The Men Who Didn’t Want to Leave: German POWs in Michigan

About this episode

This episode explores the experiences of German POWs in Michigan during World War II.

During World War II, more than 6,000 German and Italian prisoners of war were held in Michigan. They cut pulpwood in the Upper Peninsula, worked in fruit orchards, harvested crops, and helped fill wartime labor shortages. This episode follows the final days of German POWs at Fort Custer and Camp Evelyn, using 1945–46 newspaper clippings and historical records to tell the story of enemy soldiers who came to Michigan as prisoners — and, in some cases, hoped to return one day as free men. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

People in this episode

Host: Thumbwind Publications

Topics covered

• German POWs
• World War II
• Michigan history
• prisoners of war
• labor shortages
• historical records

Keywords

• German POWs
• Michigan
• World War II
• Fort Custer
• Camp Evelyn
• historical records
• labor shortages

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Thumbwind Publications

Places: Michigan, Fort Custer, Camp Evelyn

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