Camp artifacts are housed in the POW Camp Concordia Museum and in the Cloud County Historical Museum in Concordia, Kansas. A suggested donation of $5 per visitor is encouraged to help with the basic maintenance of the museum. Tours must be arranged a couple of days in advance to ensure that a volunteer tour guide can be arranged for your visit. Contact Cloud County Tourism to learn more! (785) 243-4303
During the second World War there were German POW camps in 47 of the lower 48 states. Of the 16 that were in Kansas, Camp Concordia was with largest. It was open from May 1, 1943 through November 8, 1945. At its height, it held over 4,000 Germans and 1,000 American soldiers. After being hastily built, the camp consisted of more than 300 buildings, including a hospital, post office, library, fire department, cold storage, mess halls, restaurants, warehouses, administrative buildings, an officers club and barracks. All of the prisoners at Camp Concordia were members of the German Army. Most had been captured in Africa, and the first POWs came from Rommel's Afrika Korps. Only the enlisted POWs worked; most of them on farms, but some also worked on the railroad or in the ice plant. The POWs at Camp Concordia had their own band and newspaper. Camp Concordia is one of very few POW camps in the United States that still has standing buildings, original to the site. Many of its buildings were torn down, while others were moved. Some are even still serving as homes in Concordia, Kansas. The only structures remaining at the original location are T-9, Guard Post 20, a warehouse, the officers club, a hand full of stone walls and foundations, and the tower which once supported a 100,000 gallon water tank. The two story stone guard tower was reconstructed. In 2009, Building T-9, was purchased by the POW Camp Concordia Preservation Society. At that time, it had served as a shop in which to house and restore antique cars, for nearly 30 years. Building T-9 had originally functioned as an engineering shop and warehouse until the camp was officially closed. With much anticipation, the new, POW Camp Concordia museum was opened July 11, 2015. It has been fortunate to receive and collect many artifacts and historical items, related to the camp. Many of its unique displays were donated by the families of Camp Concordia POW’s, its employees or by locals who had previously acquired supplies and items used at the camp. We love having these original items come “home” and be part of our growing museum! The Preservation Society invites people to share their pictures, heirlooms and memories of Camp Concordia, as well as from other POW Camps, across the country. The WWII POW Camp Concordia museum is not open on a regular basis and is solely supported by volunteer efforts and generous visitor donations. To schedule a tour, please call a few days in advance to Cloud County Tourism, (785) 243-4303. The Cloud County Historical Museum, in Concordia, also has several exhibits devoted to WWII POW Camp Concordia and the local history of the WWII era. We would love to have you come visit us! http://powcampconcordia.org/history.php
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