During the Second World War, the United States established prisoner of war camps on its soil; the first time since the Civil War. The presence of these camps was partially due to the request of the British government to help alleviate their prisoner housing problems. The lack of experience and manpower maintaining such camps, increased security fears, and skilled personnel fluent in German and Italian fighting overseas caused the United States to hesitate accepting the request at first. However, with problems organizing such camps overseas and resources being diverted from the front to those camps, it was decided having prisoners of war housed in the United States would be more efficient.

To help alleviate the populous’ fears and security concerns, many prisoners were housed in military instillations and facilities throughout the South and Southwest. These regions were away from urban and industrial centers producing supplies for the war while construction costs were minimized due to the mild climate. Living conditions were pleasant considering the circumstances and included barrack housing, recreational activities, and educational opportunities for prisoners. Over the course of the war, nearly half a million German and Italian prisoners of war were transported and housed in the United States.

Prisoners of war were required to work in and around the camp, including working in the cafeteria, ground maintenance, and on local construction sites, earning eighty cents a day. Eventually, their labor expanded beyond the camps. Many young men in Arkansas left due to enlisting, being drafted, or to work in industrial jobs to support the war effort. This caused labor shortages in many agricultural and lumber industries. Communities in Arkansas formed organizations and contacted the war department and their representatives to establish branch camps throughout Arkansas to house prisoners of war and ease these shortages. Thousands of prisoners were brought to these branch camps, easing some of these labor shortages.

With the war ending in 1945, the War Department began sending prisoners back home in Europe. Many communities and organizations in Arkansas hoped to keep the prisoners until the young men who left returned. Some camps were able to keep their prisoners longer, but by the summer of 1946, all camps were dismantled and prisoners were sent home. The fair and kind treatment German and Italian prisoners experienced impacted their lives, with some writing and renewing acquaintances with their former captors and others immigrating to the United States.