Crossville POW Camp Collection
The Crossville P. O. W Camp Collection, 1942-1981 consists primarily of newspaper clippings about the camp in the years after the war. Several clippings discuss rationing and local opposition to the establishment of the camp. In addition to the clippings, the collection contains several photographs from the camp when it held German prisoners of war. One former guard from the camp created a memoir about the camp, which includes excerpts from a book, photographs, and a map of the camp's layout. Since the site is currently used as a 4-H summer camp, a copy of 4-H's history of the property is included.
Dates
- 1942-1981
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Crossville P. O. W Camp Collection, 1942-1981 consists primarily of newspaper clippings and copies of photographs. Also included in the collection is a history of the Camp property and correspondence and a memoir compiled by a former camp guard.
Biographical/Historical Note
There were approximately three prisoner-of-war camps in Tennessee during World War II. Camp Crossville housed German prisoners of war for several years, including Gerhard Hennes, a German soldier who was captured in North Africa in 1943. Hennes later wrote an account of his time at Camp Crossville, a memoir titled The Barbed Wire: POW in the USA (a copy is included in this collection). Hennes describes how well the prisoners were treated initially, with food and pay, and how that changed after the war ended and information about the Holocaust in Europe became public knowledge. Camp Crossville was repurposed as a children's camp, now under the name Clyde York 4 4H Camp.
Arrangement
Collection consists of four folders.
Acquisition Note
This collection was donated to Special Collections by Ms. Crocia Roberson in November, 2001.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository