History of Prisoner of War Utilization by the United States Army, 1776-1945

Book excerpt: This study is primarily a treatment of the use of prisoner of war labor by the United States Army. It also provides a comprehensive treatment of the employment of prisoners of war by private employers in the United States. The primary objective of the monograph is to provide in one volume a comprehensive record of the use of prisoner of war labor for the guidance of General Staff officers and students in the Army school system. It is hoped that the study will assist the industrial and military mobilization planners of the future in planning for the use of prisoner of war labor. The document also will further the understanding of basic problems related to the employment of prisoners of war among persons interested in military affairs. Since the monograph is limited to the military history of prisoners of war through World War II, it is merely background for the events that have followed that conflict. An additional monograph dealing with the employment and treatment of prisoners of war during the Korean War is currently being prepared. The study is divided into three parts. Part One, "The Early Wars, "contains three chapters covering the period from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. Part Two, "The Beginnings of Global Warfare, "contains three chapters covering the period from the Spanish-American War to the beginning of World War II. Part Three, "World War II, "contains the bulk of the study. The planning, policies, interested agencies, and actual employment both in the continental United States and in oversea theaters are presented in detail.