Hide Article Text (OCR)
Nazi Influence FeltEDITOR’S NOTE: For the next few months the Lordsburg Liberal will publish several Bicentennial stories written by local researchers. The local research was conducted by students enrolled in Dr. Phil Cook’s “Problems in American History” class.By MOLLIE PRESSLER Special To The Liberalcamp does not necessarily mean abandonment of the camp since the available housing may in turn be utilized by other prisoners of war....”The letter may have served to instill some hope that the camp would be reactivated to its former level of activity. Through the summer months,small numberThe summer monthspreced-ing the arrival of the Germanof prisoners, reportedly both Italiaiprisoners of war saw little activity at the Lordsburg camp. The camp had beenElaced on a reserve, stand-by asis, and most prisoners andrsonnel had been relocated beginning in April and May of 1944.Lordsburg citizens were quite concerned about the status of the camp, for the economic boom they had experienced decreased significantly. Was it to end so soon, after a short two years? Was the camp going to remain at reduced activity, even though the war was not over?The Chamber of Commerce is being seiged daily to learn of the exact status of the camp.Our Congressional delegation in Washington has been very courteous to answer allQuestions...and now through le courtesy of Senator Dennis Chavez, we are publishing aand German, inhabited the camp.In September of 1942, preparations began again to activate the camp to its fullest capacity and to receive German “Uncooperative Non-Commissioned Prisoners ofWar.” The prisoners began arriving on October 4, 1944, and by November, approximately 4,000 were billeted at the camp, which had originally been built to hold 3.000 men.letter from the War Depart-vaiument which gives all available information at this time. When anything new is learned, it will be passed on through the columns of the liberal: “Further reference is made to vour letter of April 17, regarding thePrisoneiremoval of Italian Prisoners of War at Lordsburg, New Mexico, and the apparent purpose of the War Department to abandon this camp entirely.“The removal of Prisoners of War from any particularShipments of men continued, with about 1,500 more coming from Normandy and other areas in die European theatre. Since the camp at this time was a non-working, noncommissioned officers’ camp, relatively few were or wanted to be employed. In January, 1945, out of 5,500 men, there were only 255 men working at Class I labor inside he camp, and only 502 worked at Class II labor outside the camp at jobs done for wages. Some of these had volunteered for cotton picking.Recreational activities were existent in the form of boxing, soccer, and volleyball. There was a small band formed by some men who had their own instruments, as the camp’s revious supply of instruments ad been sent elsewhere during its months of dormancy. A choir of about 80 men met on Sundays for two hours of singing. Movies were shown at the camp each Sunday for the Ger-Smans, and were mostly American films, as German non-propagandic films were either non-existent, or difficult to obtain.Educational reorientation instruction included languages, history, chemistry, biology, physics, German,Grammar, mathematics, and geography. The education program, taught by German “professors,” was misdirected in succeedingmonths, as is reported in thefollowing:Director of Studies, Nic-kolaus, a former curator of die museum at Trier, appears to be open minded and liberal. He frankly stated that he was under constant pressure by the strong-arm men and had not been able to carry out the educational program with an objective viewpoint. Hedesired to teach a course in American Indian folk lore, particularly about the Southwest.Those courses can in no waycontribute to the reorientationprogram. Even the textbooks in mathematics have beenCaptain Lakes visited several classes in the compound, as they were being held on the morning of his visit. He learned that the primary courses were German, mathematics, automechanics, and architecture.approved and used by the Weh-rmacht. The mathematics course is based on the life of asoldier and deals in such prob-tity of ammunition for a battery, etc...Captain Lakes presented his findings to the commanding officer and recommended closer supervision over the educational program.lems as the number of men in a platoon, the amount of rations for a division, the quan-Religious activities at the camp also came under criticism in the same inspectionSchmitt Wants Federal Lands ReturnedSenatorial candidate Harrison “Jack” Schmitt said in Albuquerque Wednesday there has been interest in his views on the return of some federal lands in New Mexico to privateor state ownership.“During an August broadcasters’ meeting in Albuquerque, I said lands currently under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management could be returned to private ownership. I specified,«•‘lands that we sold to the government during the depression (under the Pankhead-JonesGROUND BREAKING — The ground breaking for the new doctor’s clinic was held Tuesday, Sept. 14. Those in attendance were, from left to right: Harold Johnson, Chet Porter, Howard McPeak, Leona Hightower, Dr. Edward Reisman, Norma Badders, Gerald White, Barale Wolff, and Nelson Messenger.(Liberal Photo)GroundBreakingHeldMembers of the Hidalgo Health Care Council andMafinnnl Uoolth Qon/ipo rnrnccounty’s new medical ottice facilities.Barak Wolff, field coor-Nelson Messenger is the Medical Management Consul-tonf f nr AA O 1Act) are legitimate lands to be sold back to the people.’ ” These depression lands, Schmitt said, comprise a total of 230,000 acres of land in New Mexico.KopperKappersDancingaa m m iff a“Get your partner - Square ’em up,” is the call from Kopper Kappers Square Dance Club’s caller Chuck Miller each Wednesday evening at the Playas Community Center.A special “Fun Night” will be held Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. at the Center. All area residents interested or curious about square dancing are invited to come and participate in the fun. A few basic calls will be taught so that everyone will be able to try his finese on the dance floor.The following Wednesday, Sept. 29, lessons will begin for all those who would like to further their expertise in the fun of square dancing. Lessons will begin at 7:30 p.m. prior to the regular dancing.Instructions for ‘‘round dancing”, dancing of a different type, will also be taught at the Community Center. These lessons will be given by Bob and Betsy Peters beginning on Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. Once again, all area residents are invitedto DarticiDate.Schmitt said at that meeting there are other lands which must stay in the public sectorbecause of environmentalreasons.The candidate said theBureau of Land Management is disposing of many small parcels of its 13 million acres of land in New Mexico at the rate of 50 to 75 parcels a year “because they are considered costly and difficult to man-M/% » *age.These parcels of land, Schmitt said, average 40 acres in size.The candidate later said he did not feel that “at the presenttime” it would be in the best interest of the citizens of New Mexico to turn federal lands over to state management.As a hunter, fisherman and hiker, Schmitt said most areas that are now managed for public use-for hunting, fishing, hiking and wilderness preservation-should remainmultiple use lands under federal management.He also said multiple use means multiple responsibility for the care of the land and the fences, tanks, and other improvements upon it.The candidate said, however, he is disturbed by the tendency of the federal government to insist on controlling the management of adjacent state and deeded lands. He said he will use his office to help all those concerned with the management of these jointly-controlled land areas to cooperate as equal partners in trying to solve their mutual land-use and environmental problems.report: ‘‘There is heavy attendance at both Catholic and Protestant church services. The American compound officers feel that much of the attendance is a result of the boredom of the German sergeants who have little else to do. The Protestant prisoner of war chaplain is definitely of questionable character. The commonding officer permitted the prisoners of war to participate in a spectacular celebration of Heldengedenktag, or heroes commemoration day on 18 March. Ceremonies were permitted out of doors and the prisoners of war used large swastikas, flags, and banners, and flaming pillars. It was as Nazi a celebration as the annual Nurenberg Congress.” Apparently, the German prisoners of war were very difficult to manage, and the American officers did a commendable job under the circumstances. This fact is reiter-ated in Alexander Lakes’ report: “The morale of both the officers and enlisted men is quite low...It is next to impossible to eliminate Nazi control in a segregation camp such as Lordsburg, and therefore, that element has had therun of the compounds...Theonly possible way to controlsome of th Nazi incluence...is to segregate within certain compounds. Segregation is very difficult, since the camp is presently filled beyond normal capacity. This camp is used as a dumping all the incorrigibles From other prisoner of War camps in the Eighth Service Command.” he uncooperative natureand boredom of the Germanscontributed to escape attempts, some of which weresuccessful.Faye Clayton was lyingiher bed one night, and a man escaped and broke intoher house. He raided her ice box. She stayed in bed and just lay still. He went on, and then she called the authorities. Another time, after she had later moved to the Box M Ranch, two Germans escaped and came out there. It was a pretty tense time.Tense indeed, considering^ there were more Germans af the camp than the total population of Hidalgo County at that time.
Newspaper Details
Lordsburg Liberal
Lordsburg, New Mexico, US
Fri, Sep 17, 1976
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Dale E.
USA 19 Mar 2019
Other Publications Near Lordsburg, New Mexico
Western Liberal
Lordsburg Liberal
Lordsburg Hidalgo County Herald
