Indianola in Red Willow County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Indianola POW Camp
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2021
1. Indianola POW Camp Marker
The US built prisoner of war camps across the country during World War II. One such camp opened north of Indianola. It held mostly German soldiers captured in North Africa and Italy. Prisoners began arriving by train in November 1943. The camp was in full operation by the end of the year.
Camp Indianola was laid out over 250 acres. It had nearly 200 buildings and could house up to 3,000 prisoners. It served as both a base camp and a branch camp, housing 2,549 prisoners at its peak.
The original plan was for prisoners to work on flood control projects. Instead, a wartime labor shortage created a need for farm workers. Prisoners were sent from Indianola to smaller camps where they were hired out to farmers.
After the war, Camp Indianola was transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation. It housed workers and their families during construction of flood control projects.
Removal, neglect, and demolition have left a collection of ruins. Some buildings were relocated and used as homes.
Erected 2019 by Nebraska State Historical Society and Indianola Historical Society. (Marker Number 552.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the
this page online
Location. 40° 14.063′ N, 100° 25.014′ W. Marker is in Indianola, Nebraska, in Red Willow County. Marker is on D Street (U.S. 6/34) just east of 4th Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 323 D Street, Indianola NE 69034, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pawnee Woman’s Grave (approx. ¼ mile away); First Homestead in Red Willow Co. (approx. 4.7 miles away); Mallalieu University (approx. 6 miles away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. World War II POW's in Nebraska
Also see . . .
1. New marker commemorates German POW camp at Indianola. (from McCook Gazette, 8/14/2020)
The camp’s buildings originally formed a highly fortified military operation that housed German prisoners and pro-Nazi noncommissioned German officers, captured from Italy, North Africa and mainland Europe. The camp brought World War II up-close-and-personal to the townspeople, housing over 2,500 prisoners, more than three times the 800 population of Indianola at the time. When the first batch of soldiers were
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2021
2. Indianola POW Camp Marker
2. An Historical Archaeological Investigation of the Indianola Prisoner of War Camp in SW Nebraska. University of Nebraska - Lincoln Digital Commons website entry (Submitted on May 16, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2021
3. Dedication Plaque at Base of Marker
”In loving memory of
Leo and Edna Gossin
from John and Janice Gossin
and their children”
• • •
The POW Historical Marker is made possible
by the Indianola Historical Society
and community members.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 464 times since then and 58 times this year. Last updated on May 14, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
