Grand Island Nebraska

Grand Island & World War II

Grand Island was in a unique position during World War II.  The city had three war-related installations, a number that exceeded those in any other Nebraska Community.  First, there was the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant (COP) located just a few miles west of the city limits.  Secondly, there was the Army Airbase, situated a short distance northeast of town. Finally, there was a

prisoner of war (POW) camp in the downtown area. The war-related operations had a profound impact on Grand Island and the surrounding area.  The influx of thousands of construction workers,

plant employees, civil service personnel and airmen created a social and economic force in the community. It was an experience Grand Island has never realized prior to nor since that time.

At the beginning of World War II- which was certainly a global conflict – the entire state of Nebraska was still in the process of shaking off the lingering effects of the 1930’s.  For various reasons, Nebraska was selected to do big things to help win the war. Months before the United States officially entered the conflict, information regarding the local conditions of communities was being gathered by government survey teams.  Statistical data was compiled on a myriad of categories – population, labor supply, schools, transportation, topography and housing were some of the many things looked at.  As a result of the surveys, many communities in the state were identified for specific defense projects.  Grand Island was one of the more actively involved communities.

POW CAMPS      

Nebraska was an ideal place for the POW camps. Once the prisoners learned how far they were from both coasts, they would likely forget about trying to escape.  Because the war’s military requirements had depleted America’s workforce of young men, there existed a labor shortage, particularly in the field of agriculture.  In July 1944 the president of the Hall County Non-Stock Coop Labor Association, Leo B. Stuhr, announced plans to develop a branch camp for prisoners of war at the former Dodge School building in the 300 block between West First and West Division Streets.  About 100 prisoners were housed at the Dodge location.  The worked on area farms, including the Quandt farms near the airport.  Ironically, the German POW camp in Grand Island was directly across the street from the Liederkranz, a large German social organization. Not generally known at the time there was also another POW camp in Hall County.  It was named the “Cornhusker” branch camp.  It was located within the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant area, near its western boundary.  Although it was a possible violation of the Geneva Convention, the German POWs were working on the construction of bomb load Line No. 4, the last line built at the plant.

     Glen Thompson, Grand Island native and author of “Prisoners On The Plains,” places the number of prisoners at the Cornhusker branch site at 350.  In his book he writes the were housed “in square huts containing six beds.”  According to Thompson, the prisoners were provided good food and worked eight hours a day, for which they were paid 80 cents for their day’s labor.  John Anderson, a former plant employee and Grand Island resident, had the job of transporting the prisoners to various locations on the mile-long string of buildings under construction.  The prisoners were housed a few   hundred yards directly west of the construction site. “They were generally good workers and behaved themselves,” Anderson said.  “Only once in a while a young prisoner would act up.  He would be removed from the camp.”

 CORNHUSKER ORDANCE PLANT (COP)

Construction on the ordnance plant began on March 24, 1942. As the activity picked up, Grand Island’s economy began to improve.  There were 4,500 Islanders available, and they found work, as did workers from the surrounding areas.  But one problem quickly arose: an acute housing shortage.  Although four large dormitories were under construction at the ordnance plant and barracks were going up for the airmen, housing for construction workers was lacking.  It was said that if you had a large closet, it could be rented out for sleeping quarters.  The government quickly had over 200 temporary one- and two-bedroom homes put up in an area immediately west of Broadwell Street called Broadwell Courts. Also the former Baptist College buildings, located on the present site of Grand Island Senior High School were revamped for apartments and motel rooms were rented on monthly basis.

Excerpts from Gene Budde article – 9/18/03 Grand Island Independent’s, Silver Salute

Additional information provided by Gene Budde & Stuhr Museum

Compiled by Grand Island/Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau