A History Of World War II Prisoners In The Heartland By Melissa Marsh

638 Words3 Pages

World War II is an area of history researched by many scholars and amateurs from all walks of life. Unfortunately, some aspects of this international event have been widely ignored. Thus, many books on unknown aspects of history are forced to balance informing about the event and creating an argument within its history. As such, Melissa Amateis Marsh’s book, Nebraska POW Camps: A History of World War II Prisoners in the Heartland, was a refreshing read on a forgotten event close to home for Nebraskans. Although, Melissa Marsh’s argument of the Nebraska POW camps appeared extremely biased by only discussing positive POW experiences, with few negative experiences mentioned. Many Nebraskan readers probably had no idea about the three POW camps that were here during World War II. As such, Marsh’s book was informing on the effect of World War II in Nebraska. In addition, when sources on the POW camps allowed, Marsh conveyed to her readers the impact education classes, religion, and recreational activities had on the POWS while at the camp during the 1940s. Discussing these interests the POW had within the camp strengthened her argument as to why the POW had such fond memories of their time in Nebraska. In addition, …show more content…

The memory the daughter of the farmer gave of POWs working on her father’s farm during harvest season. As such, Marsh sets the tone of the entire book through this one memory, causing it to feel like faked positive feelings from the POW in respect to working for the general population. As such, feelings of distrust towards Marsh occurred in the book. Although, this changes after she mentioned that many farmers in Nebraska were German Americans. Therefore, these positive experiences and feelings the POW could have been linked to the German Americans farmers in relation to when they were working outside of the POW

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