Started By
Message
locked post

Did you know that German POWs were housed in Ruston La during World War II?

Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:10 pm
Posted by Tiger Ree
Houston
Member since Jun 2004
24563 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:10 pm
POW influx was slow so at first it was a training center for the women's army auxiliary corp.

The first prisoners were 300 enlisted men from Rommel's elite Africa corp.


Video: CAMP RUSTON: GERMAN P.O.W.S IN LOUISIANA







Posted by LaBR4
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
52915 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:11 pm to
Yep,present day area: Whataburger service road I-20
Posted by BitBuster
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2017
1521 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:12 pm to
Robert's Cove near Rayne too.
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:15 pm to
All over Louisiana. Had some north of Kaplan that stayed after the war and married locals
Posted by LSUBFA83
Member since May 2012
3862 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:17 pm to
Summer of My German Soldier

This book takes place in Arkansas but it's the same situation. I think they made a movie of it too.
Posted by LaBR4
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
52915 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:17 pm to
I've actually been to Ruston
Posted by blueridgeTiger
Granbury, TX
Member since Jun 2004
21754 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:19 pm to
There was a German POW camp near Hammond. They were all over the place.
Posted by dirtsandwich
AL
Member since May 2016
6022 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:20 pm to
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Aliceville

Bama has the largest one in the southeast. Mainly Afrika Corps. Over in Aliceville.
Posted by BobABooey
Parts Unknown
Member since Oct 2004
15509 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:23 pm to
quote:

Bama has the largest one in the southeast

Per Rivals
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
107772 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:23 pm to
The crew of the only captured German U Boat (which can now be seen at this museum in Chicago - it's awesome LINK) were all sent there.
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
74627 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:26 pm to
quote:

There was a German POW camp near Hammond. They were all over the place.




Around Donaldsonville too.

Cool 13 min video about Last German POW in American from The History Guy on YouTube.

POW that escaped after the war was over and lived out his life in the US.
Posted by Ghost of Colby
Alberta, overlooking B.C.
Member since Jan 2009
13758 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:28 pm to
Farmers and locals near the camps could have them come over to perform manual labor and other tasks because of a shortage of labor due to so many American men serving in the war.
Posted by Dire Wolf
bawcomville
Member since Sep 2008
38952 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:30 pm to
Shocking that the south would welcome free labor
Posted by ksayetiger
Centenary Gents
Member since Jul 2007
69754 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:30 pm to
quote:

Bama has the largest one in the southeast

Per Rivals

Posted by Tigeralum2008
Yankees Fan
Member since Apr 2012
17448 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:31 pm to
quote:

Did you know that German POWs were housed in Ruston La during World War II?



German POW's were also held in Chalmette at the Domino Sugar refinery. their dorms were built and are still located to the top of the factory.



Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
107772 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:33 pm to
quote:

German POW's were also held in Chalmette at the Domino Sugar refinery. their dorms were built and are still located to the top of the factory.



A number of workers and their families actually rode out Katrina in those.
Posted by Obtuse1
Westside Bodymore Yo
Member since Sep 2016
28695 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:36 pm to
SC had a lot of these camps. The US brought them back on Liberty Ships that would have otherwise been empty in part hoping to cut down on German U-boat sinkings. Toward the latter part of the war at least some of the prisoners were allowed to move somewhat freely within the population at least in the upstate of SC. After the war a lot of them stayed and the significant German culture in the area is one of the (smaller) reasons BMW built their US plant there.
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
104884 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:39 pm to
quote:

Shocking that the south would welcome free labor

Germans
Posted by Sidicous
NELA
Member since Aug 2015
18771 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:51 pm to
There was a couple around Memphis too. Still had some of the housing and fencing at the one near the Shelby County Penitentiary back when I was in the area late 70's early 80's. Another one was farther north between Memphis and Millington Naval Base.
Posted by Tiger Ree
Houston
Member since Jun 2004
24563 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 3:52 pm to
quote:

Cool 13 min video about Last German POW in American from The History Guy on YouTube


Awesome story.

When he turned himself in:

"After searching for him for nearly 40 years, the FBI decided they weren't interested in him anymore. It wasn't even clear if he committed a crime since his escape occurred after the war had ended. The Immigration service decided not to pursue charges. Having being brought to the US as a prisoner of war he hadn't entered the country illegally. AND since he had been married for 18 years he could apply for citizenship".
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 3Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram