Axis Prisoners of War in Tennessee
Coerced Labor and the Captive Enemy on the Home Front, 1941-1946
Published on 9. March 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
255 pages
978-1-4766-8167-2 (ISBN)
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.
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
23 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
489 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4766-8167-2 (9781476681672)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Antonio S. Thompson is a professor of history at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He is the author of four books on World War II Axis prisoners of war in the United States, has co-edited two books on American military and diplomatic history, and has also published on zombie popular culture.
Content
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1. War Comes to Tennessee
Chapter 2. The Grand Central Station of the Southern United States: Enemy Aliens, Axis Prisoners of War, and the U.S. Army Come to Tullahoma and Camp Forrest, Tennessee
Chapter 3. The Workhorse of POW Camps in the South: The Camp Forrest POW Camp and POW Hospital
Chapter 4. At the Crossroads of the Nation: The Memphis and Axis POWs at the Army Service Forces Depot and Kennedy General Hospital
Chapter 5. The Myriad Problems at the "Jap Camp": German and Italian Prisoners of War at Camp Crossville, Tennessee, 1942-1946
Chapter 6. The Branches of the Trees: The Branch Camps Operated from Camp Forrest
Chapter 7. Trimming the Trees: Camp Closures, American and Axis Soldiers Go Home, and the Aftermath for Tennessee
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
Preface
Chapter 1. War Comes to Tennessee
Chapter 2. The Grand Central Station of the Southern United States: Enemy Aliens, Axis Prisoners of War, and the U.S. Army Come to Tullahoma and Camp Forrest, Tennessee
Chapter 3. The Workhorse of POW Camps in the South: The Camp Forrest POW Camp and POW Hospital
Chapter 4. At the Crossroads of the Nation: The Memphis and Axis POWs at the Army Service Forces Depot and Kennedy General Hospital
Chapter 5. The Myriad Problems at the "Jap Camp": German and Italian Prisoners of War at Camp Crossville, Tennessee, 1942-1946
Chapter 6. The Branches of the Trees: The Branch Camps Operated from Camp Forrest
Chapter 7. Trimming the Trees: Camp Closures, American and Axis Soldiers Go Home, and the Aftermath for Tennessee
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index