Dow Souder interviewed by Gregory L. Owen, 1999

Creator:

Souder, Dow F. (Dow Franklin), 1912-2008 and Owen, Gregory L.

Scope and content:

Records Souder's recollections of the three-month period in 1944 when German POWs were interned in a camp near Timberville, Virginia (These men were used primarily as a labor force for harvesting crops in the area). Souder relates his experiences with German POWs from the perspective of a young man in his early thirties who supervised the work of the POWs at Mutual Cold Storage, a cooperative apple produce warehouse in Timberville. This warehouse, which was owned by the fruit growers in the area (Byrd family) stored not only apple products but other government products for the armed forces. Mentions procedure used to acquire prisoners to work as a supplemental labor force. Talks about the condition of the POWs, most of whom were draftees, their work ethic, and guards. Mentions the Geneva convention and general positive treatment of POWs by guards and the community

Names:

Souder, Dow F. (Dow Franklin), 1912-2008
Owen, Gregory L.

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