German Crewmen draw away from scuttled Columbus

2 of the hard-case German civilian internees

Two-man barrack rooms

First Class lounge

Fort Stanton:  The Internment Camp

                In December 1940, a group from the United States Department of Justice visited the Fort Stanton Marine Hospital with an eye toward using a portion of the grounds to solve a particularly difficult diplomatic situation.  They were searching for a temporary location to house over 400 distressed German sailors living in the Unites States as result of being trapped behind a British blockade at the outbreak of World War II.  As a neutral nation at the time, the United States allowed the German sailors temporary refuge, and sought a way to return the non-combatant sailors to Germany.  As a nation at war, England would not allow German men of military age to return to Germany in fear that they would join the Nazi military.  Thus, finding safe passage across the Atlantic or Pacific for the distressed seaman proved difficult.  Though the German sailors were not considered prisoners of war, in part because the Unites States was not at war, the men were considered detainees and not subject to the same types of discipline as prisoners.  The presence of German sailors in American cities however, often roused anti-German sentiment among the local population – thus creating the need to find an isolated place until a political or diplomatic solution for their return to Germany could be found. 

                With its relative isolation, the existence of a former CCC camp with accompanying barracks and facilities already in place, ground adjacent to the Fort Stanton Marine Hospital proved to be the perfect temporary solution for housing the German sailors.  By mid-January of 1941, work began to add new barracks and facilities to house 410 German detainees at Fort Stanton.  By March 17^th, all the German sailors, formerly of the SS Columbus, were firmly ensconced at Fort Stanton. 

                Once again, Fort Stanton’s location, adaptability, and environment seemed to create the best possible solution to a national need.    

The Context

                On August 19, 1939, the German Luxury liner SS Columbus set sail on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise just days before Germany invaded Poland.  Orders from the German high command received by Captain Daehne on August 27^th were to return to Germany or sail to a neutral port as all German boats at sea would be considered combatants by nations declaring war on Germany, including England, which at the time boasted the premier navy in the Atlantic.  The SS Columbus offloaded its complement of passengers in Havana, Cuba, and immediately set sail to Veracruz, Mexico. 

                Daehne finally received orders to sail for Germany on December 12, 1939 and he was also ordered to scuttle the ship if he could not pass through the English blockade in the Atlantic.  Sailing along the American coast, the Columbus was tracked by an American ship, the USS Tuscaloosa, and later caught by the British warship the HMS Hyperion.  Daehne, as commanded, scuttled the Columbus, and took refuge aboard the Tuscaloosa that sailed for New York harbor. 

                Upon arrival in New York, the German sailors assumed they would be returned to Germany, but safe passage to Europe proved to be difficult as the English government refused safe passage to any men of military age to Germany.  While the German sailors waited in New York for a determination as to how they would get home, American officials tried to arrange passage to Europe via Japanese ships.  The Canadian and Australian governments, as allies of England, chose to honor the same English blockade and denied safe passage to the German sailors.

                For over a year, the Germans lived in San Francisco awaiting a plan for their return to their homes.  Unfortunately for them, a growing anti-German sentiment fostered by events related to the war in Europe caused American officials to seek a safer place to hold the German detainees.  In December of 1940, Fort Stanton, New Mexico was selected to be the site of their new, temporary home. 

Camp Life for Detainees

                As detainees, the men of the SS Columbus were the recipients of privileges well beyond those of a prisoner of a war.  For instance, the men were allowed two sodas or beers each day.  They were able to receive letters and gifts from home, and they were afforded the opportunity to develop their own recreational activities and camp improvements in order to improve their day-to-day existence. 

                Captain Daehne was a career sailor and had served in the German navy during World War I.  While the German sailors had been removed from ship duty for more than a year, Daehne maintained the command structure as it had been on the Columbus.  He maintained discipline amongst the sailors throughout their time at Fort Stanton, and his leadership style commanded the respect and admiration of his crew.  Few “escape” attempts were made as the men feared the Indian guards hired by the Border Patrol. 

                Daehne’s philosophy was similar to that of the Fort Stanton Marine Hospital: He wished to create an environment that had some of the same attributes as home.  He allowed his officers to build personal living quarters, he encouraged the creation of gardens, and ordered the erection of facilities such as a recreation hall, swimming pool, library and other facilities.  In fact, the German soldiers held regular, Olympic-style athletic competitions that included such events as boxing and swimming.  The German sailors were fascinated by the “cowboy” culture of New Mexico as apparently they were somewhat familiar with Western movies and American dime novels. Border Patrol officials organized a rodeo in 1941 for the entertainment of the detainees and nearby citizens as part of the camp’s activities. 

                The detainees were ordered not to stray from their side of the Bonito River or to interact with patients, staff, or residents around the Marine Hospital, and for the most part both sides honored this regulation.  Still, curiosity brought incidents of interaction, and humorously, the realization amongst the children of Fort Stanton that the detainees were allowed chocolate bars and they were not caused great youthful consternation. 

After Pearl Harbor

                After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Unites States declared war on Japan, and Germany in turn declared war on the United States.  These events had an obvious and dramatic impact on the world, with implications for everyone in the United States including the detainees at Fort Stanton. 

                While their status as detainees did not change, some of their privileges were limited.  Fences around the camp were erected, a strict system limiting movement of detainees outside the camp was implemented, and the men assisted in the erection of guard tower to watch over the camp.  The sailors were also forced to accept a 10:30 curfew.

                Nine escape attempts were recorded between 1942 and 1945, but there is little evidence to suggest that relations between the detainees and neighboring residents were greatly impacted by the war.  In 1943, other detainees from other German liners were sent to Fort Stanton, as well as some American Nazis.  Apparently, Captain Daehne did not appreciate the presence of some of the new camp residents and ordered his men to assist in the construction of a nearby but segregated camp for some of the more disruptive new residents. 

VE Day and the End of Another Era at Fort Stanton

                German internees at Fort Stanton were aware of the status of the war through communication from their families and friends in Germany.  When allied victory in Europe was announced on May 8, 1945, the staff and residents of the Marine Hospital celebrated while the detainees quietly watched and listened. 

                Over the course of the next several months, safe passage to Germany was arranged for the detainees.  The last of the German sailors left Fort Stanton on August 27, 1945.  While a few Japanese prisoners were temporarily housed at Fort Stanton, all of the prisoners were moved by September.  The internment camp was officially closed on October 1, 1945. 

                Following the camp’s closure, the Marine Hospital used a few of the buildings for storage and other activities, and the pool was leveled to a height of six feet to accommodate swimming for kids.  The War Assets Department sold much of the equipment and building materials in the camp to various organizations, and by 1947, there was little left of the camp other than rapidly deteriorating buildings. 

                Once again, an unforgettable era of service at Fort Stanton quietly ended. 

Internees building swimming pool.

Tanned internees participants and spectators

The ship's cook and their assistants ran the food