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Written by Valerie Holifield
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Monday, 02 May 2005 |
Ste. Genevieve County Community Center hosts program on WWII POWs held in Missouri
The Ste. Genevieve County Community Center will host a lecture
Thursday, May 5th by David Fiedler, author of The Enemy among Us: POWS
in Missouri during World War II. The event begins at 7:00 pm and is
free and open to the public.
"Most people don't realize that during WWII some 15,000 German and
Italian POWs were sent to Missouri and held in 30 camps around the
state," said Fiedler. "In fact, there were 5,000 Italian POWs held at a
camp in Weingarten, an installation that had a tremendous impact on
this area."
Fiedler's program features over 50 vintage photos of the POWs and
the Missourians who worked with them, plus maps and illustrations
detailing their time as prisoners here. A number of current and former
residents were interviewed for the book.
"This is lively history, with familiar places and people still
around who recall it, yet almost completely unknown," said Fiedler.
"The POWs were all over the place here, working on farms around the
area. That's what makes this such a delightful program, seeing that 'No
way!' reaction people have to the stories of these prisoners
interacting with ordinary folks on a daily basis."
Fiedler, who will be speaking to students in Ste. Genevieve schools
on Wednesday and Thursday, May 4-5, prior to the lecture, says that
area residents were fascinated by these men.
"The close proximity between them and their co-workers in the field
and factory -- where the POWs were paid (!) for their work -- helped
dissolve somewhat the notion of "enemies" and instead emphasized their
common humanity," says Fiedler. "No one knew quite what would happen
when fate brought Missourians and the enemy face-to-face, but it turned
out to be a largely pleasant time for all involved, spawning a number
of friendships that lasted for decades after the war."
More information: MoPOWs.tripod.com
The Enemy among Us: POWS in Missouri during World War II
464 pages, 110 illustrations. ISBN: 1-883982-49-9, $29.95 cloth. Publication date: October 2003.
About the author: David Fiedler lives in Fenton, Missouri. His
articles on Missouri, its people, and its history have appeared in
publications including Missouri Life and The Missouri Conservationist.
LECTURE DESCRIPTION:
Title: The Enemy Among Us: German and Italian POWs in Missouri during WWII
Program Synopsis: Most people don't realize that during WWII the
U.S. government brought over 400,000 German and Italian POWs to the
United States. Beginning in 1942, more than 15,000 of these enemy
soldiers were sent to Missouri and held in 30 camps around the state.
Contrary to common expectations, the camps were relatively pleasant
places, and in fact the government was criticized for treating the
prisoners too well.
The POWs had a great deal of freedom and opportunities for
recreation. They worked (for pay!) on local farms, sometimes completely
unguarded. Many friendships grew out of this interaction between
prisoners and residents, some of which lasted decades after the war.
Through photographs and stories from those who experienced it
firsthand, David Fiedler tells of the fascinating, yet little-known
story of when the POWs came to Missouri, and how residents reacted when
they came face-to-face with the enemy.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 May 2005 )
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