Nebraska POW Camps: A History of World War II Prisoners in the Heartland

by Melissa Amateis

Overview

During World War II, thousands of Axis prisoners of war were held throughout Nebraska in base camps that included Fort Robinson, Camp Scottsbluff and Camp Atlanta. Many Nebraskans did not view the POWs as evil Nazis. To them, they were ordinary men and very human. And while their stay was not entirely free from conflict, many former captives returned to the Cornhusker State to begin new lives after the cessation of hostilities. Drawing on first-person accounts from soldiers, former POWs and Nebraska residents, as well as archival research, Melissa Marsh delves into the neglected history of Nebraska's POW camps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626194199
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	04/15/2014
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Nebraska native Melissa A. Amateis grew up on a farm near Bridgeport, Nebraska. She holds a BA in history from Chadron State College and an MA in history from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She is the author of WWII Nebraska and Nebraska POW Camps (both from The History Press) as well as the novel The Stranger from Berlin (Simon & Schuster UK). Amateis lives with her daughter in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Preface 9

Acknowledgements 11

Introduction 13

Part I Welcome to America 19

1 Overview of the U.S. POW Camp System 21

2 Nazism and Reeducation in the POW Camps 35

Part II The Nebraska Camps 47

3 Camp Scottsbluff 49

4 Camp Atlanta 73

5 Fort Robinson POW Camp 97

Part III Case Study: A Closer Look at the Intellectual Diversion Program at Fort Robinson 111

6 Nazism and Reeducation at Fort Robinson 113

Part IV The Branch Camps 129

7 Camp Scottsbluff Branch Camps 131

8 Camp Atlanta Branch Camps 137

Conclusion 147

Notes 149

Index 169

About the Author 171