Maine POW Collection

During World War II, nearly 4,000 German Prisoners of War were held at camps in Maine. While the largest camp was in Houlton, other branch camps were located in Augusta, Bangor, Presque Isle, Seboomook, and Spencer Lake. The camps within Maine were part of a broader United States internment of prisoners of war, primarily from Germany but also from Italy and Japan, in nearly 700 camps throughout the country.

Items in this digital collection include issues of a camp newsletter produced by the prisoners at Camp Houlton. Known first as Der Wächter and later as PW Post, the content was written, edited, and illustrated by prisoners. In a 1946 cover letter that came with the newsletters, Captain Walter F. Cronin explained that for “the last six months the paper was edited by a prisoner named Draheim, who was a civil engineer in civilian life.” Cronin also wrote, “There is some evidence in these papers of the results of the re-orientation program in which we were engaged, and from that standpoint the papers are of considerable interest.”

For more information about items in this collection or additional books and resources on this topic, contact Fogler Library Special Collections at 207.581.1686 or um.library.spc@maine.edu.

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Camp Newspaper for the Houlton POW Camp and the Sub-Camps Seboomok, Spencer Lake and Princeton, Issue 1, December 1944

Camp Houlton

The first issue of the camp newsletter printed at the Houlton POW camp in December, 1944. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 2, December 1944

Camp Houlton

The second issue of the camp newspaper for the Houlton POW Camp and the subcamps Seboomook, Spencer Lake, and Princeton, printed in December, 1944 with its new title, Der Wachter. Article titles included Weihnact in der Tundra, Die Hose von Meier II, and Mitteilungen. Contributors included Horst Brose, Walter Kinadeter, Ludwig Reitzel and Chaplain John E. Gebhardt. Text in German.
Report of Prisoner of War Labor, 1944 Potato Harvest, Aroostook County, Maine

Aroostook Farm Bureau Labor Association

A carbon copy of typescript prepared by Fred L. Lamoreau and Raymond Atherton. Provides detailed policies and procedures for utilizing German Prisoners of War in in the 1944 potato harvest in Aroostook County. Prepared jointly by the Aroostook Farm Bureau Labor Association and Emergency Farm Labor Program, Maine Extension Service.
Der Wachter, Issue 3, February 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newsletter for the Houlton POW camp and the subcamps Seboomook, Spencer Lake and Princeton printed in February, 1945. Article titles included: Ein wort an die Gefangenen von Bruno Brehn, Nachklang, Zum weggange Hans Ruppe's, Kurzchrift-wettbewerb, Reise um die welt, Aus der Lagerbuecherei, and Zum Nachdenken. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 4, February 1945

Camp Houlton

The camp newspaper of the Houlton POW camp and the subcamps Seboomook, Spencer Lake, and Princeton, printed in February, 1945. Article titles included Der Transformator, Kranz Wiener Melodien, Lagers Houlton, and Mittellungen. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 5, March 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper of the Houlton POW camp and subcamps Seboomook, Spencer Lake and Princeton, printed in March, 1945. Articles include: Henri Dunant der Begreunder des Roten Kreuzes, Archimedes im Walde, Zum Gedachtnis der Gefallenen, Klavierfonzert, and Schachwettkampf. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Special Edition, March 1945

Camp Houlton

A special edition of the camp newspaper for the Houlton POW camp and subcamps Seboomook, Princeton, and Spencer Lake, printed in March, 1945. The issue focuses on plans for new curriculum for classes available in English, Latin, French, German, Mathematics, Structural Engineering, Drawing and Painting, Music, and other courses. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 6, April 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper for the Houlton POW camp and subcamps Seboomook, Spencer Lake, and Princeton, printed in April, 1945. Articles include: Archimedes in Walde, Was war los? Die rote Handtasche, and Der Lagersrecher Teilt Mit (contributed by Gefr. Paul Sieler). Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 7, May 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper of the Houlton POW camp and sub-camps at Seboomook, Spencer Lake, and Princeton, printed in May, 1945. Articles include: Rueckblick auf das Letzte Zeitgeschehen, Aus dem Lager, Unsere Lagerbuecherei (contributed by Der Bibliothekar Richard Switalski), Unterhaltungsmusik, and Sport - Echo. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 8, June-July 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper for the Houlton POW camp and the connected camps, printed in June, 1945. Articles include Wir Sind Nur Deutsche Soldaten, Aus dem Lager, Der Lagersprecher Teilt Mit, Sport Echo, and several crossword puzzles. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Special Edition, July 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper of the Houlton POW camp and subcamps in Seboomook, Spencer Lake, and Princeton, printed in July, 1945. This special edition focused on the new summer educational curriculum. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 10, September 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper of the Houlton POW camp and the connected camps, printed in September, 1945. Articles include: Die Presse Amerikas, Unabhaengigkeits Erklaerung, Der Rechts Staat, Vom Wictschaftskrieg Zum Weltkrieg, Benjamin Franklin, and Nachrichten aus der Heimat. Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 11, October 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newspaper of the Houlton POW camp and affiliated camps, printed in October, 1945. Articles include: Unser Programm, Run Einen Fyrennen, Die Aussprache, Die Forstwirtschaft Amerikas, Auszug aus den Verordnungen uber Osterreich, and Was ist ein PW? Text in German.
Der Wachter, Issue 12, October 28, 1945

Camp Houlton

Camp newsletter of the Houlton POW camp and affiliated camps, printed 28 October, 1945. Articles include: Imperialismus, Eine Ausstellung, Zum Schluss - Humor, Wird Deutschland Kommunistisch, Nachrichten aus der Heimat, YMCA - Ein Helfer der Kriegsgefangenen, Amerika in der Statistik, Run ist die Heide, Warum Nicht Alle Wolken Regnen, Der Leseraum, Der Fensterplatz, Aus dem Lager Houlton, and Konzert der Lager Kapelle. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 13, November 9, 1945

Camp Houlton

The Houlton POW Camp newspaper, following the title change to PW Post, printed 9 November, 1945. Articles include: 2 x 9 November, Wird Deutschland Kommunistisch, Diskussion, Der Bierhallen-Dutsch. Ernte aus der See, Warum Fallen die Blatter, Aus dem Lager Houlton, Konzert und Theater, Sport Spiel und Resultate, Alle Weee Fuhren nach Rom, Der Bulle, and Unser Bekenntnis zum 9 November 1918. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 15 Special Edition, December 12, 1945

Camp Houlton

A supplement of the newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 12 December 1945. Provides a full transcript of a lecture delivered by Walter F. Cronin 27 November 1945. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 15, December 16, 1945

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 16 December 1945. Articles include Unsere Wandiung, Ergebnisse der Lagersprecherwahl, Dank und Gruss an Heinrich Bruening, Nach der Wahl, Nachrichten aus der Heimat, Offener Brief an die Lagerzeitung, Der Vater der Strome, Die National Parks in den Vereinigten Staaten, Blinden-Erziehung in Amerika, and Sonnen Untergang an der Ostsee. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 16, December 24, 1945

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW Camp printed 24 December 1945. Articles include: Friede auf Erden, Weihnachten, Weihnachts Erlebnis 1945, Deutschland erwache, Aus der Heimat fur die Heimat, Fur die Feiertage, Wie der Weihnachts mann nach Amerika kam, Hie Weisen aus dem Morgenlande, and Beethoven Vieles Gewaltige Lebt doch Nichts ist Gewaltiger als der Mensch. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 16 Special Edition, December 24, 1945

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 24 December 1945. Includes a translation of an article by Joel Sayer that appeared in "The New Yorker," under the heading: Brief aus Nurnberg, Gekuerte Uebersetzung eines Kabels vm 21 November 1945, Entnommen der Zeitschrift. Text in German.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Annual Report of Farm Labor in Maine, January 1, 1945-December 31, 1945

College of Agriculture of the University of Maine and U.S. Department of Agriculture

A report of the Farm Labor Bureau submitted by Director Arthur L. Deering for the year 1945. Several sections provide information on the organization and personnel, cooperation of other organizations and agencies, determination of county needs, local mobilization and recruitment, procedure of placement of workers, clearance of workers between counties, operation of camps, utilization of special groups, prisoners of war, Newfoundlanders, Jamaicans, Canadians, other activities, and suggestions for improvement in 1946.

Several appendices provide additional information on each topic and a final section of newsclippings that appeared during the year.

Part of UA RG 006.008, Cooperative Extension Service Records, Fogler Library Special Collections and Archives (Box 52, folder 34).
PW Post, Special Edition, January 1946

Camp Houlton

Supplement to the newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed in January, 1946. A printing of the Constitution of the German Reich (Die Verfassung des Deutschen Reiches vom 11 August 1919). Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 17, January 5, 1946

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW Camp printed 5 January 1946. Articles include Aufgabe und Verpflichtung, Demokatie fur Alle, Das Kind im Brunnen, Zum Neuen Jahr, Komm mit Deinem Scheine, Zur Jahreswende, Werden und Wirken der Arbeitersanger, Junge Liebe, Columbus und Wir. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 17 Supplement, January 5, 1946

Camp Houlton

Supplement to the newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 5 January 1946. Provides the text for a piece titled Jenseits des Meeres die Freiheit.
PW Post, Issue 18, January 23, 1946

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 23 January 1946. Articles include Kirche und Nationalsozialistischer Staat, Die beiden Deutschland, Die Ansprache in the Gettysburg Address, Herr Prasident, Die Lebende Wasserleitung, Wielfeitige Kunft, and Leser-Briefe Columbus und Wir. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 19, February 3, 1946

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 3 February 1946. Articles include Glueck des P.W., Die Besetzung Deutschland im Lichte DesVolker eind Straatsrechtes, Der Erste Schritt zur Freiheit, P.O.W. Gedanken, Die Gedankenvelt de U.S.A. Praesidenten Jefferson, Forschungen in der Beringstrasse, Geliebte Stadt, and Ein Kleines Eriebnis. This issue identifies the editorial staff as Alfred Draheim, Walter Klaus, and Hans Jirgal. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 20, February 17, 1946

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 17 February 1946. Articles include Fruhlingsahnen, Was ist Recht, So War Es, U.S.A. Besitz in Ubersee, Town Meeting, Jugend muss frei sein, Vom Guten zum Besseren, Todestag Martin Luthers, and Kunst des Dirigenten. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 21, March 3, 1946

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 3 March 1946. Articles include Neubau des Staat, Neuorientierung des Geistes, USA wer Waren die Grunder, Maine Tiere und Jagd, Nach Hause, Farmer Bauer, Von Politik will Ich nichts mehr wissen, Aus dem Nurnberger Prozess, and Mal was Afrikanisches Arabische Hochzeit. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 20 Special Edition, March 10, 1946

Camp Houlton

Supplement to the newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 10 March 1946. Articles include Mensch Sein, Humanismus, der unsicht bare Stacheldraht, Kritik an uns Selbst, Aus dem Nurnberger Progress, and Leser Briefe, Zu Revolution im Malkasten. Text in German.
PW Post, Issue 22, March 17, 1946

Camp Houlton

Newspaper of the Houlton POW camp printed 17 March 1946. The content of this issue is nearly a repeat of No. 20s printed March 10. Two additional pages include articles titled Radar, Aus dem Lager Houlton, and a crossword puzzle. Text in German.
Letter from Army Service Forces to Librarian, University of Maine, April 10, 1946

Walter F. Cronin

A letter from Capt. Walter F. Cronin to Louis T. Ibbotson that served as a cover letter for the donation of the Houlton POW camp newsletters to the University of Maine library.
Extension Service in Maine Reports Busy Year: Annual Report for the Year Ending June 30, 1946

Arthur L. Deering

Maine Extension Bulletin 348, the annual report for the year ending June 30, 1946. Includes information on World War II era farm labor programs, agricultural improvement efforts, home management, 4-H clubs and a statistical summary of all Extension activities. A brief section on Prisoners of War is included in the Farm Labor Program report.