May 06, 2005
As Victory Day brought World War II in Europe to a joyous close across America 60 years ago, there was one confined group in Maryland that shed tears of sympathy for Germany - the 2,500 German prisoners of war being held at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County.
Many of the prisoners wept when told of Germany's surrender to the Allies, The Sunreported. Many of the prisoners had fought with German Gen. Erwin Rommel in Africa.
Living conditions for the POWs at Fort Meade were simple at best. They were allowed to grow vegetables.
Six to eight men lived in each hut. Prisoners were assigned to work digging and lining a ditch that would reduce soil erosion in the camp area. They prepared their own meals of canned meat and vegetable hash, potatoes, cabbage, oleomargarine, bread, coffee and jelly. The cost of food ranged from 25 to 36 cents a day.
