Whitewater (POW camp) facts for kids
Whitewater was a special camp for German soldiers captured during World War II. These soldiers were called prisoners of war, or POWs. The camp was located in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Canada. It operated from 1943 to 1945. The camp was built near Whitewater Lake, about 300 kilometres (190 mi) northwest of Winnipeg. It had about fifteen buildings and housed around 440 to 450 prisoners.
A Camp for German Prisoners
Why the Camp Was Built
During World War II, Canada needed more fuelwood for the winter. There was a shortage in 1942 and 1943. To help with the war effort, many Canadian men were fighting overseas. So, it was decided that German prisoners of war would help cut down trees.
Most of the prisoners were from the Afrika Korps. This was a German army group. They were captured in battles in North Africa. One famous battle was the Second Battle of El Alamein. After being captured, they were sent to Canada.
Life at Whitewater Camp
The prisoners were paid 50 cents each day for their work. They could use this money to order items from the Eaton's catalogue. Once, the prisoners threatened to stop working. This was because their pajamas, ordered from the catalogue, did not arrive on time. They thought the guards might have taken them.
However, the prisoners and guards usually got along well. The camp was unique because it had no fences or barbed wire. It was very isolated, so escaping was difficult. Members of the Veterans' Guard of Canada served as guards.
Prisoners often explored the area. They also met people from nearby towns. Many local people were of Ukrainian background. Some believed these locals felt sympathy for the German prisoners. They hoped the German army would defeat the Soviets in Ukraine. Prisoners were allowed to attend dances in town. They could also have pets at the camp. One pet was a young black bear.
The Camp Closes
The war ended in 1945. By then, Canada had enough fuelwood. So, the Whitewater camp closed in late 1945. An advertisement appeared in the Winnipeg Tribune newspaper. It offered the government-owned buildings for sale.
The remaining prisoners were moved to other work projects. These projects were in different parts of Canada. The camp buildings and other items were sold off. They were then removed from the park.
Today, very little of the camp remains. In 2010 and 2011, a student from Stanford University led a project. Students from Brandon University also helped. They did archaeological work at the old camp site.
