Thesis
Prisoners of War camps in Texas, really? Most people have heard about how many of United State's prisoners of war were tortured or lived in terrible conditions after being taken during WWII. But few have heard that during WWII there were many POWs who were sent to the United States, where the were kept the remainder of the war. The United States treated their POWs with much more decency. The United States gave the prisoners of war humane places to sleep, food, and activities to keep them occupied. The United States followed through with honoring the Geneva Convention of 1929 even though our enemies did not.
More prisoners were imprisoned in Texas than in any other state. A large number of the prisoners were Germans that were captured in Northern Africa. The Geneva Convention of 1929 states that POWs must be housed in a environment that is most like where they were captured. The Texas climate and that of Northern Africa were very similar. There were also some Italian and Japanese Prisoners of War brought to the United States, but the majority in Texas were Germans. In 1943 troops started arriving in Texas and were housed in over 30 camps throughout the state. By the end of the war Texas housed 78,982 prisoners of war.
Most of the camps were very comfortable and the prisoners were kept busy working, being educated, and playing games. They worked for local farmers and factories which was helpful because many young men from the United States were off at work and that left a void and the German soldiers were able to fill it. Since most camps had prisoners who were actually teachers, professors, and even musicians, schools were set up to educate the POWs. They also played athletic games and cards to pass the time. The many German musicians even came together to form orchestras to entertain their hosts. The United States, including Texas, treated our prisoners of war much more fairly and this time in our history needs to be explored to show that we encountered our enemies with honor and actually exchanged cultures and friendliness.
More prisoners were imprisoned in Texas than in any other state. A large number of the prisoners were Germans that were captured in Northern Africa. The Geneva Convention of 1929 states that POWs must be housed in a environment that is most like where they were captured. The Texas climate and that of Northern Africa were very similar. There were also some Italian and Japanese Prisoners of War brought to the United States, but the majority in Texas were Germans. In 1943 troops started arriving in Texas and were housed in over 30 camps throughout the state. By the end of the war Texas housed 78,982 prisoners of war.
Most of the camps were very comfortable and the prisoners were kept busy working, being educated, and playing games. They worked for local farmers and factories which was helpful because many young men from the United States were off at work and that left a void and the German soldiers were able to fill it. Since most camps had prisoners who were actually teachers, professors, and even musicians, schools were set up to educate the POWs. They also played athletic games and cards to pass the time. The many German musicians even came together to form orchestras to entertain their hosts. The United States, including Texas, treated our prisoners of war much more fairly and this time in our history needs to be explored to show that we encountered our enemies with honor and actually exchanged cultures and friendliness.