Near Tonkawa in Kay County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Camp Tonkawa
Site of German Prisoner of War Camp
| | World War II Jan. 1943 Sept. 1945 | |
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 1, 2012
1. Camp Tonkawa Marker (front)
Site of German Prisoner of War Camp known as Camp Tonkawa World War II Jan. 1943 Sept 1945
Between October and December 1942 more than 900 construction workers labored 24 hours a day to build Camp Tonkawa on the quarter section immediately north of this marker. SE1/4 Sec 28-26n-1w. The 160 acre site contained more than 180 wooden structures for 3,000 German P.O.W.s as well as 500 U.S. Army guard troops, service personnel and civilian employees. Activated in January 1943, the post received its first prisoners in August, German troops of Afrika Corps captured in North Africa.
The facility operated at or near capacity throughout its existence. Prisoners worked on area farms and ranches as well as at an alfalfa dryer plant in Tonkawa. In November 1943, a disturbance among the prisoners resulted in the death of a German soldier. Eight P.O.W.s escaped from the camp but all were re-captured. Camp Tonkawa closed in September 1945 and the P.O.W.s were returned to Europe.
Erected 2002 by Tonkawa Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1943.
Location. 36° 41.735′ N, 97° 18.157′ W. Marker is near Tonkawa, Oklahoma, in Kay County
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in 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, the Louisiana Purchase, and Cherokee Outlet.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce (approx. 2 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 6.7 miles away); Oklahoma Baptist College (approx. 7.4 miles away); Homesteaders (approx. 7.4 miles away); 100 Beautiful Years (approx. 7.4 miles away); Blackwell Zinc Company WWII Memorial (approx. 7.4 miles away); 101 Dairy Barn Vent from Dairy Barn (approx. 10.7 miles away); Two Old Potato Plows (approx. 10.7 miles away).
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 1, 2012
2. Camp Tonkawa Marker (back)
Photographed by Addam A Lewis
3. Camp Tonkawa POW Carved Box
Hand crafted Tonkawa Box
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 1, 2012
4. Camp Tonkawa Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 1, 2012
5. Camp Tonkawa Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 1, 2012
6. POW Marker Committee
Rex D. Ackerson
Helen Furber Cathey
Roy C. Fath
Nancy Borst Hutchison
Marilee Helton
Terry A. White
Related artifacts displayed at
McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History.
Original base for the
entrance gate post.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,319 times since then and 229 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3. submitted on November 25, 2022, by Addam A Lewis of Surry, Virginia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 27, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
