By Rhonda Lee
October is a busy month at Muskogee Public Library. In addition to all the Big Read activities, we will also feature an exhibit on WWII prison camps in the Midwest.
During WWII, Camp Gruber was a large base for American soldiers preparing to go to war. Construction on Camp Gruber began in February 1942, and Camp Gruber was opened in May of 1942. Camp Gruber was a thirty-five thousand troop facility with more than 1,700 frame buildings including barracks, hospitals, chapels, recreation buildings and post exchanges. Camp Gruber was not only a large base for American soldiers preparing for war; it was also an internment camp for German POWs.
Camp Gruber along with 25 other counties in Oklahoma housed prisoners of war. Camp Gruber received their first group of prisoners of war on May 29, 1943.
The POWs housed at Camp Gruber were captured from Tunisia in North Africa as a part of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s “Afrika Korps.” The POW camp was located across the road from the main base. The prisoners wore khaki or blue denim uniforms with a red “PW” on their pants or jumpers and their own non-commissioned officers were appointed as the barracks leaders.
The camp followed the terms of the Geneva Convention concerning treatment of prisoners. Prisoners were required to work. Some worked for area farmers and other worked at a rock quarry near the prison. Prisoners were paid at a rate of eighty cents a day. The camp had a post exchange where the prisoners were allowed to purchase toiletries, candy, tobacco, books and magazines. Prisoners who were ill were taken to Glennan General Hospital in Okmulgee.
After the work day, prisoners were allowed to relax. Some prisoners were allowed to use rocks to create works of art. One such work of art was a replica of the Brandenburg Gate which reminded them of home. Other works included a mosaic map of Africa, and a Black Forest mill. Sunday was a day of rest and the Prisoner of War Camp had its own chapel. Many prisoners spent the day playing soccer.
Muskogee Public Library will host a traveling bus museum (Bus-eum) on Monday. The Traces WWII Museum houses a display of POW camps throughout the Midwest. According to Traces, the exhibits in the Bus-eum consist of narrative panels illustrated with photographs and documents, audio-DVD documentaries, artifacts and more.
The bus will be in the library parking lot from noon to 7 p.m.
