World War II Prisoner of War Camp at McLean
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QuesterMark
N 35° 14.480 W 100° 32.333
14S E 359982 N 3900891
This post-mounted subject marker stands at the intersection of County Road 5280 and County Road Z in McLean (Gray County). It faces the intersection.
Waymark Code: WM16FYH
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/24/2022
Views: 7
Marker erected by the Texas Historical Commission.
This marker was not originally designed as a post mounted one. It's attached to a steel plate that holds it like a mirror, with a number of tabs around the outside edge. The plate is attached to the post.
Texas Historical Commission Atlas data:
Index Entry World War II Prisoner of War Camp at McLean
Address County Line Rd.
City McLean
County Gray
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 359981
UTM Northing 3900894
Subject Codes World War II; German immigrants/immigration; military topics
Marker Year 1997
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location NW corner County Line Rd./CR 5280/McCarty St. and Z Rd., 1 mi. N of IH-40 Exit 146 (County Line Road)
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Number: 5908
Marker Text:
A permanent alien interment camp (prisoner of war camp) in the 8th Service Command was established here during World War II. Construction began in September 1942 and American military personnel and German prisoners began to arrive in July 1943. The site included 25-30 buildings to accommodate the military and civilian personnel required to operate the camp. Three large compounds housed the prisoners of war.
Other structures included warehouses, engineering and fire departments, carpenter shop, and water plants. Facilities for the military were comprised of barracks, nurses' and bachelor officers' quarters, officers' club, post exchange and commissary, theater, laundry, and barber shop. A small hospital was shared by the American military and the prisoners of war.
The first group of prisoners brought to McLean were members of the famed Afrika Korps commanded by General Erwin Rommel and were captured in North Africa. By October 1944 the camp exceeded its official capacity of 3,000 prisoners.
The community was closely involved with the camp, and many local citizens formed lasting friendships with some of the German prisoners. The camp closed in July 1945.
(1997)
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