Greeley in Weld County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Greeley P.O.W. Camp 202

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 30, 2018

1. Greeley P.O.W. Camp 202 Marker

Inscription.

Greeley P.O.W. Camp 202. . These stone gateposts are remnants of the entrance gate into Greeley Camp 202, a World War II prisoner of war (POW) camp located directly north, housing approximately 3,000 German and Austrian prisoners. , This "small city" accommodated 3,600 people. Parallel 14-foot wire fences topped with barbed wire enclosed the 320-acre site. The camp was equipped with electricity, street lights, water, sewer, and a fire station. Buildings included an officers' club, laundry, motor pool, filling station, stables, kennels for 20 dogs, a quartermaster's unit, a 300-seat theater, library, classrooms, guardhouse, 60 prisoner barracks, 16 U.S. Army personnel barracks, water tower, jail, post exchange (store), woodworking shop, and a 150-bed hospital. , In early 1944 German and Austrian soldiers, many captured while serving under General Rommel in North Africa, arrived at Camp 202. Due to the wartime labor shortage most prisoners worked in the agricultural fields around Greeley. , When the camp closed in early 1946, prisoners returned to their homelands, and buildings were sold and moved. In 2008, a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) road widening project threatened demolition of the gateposts. Working with Colorado Preservation, Inc., the City of Greeley; Historic Greeley, Inc.; and the Daughters of the American Revolution, CDOT moved the gateposts approximately 1,730 feet to the west, installing them in the current permanent location in September 2009. , Photo captions , Top middle: World War II Prisoner of War Camp 202 - Greeley, Colorado: February 22, 1944 - This photograph shows the two stone gateposts holding up the columns that are attached to the sign arching over the entrance of the camp. Image courtesy of the City of Greeley Museums, ID# 2006.31.0001 .2B , Bottom right: Rows of Barracks Camp 202; Between 1943 and 1946 - Likely taken from a guard tower, this westward looking view of the camp shows rows of prisoner and U.S. Army personnel barracks. Along the street are shipping crates. Faintly in the background, the mountains can be seen. The checkered water tower is along the horizon with one guard tower visible to the right and a second guard tower in the horizon's center. Right of center is a smoke stack for one of the workshops. Image courtesy of the City of Greeley Museums, ID# 1976.83.0005 , Middle right: Corner of 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue Camp 202 - Between 1943 and 1946 , Three U.S. Army soldiers are seen here leaning on their army Jeep at the camp fire department; left to right: unknown man, George Watterburg, and Dave Foos. Image courtesy of the City of Greeley Museums, ID# 2006.47.0026

These stone gateposts are remnants of the entrance gate into Greeley Camp 202, a World War II prisoner of war (POW) camp located directly north, housing approximately 3,000 German and Austrian prisoners.

This "small city" accommodated 3,600 people. Parallel 14-foot wire fences topped with barbed wire enclosed the 320-acre site. The camp was equipped with electricity, street lights, water, sewer, and a fire station. Buildings included an officers' club, laundry, motor pool, filling station, stables, kennels for 20 dogs, a quartermaster's unit, a 300-seat theater, library, classrooms, guardhouse, 60 prisoner barracks, 16 U.S. Army personnel barracks, water tower, jail, post exchange (store), woodworking shop, and a 150-bed hospital.

In early 1944 German and Austrian soldiers, many captured while serving under General Rommel in North Africa, arrived at Camp 202. Due to the wartime labor shortage most prisoners worked in the agricultural fields around Greeley.

When the camp closed in early 1946, prisoners returned to their homelands, and buildings were sold and moved. In 2008, a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) road widening project threatened demolition of the gateposts. Working with Colorado Preservation, Inc., the City of Greeley; Historic Greeley, Inc.; and the Daughters of the American

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Revolution, CDOT moved the gateposts approximately 1,730 feet to the west, installing them in the current permanent location in September 2009.

Photo captions
Top middle: World War II Prisoner of War Camp 202 - Greeley, Colorado: February 22, 1944 - This photograph shows the two stone gateposts holding up the columns that are attached to the sign arching over the entrance of the camp. Image courtesy of the City of Greeley Museums, ID# 2006.31.0001 .2B

Bottom right: Rows of Barracks Camp 202; Between 1943 and 1946 - Likely taken from a guard tower, this westward looking view of the camp shows rows of prisoner and U.S. Army personnel barracks. Along the street are shipping crates. Faintly in the background, the mountains can be seen. The checkered water tower is along the horizon with one guard tower visible to the right and a second guard tower in the horizon's center. Right of center is a smoke stack for one of the workshops. Image courtesy of the City of Greeley Museums, ID# 1976.83.0005

Middle right: Corner of 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue Camp 202 - Between 1943 and 1946
Three U.S. Army soldiers are seen here leaning on their army Jeep at the camp fire department; left to right: unknown man, George Watterburg, and Dave Foos. Image courtesy of the City of Greeley Museums, ID# 2006.47.0026

Erected

Greeley P.O.W. Camp 202 Marker is on the right of the small pine tree. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 30, 2018

2. Greeley P.O.W. Camp 202 Marker is on the right of the small pine tree.

The P.O.W. Camp was in the background.

2011 by the National Park Service, Colorado Historical Society, and the City of Greeley.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Places • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is September 2009.

Location. 40° 25.27′ N, 104° 51.017′ W. Marker is in Greeley, Colorado, in Weld County. Marker is on Colorado Route 257 west of West 10th Street (Business U.S. 34), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greeley CO 80634, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. POW Camp #202 (here, next to this marker); A Camp 202 Prisoner (here, next to this marker); German Prisoner of War Camp 202 (a few steps from this marker); Loveland (approx. 4.3 miles away); #3 Ditch Marker (approx. 7.8 miles away); Masonic Temple (approx. 8.2 miles away); The Pioneer Fountain (approx. 8.3 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 8.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greeley.

Also see . . . Pillars of P.O.W. Camp 202. (Submitted on July 21, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View from marker towards intersection of Highway 257 and Business U.S. 34. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 30, 2018

3. View from marker towards intersection of Highway 257 and Business U.S. 34.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 426 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.