Maryland WWII Italian POW's - Military Monday

My Uncle Henry was a Baltimore City Firemen for most of his life, except when serving overseas during World War II. His sister, my Aunt Annamae, worked in the local sewing factory while her husband also served as a member of the United States Army.

When my uncle came home from the war he worked for the fire department at Fort George G. Meade. At that time there were German and Italian prisoners of war being detained.

In my mother's possession was this photograph of Italian prisoners of war taken in 1944 at Fort Meade. The women pictured were co-workers of my aunt in the sewing factory. When they discovered my uncle worked at the fort they asked to meet the prisoners. The women's families were of Italian ancestry and they were curious about their fellow countrymen.

Since discussing this photograph with my mother I have found various resources.

Fort George G. Meade Museum: Prisoners of War

German WII POW's in the U.S. remembered by Duncan Adams - Roanoke Times

Maryland's World War II POW Labor System

Prisoners of World War II in the USA

I do not believe many people of my generation are aware of this period in our history. In fact I had completely forgotten until documenting my mother's memories. This is a true case of "a picture is worth a thousand words."