Did America have prisoner of war camps? Were there any in Michigan? And, if so, what did the Germans do to the prisoners of war there? These are all questions we must consider as we remember the horrors of WWII. In this article, you will learn about POW camps in Michigan, the conditions they endured, and the effects they had on their lives. This article also explores what happened to those who escaped the camps, and what you can do to avoid being a victim of this in the future.
Did America have prisoner of war camps?
Did America have prisoner of war camps in the state of Michigan during World War II? The state had thirty-two such camps, mostly in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The camps were converted from former CCC work camps in the early 1940s. The Germans who were captured in the war were forced to labor in Michigan, picking fruit and crops and working in forestry. When the war ended, most of these POWs were sent home, but some remained in Michigan to help with agriculture. Many of these German POWs were killed in the camps, but the POWs were buried in a military cemetery near Battle Creek.
Camp Freeland, the most notorious prisoner of war camp in the Midwest, was home to more than 1,000 German POWs. The camp had twenty-five-foot-long barracks, two mess halls, recreation areas, and a plethora of other facilities. During the war, prisoners were housed in these camps, but afterward, many of these buildings were converted into schools. The barracks included electric lights, heating stoves, and double-deck bunk beds. Some were turned into schools, but their location and purpose was never revealed.
How many POW camps were in Michigan?
How many POW camps were in Michigan? In total, there were 32 during World War II. The Lower and Upper Peninsulas each housed a small number of prisoners. Most were converted from Civilian Conservation Corps camps. POWs from Germany were used as farm labor in the early 1940s to help with agriculture and forestry operations. The prisoners were released back to their countries when the war was over. Some of these men were German immigrants, a few generations removed from their immigrant forebears.
From 1944 to 1946, Michigan hosted nearly 400,000 German POWs. As part of a labor shortage, the POWs worked in farming and industrial projects to support the home front. Their labor helped farmers, food processors, and pulpwood producers. Although the work programs were far from perfect, many POWs made lasting friendships with their captors. The documentary “How Many POW Camps Were in Michigan?” will tell the story of those who served.
Was there a POW camp in Michigan?
Did you know that there was a POW camp in Michigan? Fort Custer was the largest of the Michigan camps, housing 5,000 prisoners. Other Michigan prison camps held as many as 1,000 prisoners. In all, more than 425,000 POWs were sent to Michigan. Most of these POWs were sent home, some to work in the Upper Peninsula and others to help rebuild Europe. By the end of World War II, many of these German POWs had left the United States, and there are now no trace of the camps.
The Camp Au Train POW camp opened in 1944 and housed nearly two hundred German POWs from the German Afrika campaign. POWs worked in lumber camps, harvesting pine for Lake Michigan mills. The camp closed in 1946 and many German POWs came home to live in the Upper Peninsula. Eventually, most German POWs escaped, and the area was quieter than it is now.
What did Germany do to POWs?
The war in Europe ended in 1945, and Germany was the victim of a large-scale POW camp system. Over 370,000 Germans were interned in the United States, not including Japanese and Italian POWs. These men and women were separated into five hundred separate camps, including thirty-two in Michigan. In addition to putting them through horrifying conditions, the camps taught these men and women about democracy, and showed them pictures and videos of Axis atrocities. These camps were largely abandoned by the time the war was over, and most of them were returned to Germany by the end of the war.
POW labor did not pose a problem once the language barrier was overcome. Many local residents felt that the POWs would prefer working as laborers rather than fighting for the Germans. Moreover, many POWs were not Nazis. They had been forced into the army by Hitler and had only ever wanted to go home. In addition to laboring, these men received uniforms marked “POW.”
Does Amtrak go to Marquette MI?
When you want to go to Marquette, Michigan, Amtrak has three routes – Wolverine, Blue Water, and Pere-Marquette. The Pere-Marquette route is a daily round trip from Grand Rapids to Chicago, Illinois. The train was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, but service has since resumed. You can visit the website to check train schedules and learn about other services.
Amtrak is a great way to travel around Michigan. The Wolverine Line, which leaves from Chicago and travels to Grand Rapids, stops in Marquette on its way. The Blue Water line leaves from Chicago and travels to Kalamazoo, East Lansing, and other cities in Michigan. The Pere Marquette train stops in St. Joseph and Grand Rapids, where you can enjoy Beer City USA. The historic Detroit is a great destination to see as well.
Taking Amtrak is a convenient way to get to Marquette. From Chicago, you can travel to the city by train. The train will take you through Michigan and Illinois, stopping at the cities of Grand Rapids and Detroit. This route will take you through the city of Detroit and the famous Motown Museum. It will also take you to the Detroit River hydroplane races. You can also find festivals and art fairs in the Detroit area, as well as frenzied football fans. There are also golf courses, such as Leslie Park Golf Course. Water sports enthusiasts will also enjoy the Huron River Water Trail.
Where did the Allies keep POWs?
During World War II, Allied forces held more than 425,000 prisoners of war in more than 500 camps around the U.S., including 32 camps in Michigan. These prisoners were a boon to Michigan farmers, food processors, and pulpwood producers, who needed labor. Although these men were enemies of the United States when captured, they developed close relationships with local residents and returned to their homes and families when the war was over.
When the war ended, Allied soldiers were able to return home and work as farm labor. Many German prisoners were paid for this labor, and in return, they would receive compensation that could be redeemed for extras at camp canteens. Many of the German POWs working in the farms in the Thumb and Berrien counties returned home after harvest. Harry Becker, a grower in Decatur, relied on German POW labor to help him with his crops. The German POWs helped him to grow crops. After the war, Harry Becker, a grower from Decatur, sent 80 Japanese prisoners to Arkansas to help him with his crops. Coloma was one of the sites where more than 500 POWs were placed.
The camps in Michigan were not only used to house German prisoners of war, but also to compensate for the loss of labor in the logging industry. Many of the POWs at Camp Sidnaw worked in exchange for coupons, including cigarettes, candy, and beer. Many of these coupons were issued to alleviate the labor shortage in the United States during World War II. During the six months prior to February of 1943, employment in the logging industry had fallen by 20%. The shortage of men in this sector made it necessary for the Allies to re-settle them in camp facilities throughout the Midwest.
Where was the worst prisoner of war camp located?
During World War II, the U.S. Government operated 25 Prisoner of War (POW) camps in Michigan. Fort Custer was the largest of these camps, housing 5,000 prisoners. Many others were smaller, housing less than a hundred inmates each. These camps were created to meet the need for labor during the war, which forced the Americans to import more than 425,000 German POWs from the European continent.
Some German soldiers who served in the Upper Peninsula were transferred to higher security areas. Those from the Lower Peninsula were not seen as a threat, and were often allowed to work in the forests outside of Munising. Some of these prisoners were even allowed to gamble or play soccer with the guards, as well as taking shifts in other camps. There are also stories about German soldiers helping out in the United States by bringing back German POWs.
During World War II, Munising was growing quickly, and the United States needed labor while able-bodied men were in battle. To fill this demand, the Germans were forced to labor in five pulpwood camps throughout the Upper Peninsula. These camps employed over a thousand German prisoners, and they were paid 80 cents a day. Many of these prisoners were given pay after the war, which they were extremely grateful for.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.