Axis Prisoners of War in Tennessee : Coerced Labor and the Captive Enemy on the Home Front, 1941-1946
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| Title: | Axis Prisoners of War in Tennessee : Coerced Labor and the Captive Enemy on the Home Front, 1941-1946 |
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| Description: | During World War II, Axis prisoners of war received arguably better treatment in the U.S. than anywhere else. Bound by the Geneva Convention but also hoping for reciprocal treatment of American POWs, the U.S. sought to humanely house and employ 425,000 Axis prisoners, many in rural communities in the South. This is the first book-length examination of Tennessee's role in the POW program, and how the influx of prisoners affected communities. Towns like Tullahoma transformed into military metropolises. Memphis received millions in defense spending. Paris had a secret barrage balloon base. The wooded Crossville camp housed German and Italian officers. Prisoners worked tobacco, lumber and cotton across the state. Some threatened escape or worse. When the program ended, more than 25,000 POWs lived and worked in Tennessee. |
| Authors: | Antonio S. Thompson |
| Resource Type: | eBook. |
| Subjects: | Prisoners of war--Italy--History--20th century, Prisoners of war--Tennessee--History--20th century, Prisoners of war--Germany--History--20th century, Prisoner-of-war camps--Tennessee--History--20th century, World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, American |
| Categories: | HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / World War II / General |
| Database: | eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) |
| Abstract: | During World War II, Axis prisoners of war received arguably better treatment in the U.S. than anywhere else. Bound by the Geneva Convention but also hoping for reciprocal treatment of American POWs, the U.S. sought to humanely house and employ 425,000 Axis prisoners, many in rural communities in the South. This is the first book-length examination of Tennessee's role in the POW program, and how the influx of prisoners affected communities. Towns like Tullahoma transformed into military metropolises. Memphis received millions in defense spending. Paris had a secret barrage balloon base. The wooded Crossville camp housed German and Italian officers. Prisoners worked tobacco, lumber and cotton across the state. Some threatened escape or worse. When the program ended, more than 25,000 POWs lived and worked in Tennessee. |
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| ISBN: | 9781476681672 9781476648798 |
