The Story Of German POWs Held In Chicagoland
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As World War II raged across the Atlantic, thousands of German prisoners of war were held in camps around Chicago.
A must-read multimedia piece by Edie Rubinowitz for WBEZ, explores the reasons why the German soldiers were held here and some of the stories of their experiences.
The biggest camp was at the old Fort Sheridan base in north suburban Highwood, Rubinowitz reports. About 15,000 POWs were processed in 1944-45, and may were transferred to other locations in Chicago and the Midwest. About 1,300 were actually held there.
Many of the prisoners were captured during fighting in North Africa.
They were eventually brought here because it was cheaper to feed them in the U.S. and because camps in Europe were too crowded.
The WBEZ story is a fascinating look at local history and the war.