Between 1943 and 1945 nearly fifty thousand German prisoners of
war, mostly from the German Afrika Korps, lived and worked at
seventy POW camps across Texas. Camp Hearne, located on the
outskirts of rural Hearne, Texas, was one of the first and largest
POW camps in the United States. Now Michael R. Waters and his
research team tell the story of the five thousand German soldiers held
as POWs at that camp during World War II.

    Drawing on newspaper accounts and official records from the time,
an archaeological study of the site, and the recollections of surviving
POWs, guards, and local residents, Waters and his team have
constructed a detailed description of life in the camp: educational
opportunities, recreation, mail call, religious practices, work details,
and the food provided. Also revealed are the more serious issues that 
faced Americans inside the POW compounds: illegal alcohol distillation,
suicides, escapes, hidden secret shortwave radios, and the subversion
of postal services. Artifacts recovered from the site and from the
collections of local residents add concrete details. Waters also
discusses the national policies and motivations for the treatment of
prisoners that prescribed the particulars of camp life.

    The book reveals the shadow world of Nazism that existed in the
camp, adding darkness to a story that is otherwise optimistic and in
places even humorous. The murder of Cpl. Hugo Krauss, a German-born,
New York–raised volunteer in the German army, was the most sinister
and brutal example of Nazi activity. Captured in North Africa after service
in Russia, Krauss was attacked seven months later by six to ten fellow
prisoners who beat him to death with clubs, nail-studded boards, and a
lead pipe. The dramatic recounting of the murder and the ensuing 
investigation illustrate much about the underlying political tensions of
camp existence.

    Numerous photographs and drawings enrich Lone Star Stalag's
narrative, which will appeal to World War II historians and archaeologists
alike.

_________________________________________________________

MICHAEL R. WATERS, the principal author of this work, served as the 
head of the research team. He is a professor of anthropology and
geography at Texas A&M University in College Station and is Director 
of the Center for the Study of the First Americans.



What people are saying about this book

"Michael Waters and his team of researchers accomplish so much 
in this book. They provide a detailed account of life in a World War II 
prisoner of war (POW) camp in Hearne, Texas. We learn of camp site 
selections, design, and construction, and the daily existence in this 
large POW facility. Beyond the history, this work presents 
archaeological data and fosters historic preservation."—The Journal of 
America’s Military Past, Winter 2007

"Lone Star Stalag makes a major contribution to the field of World 
War II POW literature at a time when U.S. involvement in Operations 
Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom has brought the subject of the 
treatment of captured combatants front and center."—On Point, Fall 2006

"Lone Star Stalag presents a fascinating look at this often-neglected 
area of World War II history. Incorporating oral histories adds a balance 
to the fine historical research in Stalag to make it a very personal, 
genuine story. It is a must for those interested in Texas's role in the 
conflicts."—Western Historical Quarterly, Autumn 2006

"From the cement slabs and decaying foundations of Camp Hearne, 
the authors have constructed a riveting narrative that makes an 
innovative contribution to Texas and World War II history."—WWII 
History

"Lone Star Stalag is an excellent, very informative and beautifully 
crafted book, richly endowed with photos, graphics, maps, and tables. 
. . . [It] should be a model for the studies of other camps in the United 
States."—The Journal of Military History

". . . an interesting and informative story. . . The authors have conducted 
excellent historical records research by their obtaining an abundance of 
primary documents specific to Camp Hearne. They have obtained 
sufficient oral histories not only from former POWs but also from former 
guards and local civilian residents who worked within or lived near the 
camp. The use of anecdotes acquired from these individuals was an 
effective technique that re-created life within the camp without being 
pedantic."—Charles Haecker, Archeologist, Heritage Partnerships 
Program, National Parks Service

"Professor Waters and his team have unearthed a treasure trove of
information which will be of interest to historians, archaeologists,
history buffs, and specialists of Texas history, like."—Arnold Krammer,
author, Nazi Prisoners of War in America and Hitler's Last Soldier in
America