and was sent back to Germany. My poor father who had fought on the Russian front and was captured by the Russians but managed to escape asked his older brother for one of the pair of shoes. For some reason Gustav's response was no. This of course irked my father to no end and he complained that Gustav had it the easiest during the war being captured by the Americans and a P.O.W at Fort Benning. My father was still mad about it many years later when he told me, his son, about this fight he had with his older brother over a pair of American shoes.

For several years I researched the topic of German POWs held in the US, particularly western Nebraska. The results is a novel titled, BECKER'S FARM. This was a collection of stories, combined with a bit of imagination. The book underscores the extreme humanitarian treatment German POWs received at the hand of their 'enemies'.
I have also spent many years visting Japanese POW camps for allied soldiers in Asia. Needless to say, the Japanese were not as 'kind'.
BECKER'S FARM and its sequel THE MAN IN THE BLACK AND WHITE DRESS can be had on Amazon Books.
W.V. Timmons

Captured german machinists worked at the 5th echelon military machine shop in Topeka Ks. during the war, where my father worked. One told me that after his train ride from the Atlantic coast, he realized that Germany could not prevail, and vowed to help bring the war to a rapid conclusion.

Good article.Now,enlighten the readers on all the Italian POW's that were sent here from North Africa.

After Italy surrendered and became an ally,they technically were no longer enemy combatants.

I knew one when I was stationed in Sicily. He told me a great story of his train ride across our country from Charleston S.C. to Seattle/Tacoma,Wash.

When they arrived they were put to work loading ships headed to the south pacific.

They lived in camps that had originally been set up for P.O.W.'s only difference was the guards were other Italian soldiers, and there was no lock on the gates.

About fifteen years ago public TV in Spokane, WA, did two programs, available as videos, about POWs in this area. One was about the navy's Farragut boot camp near Athol, Idaho, that had an adjacent camp for German prisoners. The prisoners could volunteer to work on local farms, I think. And they could watch all those young navy recruits marching outside their fence.
Some Italian sailors from a commercial Italian steamship were put in a camp in western Montana when the war started, where they eventually were allowed time off in town. Some stayed on after the war. Both stories were fascinating. I hope the TV station still sells those videos; they are priceless reminders of another world, and might serve as mementos to others who have lost the memories of their local encounters.

I have looked and looked for information on a German POW camp that was located in Evangeline State Park, St. Martinville, La. during WW II. As a small child I remember seeing the German prisoners riding in the back of trucks coming back into town after working in the fields. I have vague recollections of going to the park and seeing the guard towers. The history of the camp seems to have been lost, it is not listed in any sites that refer to the WW II camps. The local weekly newspaper editor has researched their archives and can find no information.

Here in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (smack in the middle of the Mitten) our local newspaper recently ran an article about German POWs that lived and worked in this area. There was little evidence of their being here except for the memories of a number of people whose recollection was that the prisoners were used primarily to support agriculture.

When A family moved into our tennement house at 1538 DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn, N.Y. the children could noT speak English. The father operated the Radio Store in the front on the first floor. We lived on the top floor and my parents were the 'janitors'. All the children in the apartment house played together in the back yard and the only word that was almost the same in German and English that we kids knew was "penny" or the German word was similar. That changed eventually.
Mr. Breyers was an alien and a member of the American Nazi Bund, whose U.S. leader was Fritz Kohn (spelling???). Fritz "whatever" visited Mr. Breyers often. Also, one weekend they took my brother and myself to Camp Yapank (spelling?)on Long Island,a Nazi Bund Camp. I remember CLEARlY the Bund Members marching around a field with their brown belts on their Nazi uniforms and carrying the Nazi flag Swatztike on it. I was about 12 and even then I remember I was kinda spooked about it. They marched and yelled "Heil" but can't remember if they said "heil hitler".
It seems that Mr. Breyers was not supposed to have a short wave radio in his possession nor was he supposed to be in contact with Fritz Kohn (again, spelling?) Mr. "B" was picked up and sent to Ellis Island and was supposed to be sent to Texas to a 'camp'. We don't think he ever was but when visiting our family and Mrs. Breyers and kids at the same time in the early 40's, the three kids were talking about and looking forward to being sent to a camp in Texas for the duration of the war. The oldest boy who was about 13, spoke of having 'butter' and horse back riding etc. etc. He was a short wave operator also. It seems the prisoners of war in camps had it better than AMERICAN CITIZENS at that time.
I still have a disk on a string that I wore as ID when in the 8th grade in PS 162 in Brooklyn, NY. and many pictures. It was a long long time ago! ANYONE OUT THERE REMEMBER?? PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!!

I think that when we also take under consideration how many, but certainly not all, of these soldiers came to be incorporated into their military at that time, and that even if enlisted, they did not do so with Anti-American or Anti-Semetic ideologies-- it becomes quite evident that the disdain which is blatantly infused with the extremist mindset of terrorism is not present. I have many times heard of, and have experienced directly for myself that ignorance about others does not automatically equate to a contention for others, but that it is absolutely a blank canvas for which misinformation is easily spread. Adapting to your environment is a natural occurrence. When the environment is one of survival by killing, then such is the act required to live. But when the environment is one that provides for an activity that is more conducive to peace of mind, then so too are the acts in kind.

Just my two cents...

Yes, it is important to distinguish between ordinary prisoners of war, who have done nothing wrong, and accused war criminals. Most of the German P.O.W.'s were in the prior category. Assuming that they hadn't personally murdered any Jews or anything like that, they were simply men who had been doing their duty and who had the misfortune to fall into enemy hands, sort of like John McCain. Under international law, they are to be humanely treated, given proper foor and medical care, and simply sent on their way when the war is over, and they may be released to a competent sovereign responsible for their good behavior.

But there is the rub. We here in the House of War have been at war with the House of Submission for some 1300 years. When can we say that the "war" is over that the prisoners of war may be thus released? We complain that some of those we have let go have returned to battle, but why should they not have done so? If those hundreds of thousands of Germans we captured in North Africa had not been kept in custody, as described in the article, certainly we would have met them again at Monte Cassino or in Normandy.

My father used to work with German POWs in Minnesota. His family spoke German at their household. His country school had German and English lessons and the country church services were in English and German. He remembered bringing home German POW's from the factories for the weekends. The German POWs were polite and often couldn't believe that people in the USA,(the enemy) lived a German life style. My father recalled that once one of the POWs broke down and cried how much he missed his own home and family and couldn't get over the fact that my father's family reminded him of being home. I am amazed that very few people realize that there were German POW camps thoughout the United States. I enjoyed the article.

there is a great difference between the axis pows and the suspects at gitmo. the article implies that there is not. WRONG answer. most of them will go back to killing US as some as they are released,as some that have been released have already done. those suspects should never be allowed to enter the USA at all for any reason.

Equating extremist terrorists with WWII German POWs?? I sense some mismatch here.

There is great worth in the resurgence of articles of this sort... some of the german descendants of POW'S shipped as far south as Auburn Alabama, one descendant became my great aunt! Having lived in the Eifel @ Spangdahlem Air Base from 1972-1977 I enjoyed the cobblestone streets and stone archetecture with a curiosity still unrequited today, owing to my innate american expectations. Frequent trips to Trier one of the oldest cities in the Eifel, imbued an appetite for what I call the sage of genuine history enhanced by the best Kasekucken, cheese, and wine in the Eurosphere ... I still long for the loaves of golden bread and Yakobs black Kaffee... thanks for taking me back with this article.

My dad would never talk about WW II because he was unable to fight but since his death, I have been told that he was a "storekeeper at Lockheed" in Marietta, GA and supervised prisioners of war as a civilian employee. I would love to know where I might find this information. I think others in GA would also find this an interesting addition to this POW article.