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During WWII, prisoners of war arrived at Fort Lewis as early as 1942. There were over five hundred POW camps scattered throughout the United States.  The prison camp began small but quickly grew to five separate compounds on post and branch camps at Fort Lawton, Spokane, Walla Walla, Vancouver Barracks, and Toppenish. The prisoner population consisted primarily of Germans; however, there were a few Italian prisoners. The camp held approximately 4000 to 5,200 prisoners. In the first year of operation, the population was German soldiers from the Afrika Korps captured in Tunis N. Africa; however, some came from Italy, France, and Greece. 

 

The main camp was set up north of Gray Airfield near 41st Division Drive and Pendleton Avenue. A separate compound was located about a mile away for troublesome prisoners and known National Socialist (Nazi) Party, members. Another compound is located near the present-day Logistics Center.  The Prisoners lived in the same World War II wooden barracks and administrative buildings occupied by American troops. Each building could hold up to 150 men.  The main camp was organized into three compounds, each surrounded by a barbed-wire fence and ten guard towers.  Each compound had four companies with four barracks, a mess hall, an orderly and supply room, and a dayroom that German Prisoners man. The compounds had a prisoner laundry, canteen, and barbershop. Two clinics served the camp and were staffed by German doctors and corpsmen under the supervision of an American medical officer. 

           

The prisoners enjoyed a beer hall, carpenter shop, tailor shop, lecture hall with a library and aquarium.  The camp also featured two theaters for watching American movies. The prisoners built a theater to house their orchestra group. Approximately 360 prisoners worked within the compounds, with the remainder working on the post at jobs such as clearing brush, sawing lumber, repairing clothing and equipment, and similar tasks. Others worked on various farms to help small farmers all over Washington State. The main crops harvested were wheat and sugar beets. The pay for prisoners was 80 cents a day or $24 a month for work unless they had disciplinary issues such as reasons or failure to work, then they would be docked 70 cents per day. Money earned could be spent at the canteens and deposits made into a prisoner welfare fund, which was used to purchase recreational equipment and supplies.  The camp closed around approximately September 1946. 

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In recent years, POWs have made their way back to the camp to visit.   I have had the honor of visiting one of the POWs, Mr. Robert Schweikart. He invited me to his home in Germany on Oct. of 2019 In Landau, Germany. At the 17 years old, Robert was captured along the Rhine River in an abandoned house with other German soldiers. He  eventually found his way to the camp at Fort Lewis. His memoirs are under the "memoirs" tab.  

 

There are three German prisoners buried in the main post cemetery. Fort Lewis is one of the largest military bases in the world and carries a robust history.  I am honored to share this incredible part of Washington history.