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World War II: German soldiers held in Wisconsin formed relationships in fields, factories

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
German POWs are loading onto trucks for transport to work in Door County orchards during World War II.
German POWs are loading onto trucks for transport to work in Door County orchards during World War II.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs build a structure at a detention camp in Door County.
German POWs build a structure at a detention camp in Door County.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
"PW" is emblazoned on the clothing of German POWs working in a Door County orchard during World War II. Prisoners worked alongside Wisconsinites to help supply food for the nation during the war years.
"PW" is emblazoned on the clothing of German POWs working in a Door County orchard during World War II. Prisoners worked alongside Wisconsinites to help supply food for the nation during the war years.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs talking around a table in Door County during World War II. POWs helped harvest cherries and worked in canneries because of a shortage of workers.
German POWs talking around a table in Door County during World War II. POWs helped harvest cherries and worked in canneries because of a shortage of workers.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs pick stones from a field in Door County, accompanied by a guard during World War II.
German POWs pick stones from a field in Door County, accompanied by a guard during World War II.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
A German POW during WWII was discovered drinking in a tavern in Marblehead with the locals, according to an article that appeared July 22, 1944, in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter.
A German POW during WWII was discovered drinking in a tavern in Marblehead with the locals, according to an article that appeared July 22, 1944, in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter.
Fond Du Lac Public Library
German POWs picking stones from field in Door County during World War II. Wisconsin housed POWs in 38 camps spread throughout the state.
German POWs picking stones from field in Door County during World War II. Wisconsin housed POWs in 38 camps spread throughout the state.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs arrive by train to work in Door County orchards and canneries during World War II.
German POWs arrive by train to work in Door County orchards and canneries during World War II.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs lined up at a train station in Door County to depart to World War II detention camps. The POWs worked in orchards and canning factories to help supply food to the U.S. during the war years.
German POWs lined up at a train station in Door County to depart to World War II detention camps. The POWs worked in orchards and canning factories to help supply food to the U.S. during the war years.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
A German POW works in a Door County orchard as a guard stands nearby during World War II.
A German POW works in a Door County orchard as a guard stands nearby during World War II.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs work in the kitchen at a detention camp in Door County during World War II. Prisoners were housed throughout the county, including Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek and Ellison Bay to help harvest crops and work in canneries.
German POWs work in the kitchen at a detention camp in Door County during World War II. Prisoners were housed throughout the county, including Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek and Ellison Bay to help harvest crops and work in canneries.
W. C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs get assigned jobs at Vartins Cherry Orchard in Door County during World War II.
German POWs get assigned jobs at Vartins Cherry Orchard in Door County during World War II.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
German POWs arrive by train to help harvest crops in Door County orchards during World War II.
German POWs arrive by train to help harvest crops in Door County orchards during World War II.
W.C. Schroeder Photo Courtesy Of Door County Historical Museum
Kurt Pechmann, center, sits in front of a large block of granite in Germany in April 1941. At the time, he was already drafted into the German army, the government said he needed to finish this work first. The stone will become a window sill in Berlin's Bundestag building, said his son, Gerhard Pechmann.
Kurt Pechmann, center, sits in front of a large block of granite in Germany in April 1941. At the time, he was already drafted into the German army, the government said he needed to finish this work first. The stone will become a window sill in Berlin's Bundestag building, said his son, Gerhard Pechmann.
Courtesy Of Gerhard Pechmann
A photo of Kurt Pechmann when he was a German POW in Camp Hartford in 1945.
A photo of Kurt Pechmann when he was a German POW in Camp Hartford in 1945.
Courtesy Of Gerhard Pechmann
During his time at Camp Hartford, Kurt Pechmann was part of a soccer team. In this photo from January 1945, the soccer team is pictured, with Pechmann seen on the left side of the middle row.
During his time at Camp Hartford, Kurt Pechmann was part of a soccer team. In this photo from January 1945, the soccer team is pictured, with Pechmann seen on the left side of the middle row.
Courtesy Of Gerhard Pechmann
German POWs march to trucks in Columbus to go to work at canning company.
German POWs march to trucks in Columbus to go to work at canning company.
Courtesy Of The Wisconsin Historical Society
German POWs in Columbus scrub their clothes on the floor of their barracks.
German POWs in Columbus scrub their clothes on the floor of their barracks.
Courtesy Of The Wisconsin Historical Society
A German POW works with pea vines at a cannery in Columbus.
A German POW works with pea vines at a cannery in Columbus.
Courtesy Of The Wisconsin Historical Society
German POWs are being loaded into a truck in Columbus to go to work at a canning company.
German POWs are being loaded into a truck in Columbus to go to work at a canning company.
Courtesy Of The Wisconsin Historical Society
German POWs in Columbus line up outside of their barracks.
German POWs in Columbus line up outside of their barracks.
Courtesy Of The Wisconsin Historical Society
A photo taken by Gloria Lettau of Fond du Lac of German POWs being held at the Fond du Lac Fairgrounds during WWII.
A photo taken by Gloria Lettau of Fond du Lac of German POWs being held at the Fond du Lac Fairgrounds during WWII.
Photo Submitted By Gloria Lettau/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin