WWII POW Camps
"What about this: German and Italian prisoners of war began arriving in the United States in 1942 after beleaguered Britain could no longer take care of them in the manner required by the Geneva Convention. The Convention, adopted by most Western nations by 1880, set standards for the treatment of POWs, including providing medical care for the sick or wounded.
"With the defeat of Marshal Erwin Rommel's tank forces in the deserts of northern Africa, thousands of German and Italian POWs were shipped to Britain and then sent on to the United States. By 1945, when the war ended, more than 400,000 prisoners had been sent to America.
"Camps were built to house them in Idaho and other Western states. Camp Rupert, near Paul, Idaho, was the base camp for the southern part of the state, with about 15,000 POWs divided among branch camps at Aberdeen, Blackfoot, Emmett, Filer, Franklin, Gooding, Idaho Falls, Marsing, Nampa, Payette, Pocatello, Preston, Rigby, Shelley, Sugar City, Thomas, Upper Deer Flat, near Nampa and Wilder.
Others were located at Fort Hall, Gooding and Kooskia. . ."
Source: diggin4treasure
Curator Meg continues the story: A group was brought in to help get a prune crop in. They were here for just a few weeks. I have more info at the museum.
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