During World War II, nearly 400,000 German, Italian and Japanese military were captured and housed in almost 700 camps throughout the United States. More than a dozen of those camps were located in Kansas, including a German POW Camp right here in Ottawa. But why were prisoners of war brought to America? There was an intense labor shortage, particularly in the AG Industry. Franklin County Historical Society Director, Diana Starcinic-Deane:
A presentation on the POW camp in Ottawa will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at the Franklin Countu Historical Society Archives Center, or the Ottawa Visitors Center. It will be given by long time Ottawa teacher Candi Campbell. It’s free and open to the public.
