Camp Algona
{{Short description|American World War II prisoner of war camp}}
Camp Algona was an American World War II prisoner of war (POW) camp located in Algona, Iowa. It was operational from 1943 until 1946 and served as a detention facility for German soldiers captured during the conflict. The camp is a significant part of Algona's history and is remembered today through a museum that preserves its legacy.
History
Established in 1944, Camp Algona was part of the United States' effort to manage the large number of Axis POWs captured during World War II.{{Cite web |title=AboutPW Camp Algona |url=https://www.pwcampalgona.org/about |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=PW Camp Algona |language=en}} The camp was one of over 400 such facilities across the country, designed to house enemy combatants in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, which stipulated fair treatment for POWs.{{Cite web |title=Behind barbed wire — Iowa's WWII POW camps, Part 1 of 2: Camp Algona housed 10,000 German and Italian prisoners - |url=https://iowahistoryjournal.com/behind-barbed-wire-iowas-wwii-pow-camps-part-1-of-2-camp-algona-housed-10000-german-and-italian-prisoners/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |language=en-US}}
Facilities and daily life
Spanning several acres, Camp Algona included barracks, administrative buildings, and security installations typical of POW camps of the era. The camp was designed to house up to 3,000 POWs, although the population varied over time as prisoners were moved between facilities. Daily life for the prisoners included routine roll calls, meals, and recreational activities, with efforts made to adhere to international standards for POW treatment.{{Cite web |title=World War II Prisoners of War in Iowa {{!}} Iowa PBS |url=http://www.iowapbs.org/iowapathways/mypath/2585/world-war-ii-prisoners-war-iowa |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=www.iowapbs.org |language=en}}
Work programs
Reflecting a pragmatic approach to wartime labor shortages, POWs at Camp Algona were engaged in agricultural and other forms of work within the local community. This not only contributed to the U.S. war effort by supplementing the depleted workforce but also helped maintain the morale of the POWs by keeping them occupied. The value of the work done at Camp Algona and its branch camps is over 3 million dollars.{{Cite web |title=POWs in America: Camp Algona ExperiencePW Camp Algona |url=https://www.pwcampalgona.org/pows-in-america-camp-algona-experie |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=PW Camp Algona |language=en}}
Closure and legacy
With the conclusion of World War II, Camp Algona was decommissioned in 1946, and its prisoners were repatriated to their home countries. The site's history was preserved through the establishment of the Camp Algona POW Museum, which offers exhibits on the camp's history, the daily lives of the POWs, and the broader story of POW camps in the United States during the war.{{Cite web |title=ExhibitsPW Camp Algona |url=https://www.pwcampalgona.org/exhibits |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=PW Camp Algona |language=en}}
One of the most enduring legacies of Camp Algona was the creation of a Nativity scene by the POWs during their time at the camp. This intricate piece of art became a beloved local Christmas tradition and remains on display in Algona, symbolizing a unique aspect of cultural exchange and humanity amidst the backdrop of war.{{Cite web |title=An enduring symbol of peace: How World War II POWs built a nativity scene and goodwill - |url=https://iowahistoryjournal.com/enduring-symbol-peace/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |language=en-US}}
''Silent Night In Algona''
On December 9, 2022, the film Silent Night In Algona by Collective Development, Inc. of Lansing, Michigan, was released which depicted POW life in the Algona POW system from mid-November to Christmas in 1944. The film was written by DJ Perry, was directed by Anthony Hornus, and starred Curran Jacobs, Cassie Dean, and Samuel Peterson.{{cite news |last=Riley |first=Roger |url=https://who13.com/news/story-of-wwii-algona-pow-camp-being-made-into-a-movie/ |title=Iowa’s own World War II Prisoner of War camp – the backdrop for new movie |work=WHO 13 |location=Des Moines, Iowa |date=November 17, 2021 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227074309/https://who13.com/news/story-of-wwii-algona-pow-camp-being-made-into-a-movie/ |archive-date=February 27, 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Coord|43.0812|-94.2701|display=title}}
Category:World War II prisoner-of-war camps in the United States