| WWII POWs in MO Program |
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 02 May 2005 05:14 | |||
|
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.
|
|||
| Last Updated on Sunday, 22 May 2005 15:10 |