Camp Ashby (Virginia) facts for kids

Camp Ashby was a very large Prisoner of War (POW) camp located in the Thalia area of Princess Anne County, Virginia. During World War II, it was the biggest POW camp in the South Hampton Roads region. This camp held about 6,000 German soldiers. Many of these soldiers were part of the "Afrika Korps," a famous German army group. They were captured in North Africa during the later years of the war.

What Was Camp Ashby?

Camp Ashby was built very quickly in 1942. The land for the camp was rented from the state. At that time, the most important building on the property was the Tidewater Victory Memorial Hospital. This hospital was for people with tuberculosis, a lung disease. It was located near Virginia Beach Boulevard and Thalia Road. This hospital building became the main office for Camp Ashby.

Where Was Camp Ashby Built?

The camp's buildings, called barracks, were low and spread out. They covered about 22 acres (or 89,000 square meters) of land. This area included both woods and open fields. Today, this location is north of the main Virginia Beach Central Library and the Loehman's Plaza shopping center.

What Remains of Camp Ashby Today?

Today, the original hospital building is part of the Willis Wayside Furniture complex. Some of the old barracks buildings were changed and are now private homes. However, not much else from the original Camp Ashby remains.