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Started By
Message
Anyone have old family stories about German POW camps where you lived?
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:06 pm
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:06 pm
Any of you have family stories about German POW camps where you lived?
There were
Camp Claiborne
Camp Bastrop
Camp Livingston
A camp in Thibadoux
Camp Eunice
Camp Livingston
Camp Polk
Camp Ruston
A camp at the Hammond airport
And a camp in New Orleans
To name a few.
There has to be stories from your families about these camps. There were thousands of Nazi soldiers that lived next door for some time! Maybe even worked in your great grandparents' yards and homes!
Some of those POWs were from the African theater, and some of you know those were considered the Super Nazis.
Can't wait to hear what stories you all have!
There were
Camp Claiborne
Camp Bastrop
Camp Livingston
A camp in Thibadoux
Camp Eunice
Camp Livingston
Camp Polk
Camp Ruston
A camp at the Hammond airport
And a camp in New Orleans
To name a few.
There has to be stories from your families about these camps. There were thousands of Nazi soldiers that lived next door for some time! Maybe even worked in your great grandparents' yards and homes!
Some of those POWs were from the African theater, and some of you know those were considered the Super Nazis.
Can't wait to hear what stories you all have!
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:10 pm to Pectus
Doc, this is honestly the first thing I thought of-
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:12 pm to Pectus
I think there was one in Port Allen where the American Legion building is. They used to work in the sugar cane fields in the area.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:27 pm to Pectus
During World War II, the state of Alabama was home to approximately 16,000 German prisoners of war (POWs) in 24 camps. The internment of these POWs significantly affected the social and economic history of Alabama.
Need help on the farm?
Need help on the farm?
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:32 pm to Pectus
Fun POW Fact!
Some German POWs were forced to work past Germany's surrender because local US farmers complained to the War Department that they (the farmers) would suffer undue economic hardship if the workers didn't stay through the end of the current season.
Some German POWs were forced to work past Germany's surrender because local US farmers complained to the War Department that they (the farmers) would suffer undue economic hardship if the workers didn't stay through the end of the current season.
This post was edited on 7/23/17 at 2:32 pm
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:36 pm to AUFanInSoCal
Cool.
Thanks for your Alabama history.
I want to hear about personal history and that from local LA towns though!
Thanks for your Alabama history.
I want to hear about personal history and that from local LA towns though!
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:38 pm to AUFanInSoCal
quote:
During World War II, the state of Alabama was home to approximately 16,000 German prisoners of war (POWs) in 24 camps. The internment of these POWs significantly affected the social and economic history of Alabama. Need help on the farm?
Radio lab a good episode about this
LINK /
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:40 pm to AUFanInSoCal
Some of the portable classroom buildings I had class in when I was a kid were built by German POWs during the war.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:49 pm to danilo
That sparked my interest in this when I heard it a couple of weeks ago.
Wondered about us Louisianans.
Wondered about us Louisianans.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:52 pm to Pectus
There was one in Alliceville, Alabama (about an hour from T-town). Many of the prisoners wrote letters home telling how much they enjoyed their time there. One of them called it a "golden cage". They paid the prisoners something like 75 cents a day for labor on mainly agricultural projects. Once the war was over the prisoners were sent back to Germany. Many of the former prisoners sent letters back to friends they'd made in Alabama asking for assistance since their homeland was destroyed during the war and Alabamains responded by sending food, blankets and money to them. There's a little museum in Alliceville that tells all about the POW camp.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:56 pm to Pectus
Not German POWs, but years ago my late father used to sell building materials to two Italians that were POWs interred at the camp on the lakefront in New Orleans. While they were interred both met nurses at the camp infirmary and after the war and their release they married the nurses and became US citizens.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 2:58 pm to Pectus
A lot of them worked for local farms. Many even stayed in the area after the war.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 3:01 pm to Pectus
Used to be one in Excursion Inlet about 30 miles from here. Rumor is a few escaped and ended up in the native village of Hoonah, which is across the strait from the inlet. There are some blue eyed natives in the village, so maybe theres something to it.
Also was an Aleut internment camp about 25 miles from here on Admiralty Island.
Also was an Aleut internment camp about 25 miles from here on Admiralty Island.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 3:01 pm to soccerfüt
quote:
Some German POWs were forced to work past Germany's surrender because local US farmers complained to the War Department that they (the farmers) would suffer undue economic hardship if the workers didn't stay through the end of the current season.
I'm guessing those POWs did Nazi that coming.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 3:52 pm to Pectus
Santa Rosa County, FL. They were pretty common. We called them "chicken coups" because they had windows up both sides. I believe they were barracks for the Nazis, originally.
They came from NAS Whiting Field, where they sent some to work.
They came from NAS Whiting Field, where they sent some to work.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 4:08 pm to upgrayedd
quote:
I think there was one in Port Allen where the American Legion building is. They used to work in the sugar cane fields in the area.
Yep. My grandpa tells the story that he used to deliver newspapers to the guards there. He says that many of the POWs knew English and would smoke cigarettes and bullshite with the guards most days.
Posted on 7/23/17 at 4:16 pm to Pectus
Yes but I'm. Not sharing them here
Posted on 7/23/17 at 4:23 pm to Pectus
Mississippi story -- that's where I grew up, but I got down here to LA as soon as I could, OK? -- but we Jackson, MS 1960's-era kids were early-on taught by our folks to back off any anti-German stuff. I see that Jackson (Clinton) was where the high-ranking Germans officers were housed. Jafrika was a different town back then... Interesting
Posted on 7/23/17 at 4:26 pm to DoctorTechnical
My great uncle worked them on his farm.
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