Prisoner of War Camps in United States during World War 2 Essay

Prisoner of War camping areas in United States during World War 2 - Essay ExampleDescribing the typical disorientation and vulnerability of these German prisoners, historian Ron Robin writes, Captivity destroyed entirely remnants of their predictable routine and hurled the surrendering troops into a maelstrom of disorder, uncertainty, and disgrace. . . . At every stage of the arduous transit from the temporary stockades in Europe and Africa to POW camps in the United States, the prisoners were systematically deprived of all remaining symbols of their past, pride, and identity. (Ron Robin, 1995)American and German prisoners experienced vastly divergent traveling conditions en route to their permanent camps. American captives were either marched on foot or jammed into 40-and-8 railroad box cars. Prisoners were sometimes locked in these cars for days, without food, water, or any kind of sanitary facilities. The result, according to ex-POW Kenneth Simmons, was a trip that would turn men into swine. (Simmons, 1960).Compounding the danger was the friendly fire of Allied planes that had no mood of knowing who was trapped inside their targets. It is no exaggeration to compare this harrowing experience to the notorious Middle Passage endured by captive Africans on their guidance to slavery in the New World. German prisoners initially suffered similar dangers, but once safely on board ship creature treasures greatly improved, although they did face the possibility of being sunk by their own U-boats. Once they had landed safely in the United States, German prisoners were amazed to discover the comfort of a Pullman car. The POW camps in U.S. were all over the country, while largely in Michigan, due to the warm, mild climate. Starting with Michigan, POWs were generally at Fort Custer. They had all these POWs and on that point must have been 400-500 camped in there. Although in the camps, the POWs work was to make Gerber baby food. They sowed all the vegetables and a fter that grounded them into Gerber baby food. They were good workers. Two of such camps were Camp Owosso and Fort Custer in Michigan Camp Owosso in MichiganThe U.S. Government, during WWII setup a Prisoner of War Camp at the corner of M-21 and Carland Rd. The area was utilize as a dirt race track, but since it was not used during the war, it served as Camp Owosso. The prisoners were captured on the battlefields of Europe and Africa and after being brought to Owosso, were allowed to work on area farms, the Roach Canning Factory at Owosso or the Aunt Janes Pickle Factory on Easton Rd. near New Lothrup. Under the Emergency Farm governance Labor Program, most prisoners chose to work and get paid, over staying confined in camp. The prisoners preferred working at the farms, as they given extra food and there had to be one guard for every 3 prisoners. They earned about 80 cents a day. The first prisoners were typical Nazis, but the later ones of 1945 had a opposite attitude. They prefe rred farm work if they had a chance. At the Canning Factory, corn, peas and tomatoes were canned there and the prisoners were transferred by truck to and from the plant each day. As they rode through town, they would sing and bitch and wave to anyone they saw. They apparently enjoyed being prisoners, far from