POW camp in New Hampshire

[David Layne]

STRATHAM -- History buffs assembled at Stratham Municipal Center recently to learn about New Hampshire's only World War II prisoner of war camp -- Camp Stark.
Dr. Allen V. Koop, Dartmouth College history professor and author of "Stark Decency: German Prisoners of War in a New England Village," gave a lecture and slideshow presentation about the unique story of Camp Stark and the friendships that were forged there during the last few years of the war.
Camp Stark opened in April 1944 in the small town of Stark, 22 miles northwest of Berlin. The camp was initially set up as a Civilian Conversation Corps Camp, but by 1944 the United States needed another facility to house German POWs.
Government officials eventually established more than 500 POW camps throughout the United States, which held about 400,000 captured German soldiers.
The Germans were treated well here. They were fed, clothed and housed, all stipulations under the Geneva Convention. But treatment in Stark was particularly good.
Koop said one town resident told him while he was conducting his research for his book, "having the German boys was the best thing to happen to us," while a German POW said, "my year in prison in America was the best of my life."
Overall the men in the camp got along together. Between 100 and 300 POWs were housed at Stark during the war. Only a small minority was Nazis. Most were German political prisoners, Social Democrats and Communists who had been drafted by Hitler in 1942, since he needed more men to fight the war. Few supported Hitler or the war.
The American guards assigned to Camp Stark were empathetic to the German soldiers and often worked alongside them. The POWs were paid 80 cents a day to cut the pulpwood. The work needed to get done and it was more efficient if they worked together.
But Koop said, "I don't want to sugar-coat the experience. It was a harsh time," adding that no one wanted to be there, but most recognized that there were worse places to be during World War II.
Koop went on to tell stories of fugitive POWs who had escaped Stark -- one of the "leakiest camps in America," and the relationships that emerged among prisoners, guards and residents. He showed slides of photographs with prisoners and guards standing next to each other and the gifts, including hand-carved knives, the prisoners made for guards and their families.
Although the war was over in 1945, the men continued to work until the camp closed in May 1946 and the POWs were sent home.
Today there is hardly any evidence of the camp except for a sign and some moss concrete, but for those who lived through the experience the camp will never be forgotten.
In 1986, Koop organized a reunion between the guards and POWS. Four German families came back to the small town for the celebration. More than 1,000 people from all over descended upon Stark to meet the POWs and hear the stories. After several speeches, the group ate together and sang songs, Koop said.
Looking back, the POWs remembered the good treatment they received by the Americans and were glad to come back to the small town.
Koop conducted his research by interviewing German POWs, American guards and Stark residents. His book is available at local bookstores and on www.amazon.com.
The Stratham Historical Society sponsored the event. For information about its next event, visit the Web site at www.strathamhistoricalsociety.org.

[Kyt]

Is it just my computer or has the formatting for this post gone a bit weird

[jacobtowne]

Stark is quite an interesting place to locate a POW camp. It is in northern NH, south of Dixville Notch, and not 30 miles from the Quebec border.
It's a pretty little village today, with a population of 500 souls, very New England, covered bridge and all.

I was told many years ago that there was a camp near Taunton, Mass.

JT

Photo of Stark today.

[jacobtowne]

Sure does look like a new format, doesn't it.

JT

[Hawkeye90]

I watched a show on The History Channel about Camp Stark a few years back. Sounds like it would be interesting to read about, especially since its located in a neighboring state.

[jacobtowne]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye90

I watched a show on The History Channel about Camp Stark a few years back. Sounds like it would be interesting to read about, especially since its located in a neighboring state.

Hi Hawkye90:

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I still haven't recovered from the turkey and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies.

Have you ever heard of the camp (supposedly) in Taunton?

JT

[Hawkeye90]

I have never heard of one but that dosnt mean much. I searched and a few sites came up saying that there was a POW camp in Taunton. Camp Myles Standish?