During World War II, the British took German prisoners of war (POWs) and began sending them to various locations in the 1940s. By 1943, they began running out of places to send their POWs and turned to the United States for assistance. The United States saw an opportunity to gain some workers at home and nearly 500 camps were established across the country. Nearly 400,000 German POWs were sent to camps in Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, and Wisconsin, among others.
Betty Cowley’s book “Stalag Wisconsin: Inside WWII prisoner-of-war camps” (2002) describes Camp Milltown, which was in operation between 1944 and 1945. During this time, the camp and its 180 Nazi prisoners of war were largely ignored by the press and the locals.
During their first season, the POWs used barracks at the Stokeley Plant property and tents across Highway 35 for their sleeping quarters. From here, they walked across the road to the Milltown plant or were transported to work sites at nearby canning factories and farms as needed. These POWs stayed for a season before being moved to Michigan to continue their work (Cowley, 2002).
By 1945, the POW numbers sent to Camp Milltown doubled to approximately 325 for work. A tent-city was erected to house the additional prisoners at the east end of Milltown Park near the baseball field. The prison camp closed in October 1945, wherein the prisoners tore down their tents and moved out (Cowley, 2002).
Newspaper article from July 5, 1945
From the combined work at the Friday Canning Factory in New Richmond, the Stokeley Foods plants at Frederic and Milltown, the Lakeside Packing Company at Amery, and the Hy-Dry Food Products in Centuria, the prisoners earned a total of $88,970 for the U.S. Government (Cowley, 2002).
POW Labor Summary article, October 10, 1945
Americans grew upset with the relatively easy treatment of the German POWs, particularly when Americans were dying overseas, and Americans were going hungry at home. This led to increasing attacks of POWs and destruction of POW camps or property.
After the war ended, POWs were required to stay in the United States for at least one year. They were forced to watch films of concentration camps and were educated on democracy before they returned home.
Local Wisconsinites recalled their experiences with the POWs in the Camp Milltown area. Most remembrances were positive with folks reminiscing of the POWs who were grateful for the food and the kindness of the locals.