Prisoners of War In The United States During World War II
During World War II, many prisoners were captured and sent away to POW camps. These prisoners were sent all over the world. There were many different types of POWs imprisoned in the United States during World War II.
When the United States heard they were going to receive Axis POWs, they had to prepare a suitable place for the POWs to stay and work. The government converted army bases into camps. Fort McClellan was built by the War Department in 1917. The fort was used for training of thousands of soldiers. In the spring of 1943 the camp started construction of a POW camp on the west side of the base. The camp was supposed to receive axis prisoners from North Africa (Hutchinson). Many …show more content…
Over 380,000 POWs from Germany and Austria were sent to the United States.The first major group of POWs of the Third Reich arrived at Fort Niagara. Fort Niagara was the command post for all camps throughout New York ("Officers Club Museum"). America took many POWs from Europe and Africa. Fort Niagara in New York was the biggest camp in the state. Once POWs arrived at Fort Niagara, they would then be sent to smaller camps in the surrounding areas, like the Naples camp. Captives were expected to be treated the same as the United States soldiers would be. For many POWs this meant good rations, showers and fresh air. The POWs would not have been treated as fairly in their home countries (Jankowski). Nevertheless the POWs were very happy with the way they were treated. Most POWs were happy to be prisoners just so they could be out of the war. The prisoners had an easy life in America. Over 400,000 foreign POWs, mostly Germans, but also some Italian and Japanese prisoners, lived and worked in the United States in over 700 camps (Matthew). Some prisoners came from Japan too. These prisoners were mainly held in the Western half of the Country. Overall, American POW camps had good conditions for the prisoners. Many American POWs held in other countries overseas had to survive in brutal
During World War II, many prisoners were captured and sent away to POW camps. These prisoners were sent all over the world. There were many different types of POWs imprisoned in the United States during World War II.
When the United States heard they were going to receive Axis POWs, they had to prepare a suitable place for the POWs to stay and work. The government converted army bases into camps. Fort McClellan was built by the War Department in 1917. The fort was used for training of thousands of soldiers. In the spring of 1943 the camp started construction of a POW camp on the west side of the base. The camp was supposed to receive axis prisoners from North Africa (Hutchinson). Many …show more content…
Over 380,000 POWs from Germany and Austria were sent to the United States.The first major group of POWs of the Third Reich arrived at Fort Niagara. Fort Niagara was the command post for all camps throughout New York ("Officers Club Museum"). America took many POWs from Europe and Africa. Fort Niagara in New York was the biggest camp in the state. Once POWs arrived at Fort Niagara, they would then be sent to smaller camps in the surrounding areas, like the Naples camp. Captives were expected to be treated the same as the United States soldiers would be. For many POWs this meant good rations, showers and fresh air. The POWs would not have been treated as fairly in their home countries (Jankowski). Nevertheless the POWs were very happy with the way they were treated. Most POWs were happy to be prisoners just so they could be out of the war. The prisoners had an easy life in America. Over 400,000 foreign POWs, mostly Germans, but also some Italian and Japanese prisoners, lived and worked in the United States in over 700 camps (Matthew). Some prisoners came from Japan too. These prisoners were mainly held in the Western half of the Country. Overall, American POW camps had good conditions for the prisoners. Many American POWs held in other countries overseas had to survive in brutal