Have a similar story from a family friend whose father guarded Wehrmacht POW's in Arkansas. The camp mayor (warden, basically) would allow the POW's to go hiking in the Ozark National Forest (their camp was set within the National Forest boundaries) and the Germans absolutely loved it. Wasn't too different from Bavaria for them, so they enjoyed cutting roads on mountain passes and getting to run around in the woods all day. Family friend said that he remembers hearing stories about how some of the POW's had fought out east in the mud and ice of Kharkiv, and that being a POW was the best "combat tour" they'd ever had. They were "model prisoners" and honestly really happy to be there. Never a single escape attempt, never any fights, or violence. Always came around for accountability and were basically "trustees" with an armed escort at all times. Fascinating stories..
Have a similar story from a family friend whose father guarded Wehrmacht POW's in Arkansas. The camp mayor (warden, basically) would allow the POW's to go hiking in the Ozark National Forest *(their camp was set within the National Forest boundaries*) and the Germans absolutely loved it. Wasn't too different from Bavaria for them, so they enjoyed cutting roads on mountain passes and getting to run around in the woods all day. Family friend said that he remembers hearing stories about how some of the POW's had fought out east in the mud and ice of Kharkiv, and that being a POW was the best "combat tour" they'd ever had. They were "model prisoners" and honestly really happy to be there. Never a single escape attempt, never any fights, or violence. Always came around for accountability and were basically "trustees" with an armed escort at all times.
Fascinating stories..
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