Camp Atlanta
Encyclopedia
Camp Atlanta was a World War II
camp for German prisoners of war located next to Atlanta, Nebraska
. Over three years, it housed nearly 3,000 prisoners. After the war, a number of soldiers and prisoners from the camp returned to live in the area.
, Camp Atlanta was established next to the town as an Allied
Prisoner of War
camp for German P.O.W.s. As with many prisoner camps, the site was chosen because it was located well into the interior of the United States
. The site housed 3,000 German prisoners, most of whom had been captured in the North African Campaign
, in three compounds.
The Atlanta area had been the final choice of the U.S. Army to establish a $2,000,000 P.O.W. camp after the outbreak of World War II. When construction began in September, 1943 people were told this would be a "Conchie Camp" for the conscientious objector
s from the United States. By November it became known by locals that Atlanta would be a Prisoner of War camp expected to guard German prisoners. There were approximately 275 enlisted men
and 60 officers.
Prisoners were hired out to local farms to help retrieve the increased crop production demanded by the war. More than 30 local farmers sought assistance, paying the government for work completed by the P.O.W.s.
Soon after the first of the year in 1946, after World War II ended, the government began shipping the prisoners back to their homes in Germany. Later in the year all the frame buildings, plumbing and every sort of valuable material was stripped from the camp and sold at auction. By 1947 only acres of concrete slab, floors of barracks and other camp buildings remained. Some soldiers returned to live in Atlanta, and at least two of the Germans applied for U.S. citizenship and returned, as well.
Currently the only remnants of the camp include the water tower and two chimneys.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
camp for German prisoners of war located next to Atlanta, Nebraska
Atlanta, Nebraska
Atlanta is a village in Phelps County, Nebraska, in the United States. The population was 130 at the 2000 Census. During World War II the town was neighbored by Camp Atlanta, which housed more than 3,000 Nazi German prisoners of war over three years...
. Over three years, it housed nearly 3,000 prisoners. After the war, a number of soldiers and prisoners from the camp returned to live in the area.
Location and construction
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Camp Atlanta was established next to the town as an Allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp for German P.O.W.s. As with many prisoner camps, the site was chosen because it was located well into the interior of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The site housed 3,000 German prisoners, most of whom had been captured in the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, in three compounds.
The Atlanta area had been the final choice of the U.S. Army to establish a $2,000,000 P.O.W. camp after the outbreak of World War II. When construction began in September, 1943 people were told this would be a "Conchie Camp" for the conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s from the United States. By November it became known by locals that Atlanta would be a Prisoner of War camp expected to guard German prisoners. There were approximately 275 enlisted men
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
and 60 officers.
Prisoner life
The first 250 German prisoners arrived in December, unannounced to anyone but the officer in command at the camp. On a Saturday morning early in February 1944, 830 more arrived, making the total number of prisoners 1080. The camp had its own train stop across from the prison gates, a chapel, a theater, a hospital, post exchange, a bakery, a laundry, and repair shops for all purposes. A 12-piece drum and bugle corps made up from the military men marched in the Holdrege Memorial Day parade in 1944. A ball club was organized to compete with the nearby Indianola P.O.W. camp.Prisoners were hired out to local farms to help retrieve the increased crop production demanded by the war. More than 30 local farmers sought assistance, paying the government for work completed by the P.O.W.s.
Closing
Soon after the first of the year in 1946, after World War II ended, the government began shipping the prisoners back to their homes in Germany. Later in the year all the frame buildings, plumbing and every sort of valuable material was stripped from the camp and sold at auction. By 1947 only acres of concrete slab, floors of barracks and other camp buildings remained. Some soldiers returned to live in Atlanta, and at least two of the Germans applied for U.S. citizenship and returned, as well.
Currently the only remnants of the camp include the water tower and two chimneys.
External links
- The Atlanta, Nebraska German Prisoner of War Camp. - An online portfolio about the history of the camp.