German P.O.W. Camp
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This camp, constructed to house three thousand men, received the first German prisoners of war in June, 1943. Most of the soldiers were members of the Afrika Korps. The prisoners were allowed to work on farms and ranches in the area and received a wage guaranteed by the Geneva Convention. Their labor was boon to Nebraska's war-depleted agricultural work force. This camp closed in September, 1945, but some former prisoners found sponsors among their captors and returned to become U.S. citizens.
Files
File #711: [Untitled]
Drawing, Ft. Rob. Pow Camp, Color Sketch, 11044-3
Ink and colored pencil drawing depicting rows of yellow barracks that made up the Fort Robinson P.O.W. Camp. A telephone pole is at the center of the sketch and rock formations are visible in the background. The sky is yellow, pink, and blue striped. Captioned "P.o.W. - Camp / Fort Robinson, Nebr." at lower proper right corner. Line of text written in blue pen beneath the caption is mostly in German. Several English phrases included are "Sand Hills" and "Rocky Mountains." Artists signature at lower proper left, followed by Köln. First name is Carl, but last name is not legible. Dated 1945. 11044-3 and 13210-1 are both by the same artist. His first name is Carl, and the last name is illegible. Volunteer and former German professor, Bob Meininger, thought it might be Heinscher. Although nothing else is known about this artist at this time, staff have seen two other drawings by him in private collections. | Source: Nebraska State Historical Society | Date: 1945
Drawing, Fort Robinson, Nebraska, P.O.W. Camp Bar. 349, 13210-1
This drawing was found by the family of Otto Eichentopf and donated to the Nebraska State Historical Society in 2011. Otto was a prisoner of war at Fort Robinson in 1945. You will note that one of the bags illustrated in the drawing is labeled "EICHENTOPF". Drawing of P.O.W Barracks 349 showing 3 cots and belongings. A bag is tied to each cot and the 3 bags contain the names "EICHENTOPF", "SCHUHNLENZ", "SCHWERDT". The donor's uncle, Otto Eichentopf, was a prisoner of war at Fort Robinson in 1945. The drawing is signed by Carl ____er [last name illegible, but it may be Heinscher], Koln. The painting is off-white in color and contains the colors blue, green, brown, black, and yellow. | Source: Nebraska State Historical Society | Date: 1945
Otto Eichentopf, RG2411.PH0-007614
Interior studio portrait of Otto Eichentopf in a German Naval uniform. Otto was a Prisoner of War at Fort Robinson (Nebraska). | Source: RG2411 Portraits, Nebraska State Historical Society | Date: 1944 circa