Fairfax in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

World War II POW Camp Site

Photographed by Michael Lyons, circa January 5, 2019

1. World War II POW Camp Site Marker

Inscription. A state road work camp located in the vicinity of this site housed 199 German prisoners of war from July to November 1945. It was one of seven work camps in the commonwealth of Virginia. Prisoners worked on local farms to alleviate the labor shortage associated with the war. On November 16, 1945, following the end of the war, all work camps were closed and the prisoners were sent to Camp Shanks, New York, before eventually returning to Germany.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is November 16, 1945.

Location. 38° 51.172′ N, 77° 20.354′ W. Marker is in Fairfax, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It can be reached from the intersection of Gov’t Center Parkway and Ridge Top Road. Across from parking entrance to new apartments & retail on Ridge Top Rd. & Gov’t Center Pkwy. Behind the storage facility. (Short walkway is between Government Center Pkwy, Ridge Top Rd, Lee Hwy, & Waples Mill Road.). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan

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Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Manassas Gap Railroad (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bull Run Battlefields (approx. 1.1 miles away); Mount Vineyard (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Richard Ratcliffe's Mount Vineyard Plantation (approx. 1.2 miles away); Old Fairfax High School (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Manassas Gap Railroad (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ratcliffe Cemetery (approx. 1.4 miles away); Arlington-Fairfax Electric Railway (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.

Other markers no longer nearby. Richard Ratcliffe’s Mount Vineyard Plantation

Photographed by Michael Lyons, January 7, 2019

2. World War II POW Camp Site Marker

(was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Birthplace of the Confederate Battle Flag (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Tracing POWs in Fairfax. (Submitted on January 8, 2019, by Michael Lyons of Centreville, Virginia.)

Photographed by Michael Lyons, January 7, 2019

3. World War II POW Camp Site Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2019, by Michael Lyons of Centreville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,768 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 8, 2019, by Michael Lyons of Centreville, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.