Orange in Orange County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site Of World War II P.O.W. Camp
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, April 7, 2021
1. Site Of World War II P.O.W. Camp Marker
During World War II, over 50,000 German prisoners of war were interned in over 70 Texas P. O. W. camps. Base camps were established at military bases throughout the state. The base camps operated a number of branch camps in their respective areas. Detailed from a base camp at Huntsville, about 140 German prisoners were housed in a U. S. Army tent camp near this site in 1944. Located on land owned by the Lutcher Moore Lumber Company, the camp was built with construction materials and labor provided by the Orange County Farm Labor Committee of the U. S. Agricultural Extension Service.
Transported to their work details by army trucks each day, the German prisoners worked as laborers in area rice fields, helping to bring in the harvest of farmers whose employees had gone to war. The work of the prisoners became a crucial element in the area's wartime food production, and many of the prisoners enjoyed good working relationships with their employers.
Although the original prison camp operated for only a short time in 1944, prisoners transported from camps in China, Texas, and Edgerly, Louisiana, were once again employed on Orange County farms in 1945.
Erected 1991 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11557.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II
this page online
Location. 30° 6.696′ N, 93° 48.007′ W. Marker is in Orange, Texas, in Orange County. Marker is on Old Highway 90 west of Davis Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orange TX 77630, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Absalom Jett (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old First Orange Baptist Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); Winfree Baptist Church (approx. 3.4 miles away); First National Bank of Orange (approx. 3.4 miles away); St. Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. 3˝ miles away); Orange Southern Pacific Depot (approx. 3.7 miles away); First Christian Church of Orange (approx. 3.8 miles away); Orange Chamber of Commerce (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orange.
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, April 7, 2021
2. Site Of World War II P.O.W. Camp Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2021, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 699 times since then and 104 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2021, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.
