The Historical Journal of Massachusetts “Hospitality Is the Best Form of Propaganda”: German Prisoners of War in Western Massachusetts, 1944-1946.” Author: John C. Bonafilia Source: Historical Journal of Massachusetts, Volume 44, No. 1, Winter 2016, pp. 44-83. Published by: Institute for Massachusetts Studies and Westfield State University You may use content in this archive for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the Historical Journal of Massachusetts regarding any further use of this work:
[email protected] Funding for digitization of issues was provided through a generous grant from MassHumanities. Some digitized versions of the articles have been reformatted from their original, published appearance. When citing, please give the original print source (volume/number/date) but add "retrieved from HJM's online archive at http://www.westfield.ma.edu/historical-journal/. 44 Historical Journal of Massachusetts • Winter 2016 German POWs Arrive in Western Massachusetts Captured German troops enter Camp Westover Field in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Many of the prisoners would go on to work as farmhands contracted out to farms in the Pioneer Valley. Undated photo. Courtesy of Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base. 45 “Hospitality Is the Best Form of Propaganda”: German Prisoners of War in Western Massachusetts, 1944–1946 JOHN C. BONAFILIA Abstract: In October 1944, the first German prisoners of war (POWs) arrived at Camp Westover Field in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Soon after, many of these prisoners were transported to farms throughout Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Counties to help local farmers with their harvest. The initial POW workforce numbered 250 Germans, but farmers quickly requested more to meet the demands of the community and to free up American soldiers for international service.