AnyBook4Less.com	Find the Best Price on the Web Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Home  |  Store List  |  FAQ  |  Contact Us  |
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money Keyword AuthorISBN

Title: Hitler's Soldiers in the Sunshine State: German Pows in Florida by Robert D. Billinger ISBN: 0-8130-1740-8 Publisher: University Press of Florida Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95

Your Country USA Canada United Kingdom Australia Austria Belgium France Germany Italy Netherlands Switzerland Currency AutoUSD CAD GBP EUR AUD CHF Delivery Only cheapest delivery All delivery options Include Used Books Are you a club member of: Barnes and Noble Books A Million Chapters.Indigo.ca

Average Customer Rating: 4 (1 review)

Rating: 4
Summary: For History Buffs Only
Comment: With a love of history in general and World War II history in particular I got a great deal out of this book. This book essentially tells the story of German POWs in Florida from 1942 to their repatriation in 1946. Mr. Billinger goes into a great deal of detail explaining the POW camp hierarchy (Main camps and their branches) and the dates that various camps were in operation. Sometimes this detail got quite tedious and made sections of the book a chore to read. The book has a number of interesting narratives throughout it, but has just as much volume dedicated to less interesting subject matter.

There is also a substantial amount of dialogue devoted to the various political factions that the German POWs belonged or subscribed to (Nazi, anti-Nazi, German patriot, communist, democrat, etc.) I found it interesting that there were such diverse political views held by the German POWs.

Another interesting point was that Afrika Corp soldiers considered themselves the "Real Soldiers" and thought of latter arriving POWs from the French/Italian campaigns as "sissies".

The book had several interesting annecdotes about the POWs escape attempts, their interactions with the Americans (their guards, civilian foremen, and even female lovers!). The Germans were fascinated by the wildlife in Florida and some of the POWs had small alligators for pets (very briefly) and highly prized snake skins to make belts out of. The narrative about the POW who escaped and committed suicide after hazing by his fellow POWs was quite compelling. A more humorous narrative was about a POW who everyone had thought escaped but was actually still living on the base and would sneak food from the mess hall. By the time the Americans found him the war was over and the other Germans had long since left to return back to Europe!

My favorite part of the book was the narrative at the very end that dealt with a POW who traveled for a week around Florida with a Red Cross Representative visiting POW camps. His description of the University of Tampa and the Promenade with the fine old homes on Tampa Bay sound just like I remember them myself (I was there some 50 years after him!).

An very good read for lovers of WWII history.

Similar Books:

Title: Nazi Prisoners of War in America by Arnold Krammer ISBN: 0812885619 Publisher: Scarborough House Publishers Pub. Date: July, 1996 List Price(USD): $19.95