while still watching this it reminds me of the story my mother told me, while growing up in south alabama, her school bus would drive by German pows doing road work, they would always wave and they would wave back, she also said they were very handsome
Not all Nazi soldiers were evil. They did as they were told to avoid being killed by the regime, themselves. When they caught wind the US POW Camps were cake walks compared to Soviet camps many would surrender without a fight. Many also stayed in the US post war. Civilian conscripts and general infantry were respected and treated so at surrender. The evil bastards were of course infiltrated throughout the ranks. Most notable were the SS. They often times would be shot on sight because they wouldn't surrender and were the bastards who were masterminds of the concentration camps. The Japanese would also be executed more often because of the tricks they were play on allied soldiers with grenades in their hands and the treatment of allied POW's was barbaric in itself.
Well, they were fathers, brothers and sons, too. From my two grandfathers one was an evil Nazi and one was a friendly man who never joined the (NSDAP) party and did only his duty in the Wehrmacht. He was stationed in Greece and befriended the locals who even invited him to come back "after the war". Sadly it never happened but soldiers are like all people. Some are good and some are evil.
My grandfather was german and spend almost 2 years in US POW camps on the east coast. He always mentioned how well he was treated there and joked that he got fed better there than in the german army. Arriving there he was indeed malnurished. They had movie nights, band practice, had their own newspaper etc. and some wereallowed to leave the camp to work on farms. the reliable ones like my grandpa were even allowed to go on their own. They were treated incredibly well.
Chris was down in the pump house for the water system during the CCC and POW days. Then in the church camp days it was a pump house for the first swimming pool. I have been there twice. It's really cool area. Also another POW camp by the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.
My Dad was an intelligence officer during WW2 and worked at one of these camps in New Jersey I think. They talked to all POW prisoners from the rank of Sargent on up. Privates were not thought to process any worthwhile info so were sent straight to regular camps. They also separated the SS troops from the other prisoners. A lot of history of these camps has been overlooked and I'm glad to see you are out there bringing it back to light. Thanks.
@MobileInstinct - a few mikes down the road from there is a Memorial plaque to "3 Babes in the Woods" , worth reading about- thanks for all your great work!
Even for the middle of Pa Michaux State Park is in the middle of nowhere. I live in Harrisburg the center of urban civilization in the center of Pa. There are several Pa State Forests in central Pa.
4:00 Probable source of the stench in underground chamber. Highly unlikely from war time (80yrs ago), but possibly when used as a church camp. For those that don't recognize them, these are five toilet flanges.
In the middle of Virginia Beach neighborhood Thalia, was a German POW camp, Camp Ashley. Some of the buildings from camp were converted to homes that are still standing today. Also, the camp administration building is part of a large furniture store Willis Wayside.
Thanks once again for a very clear and very informative narration. More power for the effort of sharing. I am distant away here in the Philippines but I appreciate it very much.
I only live a few miles from there. I have been to the"pool", but not to the other areas. You could have stopped by Fuller or Laural lakes and cooled off!
There’s another German pow camp in Michigan. They would send train cars out to New York from Detroit but they’d get sent back empty so instead of sending them back empty they decided to start sending Germans back in them it’s one of the reasons that there’s a good amount of Michiganders with German ancestors (not the only reason, just one of em.)
when I watch videos, I eat & you talking septic & fecal, haha ty great video probably haunted at night, if in cement, I am sure not a bowl of cherries. ty
Oh yeah! I actually walked back to that rusty tank in that underground and looked into it, dank, muddy mess and looked in it. My guess is a water reservoir for fresh water or dirty waste. Maybe it was a filter system for the pool. I heard or read that several prisoners remained in the United States to start a new life after the war
Fascinating bit of history, Chris. Having grown up south of Harrisburg, I never heard of the camp or its WWII purpose. I wonder what happened to the POWs after the war? (If any stayed in the area?)
It was generally a stopover for POWs that were being transported to other prisons. These were war prisoners, not refugees. They were released back to Germany after the war.
@@stepps511 no problem at all, bud. You're most welcome. I, admittedly, didn't know this info off-hand. It actually took looking through a few websites to come across any info on the detainees. As such, I got to learn something new, as well. Thanks for asking a query that stoked my curiosity!
In regards to that "Do Not Walk Here" sign and the "Fecal Matter Pit", ol' Eugene Krabs would say, "I smell a smelly smell. It smells...smelly..." Descriptive.
Hi, anyone else see what looks like a skull as Chris walks out of the "feces pit" ? It's at 5:35 It probably isn't as I'm sure Chris would have noticed it too.
I am a journeyman plumber. And that was not a septic tank. A septic tank would never have a side door just one or two holes on top and a couple holes in the side
There's another one in Rutland, Massachusetts. I'm not sure what's actually there, they turned it into a hospital after the war. My grandfather worked there but that eventually, too, closed down. It's amazing to see how well we treated POW'S compared to how the Germans did back then.
When you started down the incline to peer into that nasty looking and smelling pit, I had to pull the neck of my t-shirt up over my nose! I can just imagine how awful that was for you!! Thank you for the video of the old WWII and church camp. Even if the prisoners of war were treated better there than they were in most of those camps, some men would have died. Imagine the stifling summer heat, especially if a man was already sick! I wonder if there was a burial ground somewhere or if those who passed away were sent back to Germany or Japan? Maybe any graves are unmarked and are in another area of the camp? Just wondering out loud.
I know you've come across at least one black racer snake in one of your episodes, Chris....but ever have a wild animal (or human.......or Sasquatch or even an alien) jump out at you investigating any of these spooky and remote cool sites?? Jim C.
Been posting some of my favorite past videos on Facebook lately. Come check some out. facebook.com/mobileinstinct
Probably a massive septic holding tank that was never pumped out.
@@theamerican7080 yeah it looked very sh¡tty💩 down there!!
while still watching this it reminds me of the story my mother told me, while growing up in south alabama, her school bus would drive by German pows doing road work, they would always wave and they would wave back, she also said they were very handsome
There were 24 known camps the biggest two being in aliceville and opelika.. I live 15 min from the opelika one lol
Not all Nazi soldiers were evil. They did as they were told to avoid being killed by the regime, themselves. When they caught wind the US POW Camps were cake walks compared to Soviet camps many would surrender without a fight. Many also stayed in the US post war. Civilian conscripts and general infantry were respected and treated so at surrender. The evil bastards were of course infiltrated throughout the ranks. Most notable were the SS. They often times would be shot on sight because they wouldn't surrender and were the bastards who were masterminds of the concentration camps. The Japanese would also be executed more often because of the tricks they were play on allied soldiers with grenades in their hands and the treatment of allied POW's was barbaric in itself.
Well, they were fathers, brothers and sons, too. From my two grandfathers one was an evil Nazi and one was a friendly man who never joined the (NSDAP) party and did only his duty in the Wehrmacht. He was stationed in Greece and befriended the locals who even invited him to come back "after the war". Sadly it never happened but soldiers are like all people. Some are good and some are evil.
@@pmccoy8924and not all germans were nazis…
The people have to become facist and choose the party over the people/their neighbors and allow them selves to be divided.
My grandfather was german and spend almost 2 years in US POW camps on the east coast.
He always mentioned how well he was treated there and joked that he got fed better there than in the german army.
Arriving there he was indeed malnurished.
They had movie nights, band practice, had their own newspaper etc. and some wereallowed to leave the camp to work on farms. the reliable ones like my grandpa were even allowed to go on their own.
They were treated incredibly well.
Chris was down in the pump house for the water system during the CCC and POW days. Then in the church camp days it was a pump house for the first swimming pool. I have been there twice. It's really cool area. Also another POW camp by the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.
My Dad was an intelligence officer during WW2 and worked at one of these camps in New Jersey I think. They talked to all POW prisoners from the rank of Sargent on up. Privates were not thought to process any worthwhile info so were sent straight to regular camps. They also separated the SS troops from the other prisoners. A lot of history of these camps has been overlooked and I'm glad to see you are out there bringing it back to light. Thanks.
What did your dad say about Hitler? As an Intelligence Officer he had to have known the truth. Did he survive the War and escape to Argentina?
Never stop making videos bro this channel is a gem
We will always support you. Keep working hard
I'm from central Pennsylvania and never knew about this. Thanks so much for sharing
Great video! A beautiful day for a hike.
That's so cool Chris. Awesome editing as well as the video and the history.
Thanks Chris, didn't know that existed. Love the history of our country, good or bad.
Been here for a few years and I enjoy all of your work Chris. Thank you. 👍💯
Very interesting video and thanks for sharing this very tough sad place.
Very interesting. Never seen this place before.
Awesome thanks for taking us along ❤
@MobileInstinct - a few mikes down the road from there is a Memorial plaque to "3 Babes in the Woods" , worth reading about- thanks for all your great work!
Even for the middle of Pa Michaux State Park is in the middle of nowhere. I live in Harrisburg the center of urban civilization in the center of Pa. There are several Pa State Forests in central Pa.
Thanks for sharing
Beautiful area. Used to hike, camp, and mountain bike all around there.
Very interesting!! As always, great job, Chris!!!
Omg I live maybe 15 minutes from there and hike there all the time!! I was just there. Wish I would of bumped into you!
Nice lil adventures Chris! Interesting history! Learn something new everyday!😊
Fantastic video! Great job, and content!
That was a awesome video thanks
4:00 Probable source of the stench in underground chamber. Highly unlikely from war time (80yrs ago), but possibly when used as a church camp. For those that don't recognize them, these are five toilet flanges.
Shit doesn't last last that long
Thank you for being this story to light. I didn't know it was there.😊
Thanks for the tour. I live in W PA and never heard of this place.
Fascinating! Never knew that type of thing was in PA
Thanks Chris, very interesting history and lovely spot...I like how they made it a park
In the middle of Virginia Beach neighborhood Thalia, was a German POW camp, Camp Ashley. Some of the buildings from camp were converted to homes that are still standing today. Also, the camp administration building is part of a large furniture store Willis Wayside.
Nice intro. It gave the whole video great context.
This was cool. I appreciate you going here and exploring
Thank you. As always, interesting and off the beaten path.
History is good to know. Thanks for sharing
Cool video🎉🎉🎉
Thanks once again for a very clear and very informative narration. More power for the effort of sharing. I am distant away here in the Philippines but I appreciate it very much.
I only live a few miles from there. I have been to the"pool", but not to the other areas. You could have stopped by Fuller or Laural lakes and cooled off!
It's hodt in Missouri too!
Drink water or lemonade everyone.
Great video, but have good bug spray.
great video
Aw, you're in my neck of the woods in this one
Fascinating.
There was a POW camp at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. They held German, Japanese and Korean POWs.
Cool video! Interesting place Chris!
Very cool
First to the best video i have watch i 'm happy you came to Pennsylvania keep up the amazing upload going
Fecal Pit, great band name
Thanks for the video like always. Safe travels
Looks like we gotta set up a gofundme so he can get a flashlight 🔦
That's awesome, thank you! Never knew we had that in the US. Have you ever seen a ghost?? I hope you don't go around to these places alone.
Through all the years' my family drove through Harrisburg to visit family in Jersey, I never knew that was out there.
There’s another German pow camp in Michigan. They would send train cars out to New York from Detroit but they’d get sent back empty so instead of sending them back empty they decided to start sending Germans back in them it’s one of the reasons that there’s a good amount of Michiganders with German ancestors (not the only reason, just one of em.)
German's are the largest population of Europeans that have immigrated to the united states'. Southern Ohio is full of old German families.
That's an interesting place
Very cool!
wow ty
Never would have known if it weren’t for your video!
Good video thanks.
This is near gettysburg. Been there a few times . Not sure if they are still running the bus tour to it as know they did run some back in 2017 .
when I watch videos, I eat & you talking septic & fecal, haha ty great video probably haunted at night, if in cement, I am sure not a bowl of cherries. ty
an explorer without a flashlight ... wow, thats embarrassing !
awesome video 😎
Thats cool the POW camp has a lot of ruins left
The POW camp thats here in Maine Jackman on the Spencer Road, don’t have much left for ruins
Oh yeah! I actually walked back to that rusty tank in that underground and looked into it, dank, muddy mess and looked in it. My guess is a water reservoir for fresh water or dirty waste. Maybe it was a filter system for the pool.
I heard or read that several prisoners remained in the United States to start a new life after the war
Cool video,,,
Fascinating bit of history, Chris. Having grown up south of Harrisburg, I never heard of the camp or its WWII purpose. I wonder what happened to the POWs after the war? (If any stayed in the area?)
It was generally a stopover for POWs that were being transported to other prisons. These were war prisoners, not refugees. They were released back to Germany after the war.
@@SkunkApe407 Thank you!
Same. My mom was from Harrisburg, I grew up in York, NEVER heard of this.
@@stepps511 no problem at all, bud. You're most welcome. I, admittedly, didn't know this info off-hand. It actually took looking through a few websites to come across any info on the detainees. As such, I got to learn something new, as well. Thanks for asking a query that stoked my curiosity!
@wyomarine6341 thank you!
Featherston New Zealand had a POW camp for captured Japanese Soldiers, they attacked the Guards and some were killed in their attempt to escape.
In regards to that "Do Not Walk Here" sign and the "Fecal Matter Pit", ol' Eugene Krabs would say, "I smell a smelly smell. It smells...smelly..."
Descriptive.
Hi, anyone else see what looks like a skull as Chris walks out of the "feces pit" ? It's at 5:35
It probably isn't as I'm sure Chris would have noticed it too.
Wow, I never knew this place existed
I am a journeyman plumber. And that was not a septic tank. A septic tank would never have a side door just one or two holes on top and a couple holes in the side
It’s so overgrown & makes it’s scary 😟 to see in person. So sad for the prisoners back then
There's another one in Rutland, Massachusetts. I'm not sure what's actually there, they turned it into a hospital after the war. My grandfather worked there but that eventually, too, closed down. It's amazing to see how well we treated POW'S compared to how the Germans did back then.
When you started down the incline to peer into that nasty looking and smelling pit, I had to pull the neck of my t-shirt up over my nose! I can just imagine how awful that was for you!! Thank you for the video of the old WWII and church camp. Even if the prisoners of war were treated better there than they were in most of those camps, some men would have died. Imagine the stifling summer heat, especially if a man was already sick! I wonder if there was a burial ground somewhere or if those who passed away were sent back to Germany or Japan? Maybe any graves are unmarked and are in another area of the camp? Just wondering out loud.
That's a good thought. I wonder if there is an old cemetery in the woods somewhere.
Id imagine they would be buried in a military cemetary (maybe even send back to germany/japan) and not in unmarked graves in the woods..
👍
When you see a smaller bridge like that it is so you can dismount and push your bike across.
Love to hear some stories from anyone who stayed here, japanese or Germany. If they still alive
Be a great spot for metal detectors
History Traveler did a video on this place recently.
nice someone cares for it still.
- if walls, (or stones) could talk.
If those walls could talk....
I know you've come across at least one black racer snake in one of your episodes, Chris....but ever have a wild animal (or human.......or Sasquatch or even an alien) jump out at you investigating any of these spooky and remote cool sites?? Jim C.
Believe it or not, very little. A few snakes but nothing dangerous. I've been pretty lucky
I wonder if they did waterboarding there.
🍃🌼🇮🇳🍃🌼
Nice Video
Real Old Shit..
5:30 maybe there was the decomposing body of a murder victim down in that pit.
I need a shower after watching this video. ugh 😵💫
Church camp from 1946 to 1972. So what are we actually looking at here?
Aaaaaaah, more content from Chris - yay! Very cool, especially being WW2-related :)
Hey Joe. Whaddya know?
Is that a Skull at 5:34?
Wouldn't it be nice to restore some ?
Cool vid chris...you from nj.? Check out the "bund" camp video in riverdale nj.
Its south of Harrisburg… not West
Just curious, do you ever find yourself in a growth of poison ivy or oak? TFS
What is up with that kids legs at 7:17??
There was a one near me holding several hundred captured nazis.
It is very interesting. Many POW have lost their lives there. It is very sad story. Thank you Chris for your hard work. Have a great day
Horseshit! You're talking out yer ass, Tommy boy. U.S. interrogation centers were nothing like Imperial Japanese and Nazi camps.
I'm surprised there werent more of these concentration camps, and yes pow and internment camps ARE concentrations, just not as bad as the nazis
Re-upload?
No this is a new one
🇺🇸🇺🇦❤🤍💙💛