Did you know that Ohio housed both German and Italian POWs during World War II? Most people don’t. Some of them even worked at the Erie Proving Ground in Ottawa County, which was known as Camp Perry Proving Ground during World War II. It’s a little-known piece of Ohio history that’s fascinating to both World War II and Ohio history buffs alike.
Few Ohioans know that POWs worked at the Erie Proving Ground in Ohio during World War II, which was established as Camp Perry Proving Ground in 1918.
Ohio Historical Society/Wikimedia Commons Other prisoners were located at Bowling Green, Celina, and Defiance, according to the Ohio History Connection.
Located in Ottowa County, Camp Perry was a camp to train gunners. It employed more than 5,000 people during World War II, some of which were Italian and German POWs.
Miami U. Libraries - Digital Collections/Wikimedia Commons These POWs were sent to America because it was difficult for Americans to feed and house the men in North Africa and Italy. Additionally, the U.S. military “hoped to weaken the resolve and also to hinder the resistance of the enlisted Germans and Italians held in Allied prison camps in North Africa and Italy,” according to the Ohio History Connection.
Pictured is the rifle range at Camp Perry. The facility officially closed in 1967, when it was simply known as Erie Proving Ground.
United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division/Wikimedia Commons Erie Proving Ground also served as a storage, maintenance, and repair facility after the war.
Ohio was home to more than 8,000 German and Italian POWs by 1943, according to the Ohio History Connection.
Miami U. Libraries - Digital Collections/Wikimedia Commons Although the POWs housed in Ohio camps came from all ranks in the military, many of them were officers.
POWs that worked at Camp Perry reconditioned weapons and shipped supplies to soldiers overseas.
The Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons After Italy surrendered, many of the Italians continued to work in their positions at American camps to aid the American war effort.
Although the POWs in Ohio were guarded at night and slept in camps, most of them worked during the day in farm fields, factories or at the Erie Proving Ground in Camp Perry.
National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
Did you know about the history of Camp Perry? Share your thoughts about this old POW camp in Ohio with us!
Ohio Historical Society/Wikimedia Commons
Other prisoners were located at Bowling Green, Celina, and Defiance, according to the Ohio History Connection.
Miami U. Libraries - Digital Collections/Wikimedia Commons
These POWs were sent to America because it was difficult for Americans to feed and house the men in North Africa and Italy. Additionally, the U.S. military “hoped to weaken the resolve and also to hinder the resistance of the enlisted Germans and Italians held in Allied prison camps in North Africa and Italy,” according to the Ohio History Connection.
United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division/Wikimedia Commons
Erie Proving Ground also served as a storage, maintenance, and repair facility after the war.
Although the POWs housed in Ohio camps came from all ranks in the military, many of them were officers.
The Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons
After Italy surrendered, many of the Italians continued to work in their positions at American camps to aid the American war effort.
National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
For more little-known facts about Ohio’s war history, check out our previous article: There’s A 2-Acre Civil War Cemetery That Used To Be A Confederate Prison In Ohio Called Camp Chase.
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Address: Ottawa County, OH, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Old POW camp in Ohio September 03, 2021 Sarah What are some other historical places to visit in Ohio? If the old POW camp in Ohio sparked your curiosity about Ohio history, you’ll definitely want to check out these 15 must-see historical places in Ohio. From the birthplaces of individuals that changed the course of history of our nation to the mysterious effigy mounds that give us clues about those who came before us, there’s just so much to learn here in the Buckeye State. Some of our favorite historical places to visit include Serpent Mound, the largest (and most strangely shaped) effigy mound in the entire world; the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus; and the Rutherford B. Hayes Home in Fremont. But if you’re a history buff, you’ll definitely want to visit them all! What are some interesting facts about Ohio? Here’s a fun fact about Ohio: an Ohioan invented the world’s first cash register! This is a little-known piece of Ohio history that’s downright fascinating. James Ritty of Dayton, Ohio, is credited with inventing the cash register and it was first used in the Miners’ Supply Co. in Coalton. Curious to learn more? Here’s how this one-of-a-kind, ubiquitous invention got its start in Ohio. What are some cool historical sites in Ohio? Ohio is full of historical sites, and some of the coolest can be found out on the trails. When you want a little more adventure than the average hiking trail, consider hiking a trail that leads somewhere historic… or even ancient. Here are nine of our favorite Ohio hiking trails that lead to some incredible pieces of history. Spoiler alert: the North Shore Loop Trail within Kelleys Island State Park is a must; it’s a one-mile trail that weaves through the island’s quarry history and ruins, with so much to see along the way! Of course, the eponymous Ohio History Center is a one-stop-shop for all things historical in the Buckeye State; here you’ll learn about everything from the discovery of ancient Indian cultures and artifacts to the history of farming and public transportation!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Old POW camp in Ohio
September 03, 2021
Sarah
What are some other historical places to visit in Ohio? If the old POW camp in Ohio sparked your curiosity about Ohio history, you’ll definitely want to check out these 15 must-see historical places in Ohio. From the birthplaces of individuals that changed the course of history of our nation to the mysterious effigy mounds that give us clues about those who came before us, there’s just so much to learn here in the Buckeye State. Some of our favorite historical places to visit include Serpent Mound, the largest (and most strangely shaped) effigy mound in the entire world; the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus; and the Rutherford B. Hayes Home in Fremont. But if you’re a history buff, you’ll definitely want to visit them all! What are some interesting facts about Ohio? Here’s a fun fact about Ohio: an Ohioan invented the world’s first cash register! This is a little-known piece of Ohio history that’s downright fascinating. James Ritty of Dayton, Ohio, is credited with inventing the cash register and it was first used in the Miners’ Supply Co. in Coalton. Curious to learn more? Here’s how this one-of-a-kind, ubiquitous invention got its start in Ohio. What are some cool historical sites in Ohio? Ohio is full of historical sites, and some of the coolest can be found out on the trails. When you want a little more adventure than the average hiking trail, consider hiking a trail that leads somewhere historic… or even ancient. Here are nine of our favorite Ohio hiking trails that lead to some incredible pieces of history. Spoiler alert: the North Shore Loop Trail within Kelleys Island State Park is a must; it’s a one-mile trail that weaves through the island’s quarry history and ruins, with so much to see along the way! Of course, the eponymous Ohio History Center is a one-stop-shop for all things historical in the Buckeye State; here you’ll learn about everything from the discovery of ancient Indian cultures and artifacts to the history of farming and public transportation!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
If the old POW camp in Ohio sparked your curiosity about Ohio history, you’ll definitely want to check out these 15 must-see historical places in Ohio. From the birthplaces of individuals that changed the course of history of our nation to the mysterious effigy mounds that give us clues about those who came before us, there’s just so much to learn here in the Buckeye State. Some of our favorite historical places to visit include Serpent Mound, the largest (and most strangely shaped) effigy mound in the entire world; the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus; and the Rutherford B. Hayes Home in Fremont. But if you’re a history buff, you’ll definitely want to visit them all!
What are some interesting facts about Ohio?
Here’s a fun fact about Ohio: an Ohioan invented the world’s first cash register! This is a little-known piece of Ohio history that’s downright fascinating. James Ritty of Dayton, Ohio, is credited with inventing the cash register and it was first used in the Miners’ Supply Co. in Coalton. Curious to learn more? Here’s how this one-of-a-kind, ubiquitous invention got its start in Ohio.
What are some cool historical sites in Ohio?
Ohio is full of historical sites, and some of the coolest can be found out on the trails. When you want a little more adventure than the average hiking trail, consider hiking a trail that leads somewhere historic… or even ancient. Here are nine of our favorite Ohio hiking trails that lead to some incredible pieces of history. Spoiler alert: the North Shore Loop Trail within Kelleys Island State Park is a must; it’s a one-mile trail that weaves through the island’s quarry history and ruins, with so much to see along the way! Of course, the eponymous Ohio History Center is a one-stop-shop for all things historical in the Buckeye State; here you’ll learn about everything from the discovery of ancient Indian cultures and artifacts to the history of farming and public transportation!
