The enemy among us: World War II prisoners of war

Abstract

The author traces the evolution of humane treatment accorded to prisoners of war from early Grecian and Roman conquests to the end of World War II. Emphasizing the role of the United States, he discusses the various methods by which the government has handled PWs since the period of the American Revolution. Although on rare occasions brutality occurred, especially during the Indian Wars, federal authorities were usually lenient and considerate towards their prisoners. Unfortunately, the United States entered World War II unprepared to receive prisoners of war; therefore, the government authorities hastily built compounds throughout the country, at times causing people in the local area much consternation and grief. Furthermore, they had made no plans for the utilization or employment of PWs. So as the war progressed, officials authorized prisoner use in agriculture and in such industries permissible under the Geneva Convention. In discussing Corporal Walter Kelschenbach, one of many German PWs held in the United States during World War II, as well as the Italians, Japanese, and remaining Germans, the author has attempted to show the good treatment and kindness extended towards prisoners. Ironically, the United States was the only country in the world in which officials honored and followed the Geneva Convention of 1929. At no time did they violate any of the articles contained therein. Besides his own personal knowledge and experience obtained while serving twenty-six years in the military, the author utilized several other sources. He relied on taped interviews with Corporal Kelschenbach and others, together with many newspaper articles from the war years. He also found invaluable information in the Truman Papers at Independence, Missouri, and he visited the former campsites at Nevada and Neosho where he talked with some of the local citizens. After reading many books about prisoners of war, he researched the Congressional Record for substantiating materials.