Alabama has a rich history that most people are quite familiar with. However, many people are surprised the moment they find out there were 24 German Prisoner of War (POW) camps located throughout the state during the WWII era. One of these POW camps was Camp Aliceville, which you can read all about below.
Camp Aliceville, which operated from 1942 to 1945, was located in Aliceville, Alabama on the current site of Aliceville Industrial Park. Approximately 400 frame buildings made up the camp, which consisted of barracks, chapels, bakeries, a hospital, a greenhouse, sports fields, a fire department, gardens, etc.
In the summer of 1943, the first prisoners of Camp Aliceville arrived by Frisco Railroad. Due to the high volume of prisoners, the town's population grew to nearly 10,000. Camp Aliceville held up to 6,000 German prisoners, and very few attempted to escape because of the comforts of camp life. Two of the prisoners who did attempt to escape were killed.
This incredible museum features four extensive exhibits. Its German POW exhibit includes a variety of artifacts from Camp Aliceville. In fact, this particular exhibit features the largest collection of WWII Prisoner of War artifacts in the U.S.
Most all of the artifacts at the Aliceville Museum were either donated or are on loan. These items include photographs, documents, furniture, uniforms, medals, and so much more.
People from all over the world visit the Aliceville Museum to view its fascinating artifacts from Camp Aliceville. After all, these are important pieces of history you won't see anywhere else. So, if you ever get the chance to visit, please do.
For additional information about Camp Aliceville, you can view the Aliceville Museum's website here and its Facebook page here. Museum Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Were you already familiar with Camp Aliceville? If so, please let us know in the comments.