POW camps in American, insider story

mookiemookie · 02-13-07, 01:59 PM

U-boat crews in general were treated very well in U.S. POW camps. I remember reading about the ones here in Texas where the guards would eat with the prisoners, earning the Germans respect. They worked, learning farming and butchering, working as a mechanic on the Army base vehicles, leatherworking and such. For the work they were paid coupons worth 80 cents a day and could spend it at a canteen for smokes, toiletries and 3 beers a week.

One good story I remember was that there were something like 250 books in German for the POWs to read at this camp donated by the YMCA. The POWs had so many of their work coupons left over that they put them all together and ended up donating $442.00 to the YMCA for the books and $353.07 to the International Red Cross.

Interesting stuff!

02-13-07, 01:59 PM	#5
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	U-boat crews in general were treated very well in U.S. POW camps. I remember reading about the ones here in Texas where the guards would eat with the prisoners, earning the Germans respect. They worked, learning farming and butchering, working as a mechanic on the Army base vehicles, leatherworking and such. For the work they were paid coupons worth 80 cents a day and could spend it at a canteen for smokes, toiletries and 3 beers a week. One good story I remember was that there were something like 250 books in German for the POWs to read at this camp donated by the YMCA. The POWs had so many of their work coupons left over that they put them all together and ended up donating $442.00 to the YMCA for the books and $353.07 to the International Red Cross. Interesting stuff! __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here. Last edited by mookiemookie; 02-13-07 at 08:09 PM.