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re: Did you know German & Italian WW2 POWs were imprisoned in the US?
Posted on 8/6/25 at 3:42 pm to LSUFreek
Posted on 8/6/25 at 3:42 pm to LSUFreek
I saw a documentary about one in Kansas where the POWs would routinely sneak out and go into town. Some even had girlfriends there. And their accommodations were as good as the soldiers' that were guarding them.
1
Posted on 8/6/25 at 3:43 pm to Tantal
quote:
their accommodations were as good as the soldiers' that were guarding them.
we treated them very humanely, hell, the Germans were very humane compared to the Japs
Posted on 8/6/25 at 3:46 pm to gungho
quote:
There was a German POW camp in Ruston, LA
One in Port Allen as well.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 3:48 pm to cyarrr
One in Jeanerette too
Posted on 8/6/25 at 3:57 pm to LSUFreek
They were some of the luckiest soldiers in the war.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:05 pm to LSUFreek
quote:
Why was this fascinating subject never explored in documentaries?
I think it's probably more of an interesting historical footnote than a full documentary. It doesn't sound like there was much intrigue going on after they actually got here. They worked, ate well, got paid, and after the war some went home and some stayed and planted roots.
It would make for a pretty good movie where they could take some liberties with the facts and put a love story and dramatized spin on it.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:11 pm to LSUFreek
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:18 pm to LSUBFA83
They build the incredibly cool giant map of section of Mississippi like thing near Jackson Mississippi to help the COE learn about controlling flooding along Mississippi etc. They were completely cool with it since it didn’t have a war purpose and took great pride in their work. It wad a tourist attraction for decades.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:21 pm to LSUFreek
There is an entire section of German POWs in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
They were buried with proper funerals and their graves are maintained with the same respect reverence as the American graves.
This monument was placed by the German government.
quote:
Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, TN, contains the graves of both World War I and World War II German prisoners of war (POWs). It's the only U.S. National Cemetery to hold POWs from both wars. Specifically, there are 78 German POWs from WWI and 108 from WWII.
They were buried with proper funerals and their graves are maintained with the same respect reverence as the American graves.
This monument was placed by the German government.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:22 pm to LSUFreek
There was one near Jennings and the POWs worked on my ex father in law's dad's rice farm. They could not believe how much food we had.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:22 pm to LSUBFA83
Was starting to wonder if I was the only one who had to read this in high school.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:24 pm to mt1
Yes, during World War II, German prisoners of war were involved in constructing a massive model of the Mississippi River Basin in Mississippi.
Here's a breakdown:
Location: The model was built near Camp Clinton, a prisoner of war camp just outside Jackson, Mississippi.
Purpose: The Mississippi River Basin Model was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study and predict floods, and develop flood control strategies for the entire Mississippi River system.
Construction: German prisoners of war provided the initial labor for the project, clearing the site, digging drainage ditches, and preparing the ground for the model's construction. They used basic tools like shovels, picks, and wheelbarrows to move large amounts of earth.
Significance: The model was a crucial tool in flood control efforts for over two decades, helping to prevent millions of dollars in damages and potentially saving lives by enabling accurate flood predictions and evacuation planning.
Current Status: While the model is no longer actively used, it remains a unique historical site within Buddy Butts Park in Jackson, Mississippi. Efforts are underway by a group called "Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model" to restore and preserve it for educational and recreational purposes.
Here's a breakdown:
Location: The model was built near Camp Clinton, a prisoner of war camp just outside Jackson, Mississippi.
Purpose: The Mississippi River Basin Model was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study and predict floods, and develop flood control strategies for the entire Mississippi River system.
Construction: German prisoners of war provided the initial labor for the project, clearing the site, digging drainage ditches, and preparing the ground for the model's construction. They used basic tools like shovels, picks, and wheelbarrows to move large amounts of earth.
Significance: The model was a crucial tool in flood control efforts for over two decades, helping to prevent millions of dollars in damages and potentially saving lives by enabling accurate flood predictions and evacuation planning.
Current Status: While the model is no longer actively used, it remains a unique historical site within Buddy Butts Park in Jackson, Mississippi. Efforts are underway by a group called "Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model" to restore and preserve it for educational and recreational purposes.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:29 pm to Musket
There was a camp in Opelika, Alabama too. The German POWs were farmed out to work on local farms and do odd jobs. There wasn't a lot of security. They did try to separate the SS and hard-core nazis from the average Wermacht soldiers. Only the latter had a lot of freedom. I imagine most were glad to be here and considered themselves lucky.
There is the story about some prisoners in a camp near Phoenix, AZ, who saw a map that depicted the Salt River. They concocted a plan to build an inflatable raft out of items they stole, escape and then paddle down to Mexico. Escaping was no problem, nor was re-capturing them. Once the guards realized they were missing, they went to the river, which was just a dry riverbed most of the year, picked them up and brought them back.
There is the story about some prisoners in a camp near Phoenix, AZ, who saw a map that depicted the Salt River. They concocted a plan to build an inflatable raft out of items they stole, escape and then paddle down to Mexico. Escaping was no problem, nor was re-capturing them. Once the guards realized they were missing, they went to the river, which was just a dry riverbed most of the year, picked them up and brought them back.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:42 pm to LSUFreek
My Dad guarded some German POWs in Georgia right after the war. He said they got a couple beers every day. My Dad said most of them were good guys and were glad they got to be in the US.
This post was edited on 8/6/25 at 4:48 pm
Posted on 8/6/25 at 4:42 pm to LSUFreek
Before the Global Financial Crisis caused the deal to get scrapped I was slated to build an apartment community over a former German POW camp in Northern Virginia.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 5:38 pm to LSUFreek
The old National Hotel in Leesville, right outside of Ft Polk, housed alot of them and recently the murals painted by them were cut out and placed in a local museums possession.
What is now called Honor Field was the main area for housing them although all of those building have been demolished for many years you can still see where they once stood. I am sure there is much to be found underneath the dirt there.
In southeast Arkansas just north of Monroe there is a community named Berlin by the obvious fact of course. The story goes part of the old POW camp that was left became a hunting club but I don't know if that is true or not.
What is now called Honor Field was the main area for housing them although all of those building have been demolished for many years you can still see where they once stood. I am sure there is much to be found underneath the dirt there.
In southeast Arkansas just north of Monroe there is a community named Berlin by the obvious fact of course. The story goes part of the old POW camp that was left became a hunting club but I don't know if that is true or not.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 5:41 pm to LSUFreek
also Asians as well
Fort Smith Arkansas has a huge asian scene there... like way bigger than you'd think for podunk Arkansas
Fort Smith Arkansas has a huge asian scene there... like way bigger than you'd think for podunk Arkansas
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:36 pm to Codythetiger
They used to take the officers to see movies on Jackson.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:38 pm to IndianPower
Actually it north of Bastrop, road is called the Berlin rd. I think there was a jap camp between parkdale and Wilmot Ar also, remember seeing a road sign years ago.
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:40 pm to LSUFreek
Everyone knows that.
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