POW camps "Then and Now"

[siege1863]

Here is a series that I intend to use in a history I am writing. They were taken at the WWII German POW camp located a few miles from where I live. They are of the "ceremonial" tree that was located inside of the POW compound. Using the original photo, I was able to locate the footings of the guard tower in the background and remove one of the uprights still buried in the ground. It is sitting in my closet.

 

 

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Here is another view taken from further away. For this gathering, the prisones have hung their "ceremonial shield" (a rune) on the tree. Unfortunately, I do not know the event. Could have been a German holiday, announcement of the death of Hitler, etc.

 

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In April 1996, the tree blew down in a storm. A year later, I got to thinking about the tree and the shield. Using details from the photos, I was able to determine where the shield had hung. As I had hoped, the hanger was still there! After some careful cutting and chopping, I was able to remove it. It was fashioned from an old lag bolt.

 

 

 

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In April 1996, was the reunion of some two dozen of the former POWs. The day after the ceremonial tree blew down they visited the camp site. Here are a few of the men posed in front of the tree.