Georgia POW Camps in World War II - (Military) by Kathy Coker & Jason Wetzel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Explore the daily lives and the history of German and Italian POWs in WWII in camps in Georgia and their impact on the Peach State.

During World War II, many Georgians witnessed the enemy in their backyards. More than twelve thousand German and Italian prisoners captured in far-off battlefields were sent to POW camps in Georgia. With large base camps located from Camp Wheeler in Macon and Camp Stewart in Savannah to smaller camps throughout the state, prisoner re-education and work programs evoked different reactions to the enemy. There was even a POW work detail of forty German soldiers at Augusta National Golf Course, which was changed from a temporary cow pasture to the splendid golf course we know today. Join author and historian Dr. Kathryn Roe Coker and coauthor Jason Wetzel as they explore the daily lives of POWs in Georgia and the lasting impact they had on the Peach State.

Review Quotes

Coker and Wetzel have written an informative, thoughtful, and comprehensive book. They tell of varied aspects at numerous camps throughout Georgia. Most telling however, is a quotation from a camp guard, who learned that these prisoners were people, not monsters. He said, ...once you got to know them, they're people, just like you and me. Decatur Daily

This well-researched, 285-page book should be a great addition to any library and personal collection, as it covers a subject previously under documented. I can recall my mother talking about the POWs at Fort Benning that she saw, and I have heard stories from others. Atlanta Journal Constitution

What Wetzel and Dr. Coker hope to share is not for history and WWII buffs alone. It's a story of mercy, one that shows the prevalence of human connectivity during one of the most horrific chapters in human history. He plans to tour the state, presenting at historical societies, libraries, and bookstores. Locally, he will be presenting for the Gwinnett County Historical Society on Sept. 16, 2019. The event will take place at the Historical Society's meeting room in the historic courthouse located at 185 W. Crogan Street in Lawrenceville. Gwinnett Citizen

About the Author

DR. KATHRYN ROE COKER received a doctorate in history from the University of South Carolina. For nine years, she was the appraisal archivist at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. She then served for thirty years as an historian for the Department of the Army (DA). Dr. Coker's interest in World War II POWs began at Fort Gordon while serving as the deputy command historian. She has published many articles in professional journals like the Georgia Historical Quarterly and chapters from her dissertation in books. While a DA historian, she published numerous books and pamphlets, including A History of Fort Gordon, A Concise History of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, World War II Prisoners of War in Georgia: Camp Gordon's POWs, Mobilization of the U.S. Army Reserve for the Korean War, U.S. Army Reserve Recipients of the Medal of Honor and The Indispensable Force: The U.S. Army Reserve (1990-2010). She retired in 2015 from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and now resides in Richmond, Virginia, with her two dogs. JASON WETZEL has an MA in education and history from Georgia State University. The bulk of his working life was in telecommunications, with side forays as a high school teacher and a Department of the Army historian. His interest is in World War II history. He was born in Australia during World War II. His mother was an Australian war bride, and he is an Australian war baby. Dahlonega, Georgia, is home.