WWII German and Italian POWs in America

During World War II, Michigan became a temporary home to 6000 German and Italian POWs.  Prof. Greg Sumner tells the story of the national program to bring to the US about 425,000 POWs.  Sumner is a scholar and history professor at the University of Detroit Mercy.  He uncovered the forgotten story of these POWs and the farms, forests and families they impacted.

At a time of homefront labor shortages, they picked fruit in Berrien County, harvested sugar beets in the Thumb, cut pulpwood in the Upper Peninsula and maintained parks and other public spaces in Detroit. The work programs were not flawless and not all of the prisoners were cooperative, but many of the men established enduring friendships with their captors. Gregory Sumner tells the story of these detainees and the ordinary Americans who embodied our highest ideals, even amid a global war.  Sumner discusses this interesting story with host Jim Fausone.