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Most American POWs hekd by the Germans were aviators shot down during the strategic bombing campaign. Small numbers of Americans were taken prisoner during the fighting in North Africa. Until D-Day about 90 percent of the American POWs were airmen. The American 8th Air Force joined the British in this campaign beginning in 1943. Losses in the air war were substantial, especially until 1944 when long-range escorts became available. Small numbers of American POWs were taken in Italy and Normandy. This only changed when the Germans took substantial numbers of prisoners in the opening phase of the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944). There were both Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe POW camps. The Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe tended to treat American POWs correctly, if harshly. As a result, about 99 percent of the Americans captured by the Gernans survived the War. They were concerned about the treatment of the much lrger number of German POWs ad unlike the Soviet prisoners, NAZI race policy did not overide Whermacht obligations underthe Geneva Concention. The Germans provided the American POWs about 1,500 calories a day. This was below the minimum daily requirement, but well above that allocated to Soviet and Polish POWs. The Americans survived largely because they could supplemet the German rationswith Red Cross packages, some 27 million reached the POWs. The 11-pound packages included cookies, coffee, raisens, and especially importahtly--cigarettes. Even if the POWs did not smoke, the cigarettes were very important. The German guards loved American cigarettes and the POWs could trade them for all sorts of neded items. Even the crates the packes were shipped in proved useful to build chairs and tables. Conditions in the camps deteriorated in the cmps in the last few months of the Wr. SS units were responsible for masacres of POWs. The best known one occurred at Malmedy during the Battle of the Buldge. The Germans in the Bulge did their best to identify Jewish GI who were then sent to concentration camps rather than POW camps. The U.S. Army was very concerned about German treatment of POWs. As a result, they were very careful with German POWs. Camps were set up in several locations in the United States where the Germans sat out the war in relative luxury.
Some 93,000 Americans were captured by the Germans during Wiorkd war II. Most American POWs hekd by the Germans were aviators shot down during the strategic bombing campaign. Small numbers of Americans were taken prisoner during the fighting in North Africa. Until D-Day about 90 percent of the American POWs were airmen. The American 8th Air Force joined the British in this campaign beginning in 1943. Losses in the air war were substantial, especially until December 1944 when long-range escorts became available. Small numbers of American POWs were taken in Italy and Normandy. This only changed when the Germans took substantial numbers of prisoners in the opening phase of the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944).
There were both Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe POW camps called Stalags. They were located thriughout the Reich, including some in occupied Poland. These proved to be the most endangered. The Germans refused to allow the POWs to be liberated by the Russians. Thus as the Russians approached the camps the POWs had to undergo forced marches in winter weather to over-crowded camps in the Reich. The Germans marched some 80,000 POWs nearly 600 miles to Stalag VIIA near Moosburg in Bavaria, a camp built for 10,000 men. (The Allies subsequently used the the camp as Civilian Internment Camp No. 6 with up to 12,000 German prisoners who were accused of having supported the NAZI dictatorship in some important way until 1948.) Stalag XIIA was one of the first POW camps liberated (March 1945). Most of the camps were liberated (April).
The Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe tended to treat American POWs correctly, if harshly. They were concerned about the treatment of the much larger number of German POWs ad unlike the Soviet prisoners, NAZI race policy did not overide Whermacht obligations underthe Geneva Concention. The Germans provided the American POWs about 1,500 calories a day. This was below the minimum daily requirement, but well above that allocated to Soviet and Polish POWs. The Americans survived largely because they could supplemet the German rations with Red Cross packages.
As a result of the generally correct treatment, about 99 percent of the Americans captured by the Gernans survived the War. Another factor ws that many of the POWs spent relatively short periods in German captivity. America entered te War after it had been undeway for 2 years. Mosy of the POWs were taken in 1943-44.
Some 27 million reached the POWs. They were shipped from Philadelphia to Marseille and then ion to the Reich by rail. We believe some also arrived through Sweden. This helped supplement the rations provided by Germans.
The 11-pound packages included cookies, coffee, raisens, and especially importahtly--cigarettes. Even if the POWs did not smoke, the cigarettes were very important. The German guards loved American cigarettes and the POWs could trade them for all sorts of neded items. Even the crates the packes were shipped in proved useful to build chairs and tables. [Guise]
Besides food shortages the most pervasive POW experience was bordom. Some American POWs were put on work details, but this was the exception rather than the rule. Many camps established newspapers which reported material gleaed from letters, newly arrived POWs, andreports from contraband radios. We are not sure to what extent the camp authorities interfered with the newspapers. The Germans also permitted the delivery of misical instruments collected and shipped by the YMCA. The POWS at some camps even staged musicals. [Guise]
Conditions in the camps deteriorated in the camps in the last few months of the War. This was not an intentional measure, but rather a reflection of the implosion of Germany at the end of the War. German soldiers and civulias were also going hyngary.
SS units were responsible for masacres of POWs. The best known one occurred at Malmedy during the Battle of the Buldge. American POWs were also murdered in the conentration camps to which some, mostly Jewish POWs were transferred.
The military authorities for the most part did not try to separate Jewish-American POWs as they did for Polish and Soviet POWs. Most Jews captured were wise enough not to specify their religion and threw away their dog tags. Some Jewish POWs could have been identified by looks or name, but there does not seem to have been any organized effort to do this.[Guise] We do not know if the SS attempted to get the military to do this and the Wehrmacht resisted. . There were some exceptions. The commander of Stalag IXB, apparetly a NAZI zealot, selected 350 POWs in his camp usinf names or how they looked. Mexican-American Anthony Acevedo for some reason was included in this group. They were trahsported to the Berga concentration camp. The Germans in the Bulge did their best to identify Jewish GI who were then sent to concentration camps rather than POW camps. We think this was because the Waffen-SS played a major role in the Bulge.
Logistical contraints complicated the process of getting the POWs home. Tghey were given nopriority in the repatriation process. They were transported to Camp Lucky Strile near the French port of LeHarve. Most were hime (by October 1945).
The U.S. Army was very concerned about German treatment of POWs. As a result, they were very careful with German POWs. Camps were set up in several locations in the United States where the Germans sat out the war in relative luxury. Until the Normandy D-Day landings, most Axis POWs were German and Italian soldiers taken in North Africa, most in 1943. Italy surrendered (September 1943). The Americans did not take ,mny Germasn POWs in Sicily and Italy. The United States set up more than 500 camps for Axis POWs in America during World War II. Most of the POWs transported to Ameica were from North Africa. German POWs transported to camps in America were amazed at their treatment and diet. Strangely German and Italian POWs were often treated more courtesly than Black U.S. servicemen. The Genevea Convention required that POWs be housed and fed just like the capturing country's own soldiers. Thus America provided POWs foods like fresh milk, eggs, and meat that were rationed. This was also better than they food they got before being captured. There was even a beer ration. This changed for the German POWs after VE Day. But they were still well fed.
Guise, Kimberly. Curator, National World War II Museum. "Guests of the Third Reich," Museum, special exhibit (November 2012)
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