Customer Reviews

We Were Each Other's Prisoners: An Oral History Of World War II American And German Prisoners Of War

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's always a good idea to save the oral history of those who have experienced an unusual occurance in our past. Although I enjoyed the book I kept waiting for "something different". I guess I've read so many reports/books/histories/newspaper articles on the subject there's nothing new to learn. I had an uncle who was a guard at two different camps and a grandfather who used German POWs on his farm so this is a subject well known in our family. This book might be good for "newbies" but not much help to real researchers on the subject. I would recommend it to my son's eighth grade history class. I did find the parallel's between the treatment of two groups interesting and am actually proud of the effort the U.S. made to comply with the Geneva Convention.

I found the book a great comparison of the variety of conditions in which POWs found themselves. While no two POW had the same experience treatment and conditions did vary greatly. I've sent this book on to a few Ex-POW's because it provides context they may not be aware of, Like Airborne veterans captured without firing a shot. Not everyone lived like Hogan's Heroes or The Great Escape. The book has a solid spot in my WW-II collection.

Most people are not aware of the thousands of German, Italian and Japanese prisoners in camps across the United States during the Second World War. Like many other issues, guarding and tending POWs was a flawed system, but it was much better than in other countries at least, considering the U.S. had little or no experience with the matter. We were re-inventing ourselves.

I loved the idea of an oral history of WWII POWs. I immediately picked up the book . . . but was soon disappointed. Carlson, a history professor at Western Michigan University, lost my respect at the first line of text, where he cite's Patrick Henry's regret that he had but one life to give for his country. This quote, of course, belongs to Nathan Hale, hung for spying on the British. History professors ought to know better. Carlson waisted an opportunity to explore the deplorable conditions of American POWs through unnecessary repetition.

Carlson is a very nice fellow, and his book is a nice tribute to my granfather, Clifford Fox, who is featured in the book. Thanks to all.

This book contains an interesting selection of photos of German and American prisoners, then and now; also a map of the United States showing hundreds of places prisoners were held. Some interesting facts emerge such as German prisoners held in Mississippi camps working in swamps and cotton fields, suffering malnutrition,and in the words of one ex prisoner, being "treated no better than the blacks we were working with."

Mr. Carlson did a wonderful job capturing the hardships encountered by the POWs. It was one of those works that was hard to put down. I am a thirty-two-year-old community college professor in New England and have just published my first book. I am currently beginning my own oral history project and would love Professor Carlson's advise. I would be grateful if he sent me an e-mail at the address below. Dr. Victor Triay