Weingarten Prisoner of War Camp Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 1998.136

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of photographs, negatives, microfilm, camp publications, and other materials. The materials are arranged according to material type. The microfilm includes copies of the records of Office of the Provost General U.S. Army and L’Attesa, a POW published newsletter.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1943-1974, Bulk [1944-1945]

Conditions Governing Access

Photographs may be under copyright. Microfilmed materials require a special reader. This device may not always be available. Please contact Special Collections and Archives in advance for arrangements.

Rights Statement

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Biographical / Historical

Camp Weingarten was established as Prisoner of War (POW) camp in 1943. Weingarten is a small town in southern Missouri, outside of St. Genevieve. The town was chosen for its relative isolation and small population of ninety-nine. Acreage was purchased from local farmers and the camp was constructed for 1.6 million dollars. Weingarten became one of the largest POW camps in the United States. By September of 1943 the camp held over 5000 people, 992 Italian officers and 3,515 enlisted men. The camp became an important source of income for the local area and provided much needed labor for agriculture and industry. In return the POWs had access to education, the arts, religion, and excellent facilities. The camp primarily housed Italian prisoners. At the end of World War II, the US returned the prisoners to their countries of origin and the disassembled the camp.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

2 Reels

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Materials relating to the World War II Weingarten Prisoner of War (P.O.W) Camp located in Weingarten, a small town in Southeast Missouri. Includes photographs, negatives, camp publications, newspaper clippings, and microfilm.

Provenance

Materials in the collection were donated at various times by multiple individuals. Helmuth Schulz Jr, a German-American private first class stationed at Weingarten, donated 87 bound photographs, 5 loose photographs and 33 negatives, camp stationary, “Weingarten MO war” (1945 Sep 15) news clipping, memo (1945 Sep 15), guard roster (1944 Jul. 22), and The Weingarten (1945 Jul. 12); Quintus Bianco, a sergeant serving as a Military Police officer (MP) at Weingarten, donated 2 news clippings: “Weingarten: A Camp to Remember” and “The Weingarten Front” (27 Jun.1974) and booklet “History and Travel of 408th M.P.E.G. Co. (18 Nov. 1986); 3 copies of L’Attesa (1943-1945) are marked with the name L.M. Koetting, Ste. Genevieve, Mo, but no further information about their origin is known.