Why were florida's pow camps kept secret from the
american public?
o pow camps benefited the us economy, which may
have been frowned upon.
unknown to many residents of the state even at the time,
over ten thousand german and italian prisoners of war
were kept in florida camps during the war. housed in a
system of camps throughout the state, the pows picked
vegetables, harvested sugar cane, cut pulpwood,
processed florida's massive fruit crop and even worked
as custodial workers at undermanned military
installations and miami resort hotels.
american military officials adhered to the provisions of
the 1929 geneva convention, which stipulated that
captives must receive the same food, clothing, and
housing as the troops of the home nation. one of the
reasons why the pows were kept secret was the fear that
americans might think they were being
"coddled"-especially when compared to allied prisoners
held in germany.
o pow camps were not allowed on us soil,
according to the geneva convention
o the prisoners were treated poorly, which went
against the geneva convention.
the prisoners were treated well, and there were
fears that the public would disapprove.