Everything Everywhere Daily: German POWs in America

Host: Gary Arndt
Episode Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, Gary Arndt explores the little-known history of German prisoners of war (POWs) who were held in the United States during and after World War II. The episode delves into the surprising conditions these prisoners experienced, how this shaped their perceptions of America, and the profound impact their captivity had on the reconstruction of postwar Germany.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comparative Treatment of POWs (03:15–08:10)

• POW Survival Rates:
  • German treatment of Allied POWs varied massively by nationality:
    • Americans/British: 96–98% survival.
    • French: 84% survival, with captivity often longer.
    • Soviets: Only 45% survived, with 3.3 million dying from starvation, labor, and execution.

      “The Germans took 5.7 million Soviet soldiers prisoner… 3.3 million died in captivity.” (04:40)

  • Allied treatment of German POWs was similarly varied:
    • Soviet Captivity: 3 million captured, 1 million died, many detained until 1955.

      “Of the approximately 90,000 Germans captured at Stalingrad, only about 5 to 6,000 survived to return home, a survival rate of about 6%.” (06:05)

    • American/British Captivity: Far better survival rates and conditions.

2. German POWs in the United States (08:15–12:20)

• Logistics:

  • U.S. held approx. 370,000 German POWs in 425 main camps, with hundreds of satellite camps nationwide.

    "The United States held about 370,000 German prisoners of war in camps...the U.S. established about 425 main POW camps." (10:20)

  • Camp locations spanned from the Deep South to the Midwest and Great Plains—even the host’s county in Wisconsin had two camps.

• Why America?:

  • Britain was over capacity with Allied troops; America offered more space and greater security (an ocean away from Germany).

3. Daily Life and Treatment (12:21–18:50)

• Geneva Conventions & Beyond:

  • U.S. not only followed the conventions but exceeded them.
    • Wood barracks, three meals/day, libraries, education programs, and recreation.
    • POWs could write and receive uncensored letters and packages.

      “The Americans had no incentive to censor any of the letters...they wanted them to tell them the conditions...” (14:20)

  • Community interaction: locals often performed or socialized with POWs.

• Work and Pay:

  • POW labor was used to address workforce shortages.
    • 80 cents/day wage, close to a U.S. Army private's salary.
    • Earnings in camp scrip, spendable at commissaries (not cash, to prevent aiding escapes).

• Education:

  • Many educated prisoners ran classes—some POWs achieved high school or even university equivalency.

• Food and Comforts:

  • Generous rations: 3,000–3,200 calories per day, equal to U.S. civilians, and more than German soldiers or many German civilians at the time.

    "The German prisoners were on average getting between 3,000 to 3,200 calories per day...many actually gained weight while they were prisoners." (18:10)

  • Food tailored for German tastes—rejection of corn, turkey, peanut butter.

4. Social Dynamics and Transformation (18:51–24:55)

• POW Attitudes:

  • Most German POWs were not committed Nazis; only ~10% were considered ideological or problematic and sent to special camps.

• Surprises and Lessons:

  • POWs were shocked by American abundance, technological advancement, and ethnic diversity.
  • Many expected chaos due to Nazi propaganda but found prosperity and decency.

    "Many German POWs arrived expecting to find a country weakened by racial diversity and democratic chaos...Instead, they discovered something that fundamentally changed their worldview." (21:50)

  • Positive human interactions: guards sharing cigarettes, churches offering services, and farmers treating them respectfully.

    “They noticed American guards sharing cigarettes with them, local churches inviting them to services, and farmers...treating them as workers rather than subhuman enemies.” (22:40)

• Access to Information:

  • POWs received uncensored American newspapers and newsreels—many learned the truth about the Holocaust and Nazi atrocities for the first time.

• Escape and Security:

  • Very low escape rates—less than 1% attempted, almost all quickly recaptured.

5. Lasting Impact on Postwar Germany (24:56–27:45)

• Returnees as “Ambassadors”:

  • Former POWs “inadvertently” became advocates for democracy, bringing new values and visions for rebuilding Germany.

    “When these 400,000 men returned to Germany...they became inadvertent ambassadors for American values and democratic ideals.” (25:45)

  • Many joined democratic political parties (e.g. Christian Democratic Union), influencing postwar society in politics, business, academia.

• Emigration and Lifelong Bonds:

  • 5,000–10,000 POWs emigrated to the U.S. postwar, sponsored by American families or companies who befriended them; many others maintained cross-Atlantic friendships.

• Strategic Brilliance:

  • Decent treatment “was also strategically brilliant,” contrasting sharply with Soviet brutality and serving as a powerful Cold War narrative in favor of democracy.

    “By demonstrating that democratic societies could maintain their principles...America created a powerful argument for democracy itself.” (27:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On German POV Survival Across Captors:

  “The Germans took 5.7 million Soviet soldiers prisoner… 3.3 million died in captivity.” (04:40)

• On the relative security of POWs in America:

  "To put it bluntly, conditions for German prisoners held in the US were far better than they would have faced if they hadn’t been captured and remained in the German army." (11:50)

• On prisoners’ discoveries about American society:

  “Many POWs were struck by small things that revealed larger truths. They noticed American guards sharing cigarettes with them, local churches inviting them to services...” (22:40)

• On transformative effects of POW experience:

  "These men observed American industrial capacity that dwarfed anything that they had seen in Germany... Agricultural abundance, ethnic diversity, and most surprisingly, ordinary Americans who treated them with basic decency." (21:40)

• On the legacy of returned POWs:

  "They became inadvertent ambassadors for American values and democratic ideals. They were often young men who would go on to become leaders in their communities." (25:45)

• On strategic impact:

  “The generous treatment of German POWs represented American values at their best, but it was also strategically brilliant.” (27:16)

Important Timestamps

• 03:15 — Overview of WWII POWs by nationality and survival rates
• 08:15 — Decision to transfer German POWs to the US, logistics, and camp spread
• 12:21 — Description of day-to-day conditions and opportunities in camps
• 18:10 — Details on diet, health, and cultural food preferences
• 21:50 — POWs’ change in worldview upon exposure to American life
• 24:56 — How ex-POWs shaped postwar Germany
• 27:16–27:45 — Summary of the strategic and ideological significance

Summary

This episode provides a comprehensive look at an overlooked facet of WWII: the experience of German POWs in America. Gary Arndt highlights not just the humanitarian standards of POW care in the U.S., but also the far-reaching social and political effects those experiences had on both America and postwar Germany. The story is a compelling lesson in the power of humane treatment in times of conflict—a legacy that extends well beyond the boundaries of any single war.