Ep 006 - Remembrance of German POWs at Fort Custer

Warming Up to the Cold War

Welcome back! This week we're talking about Volkstrauertag or 'German National Day of Mourning' at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Michigan. The 1953 memorial service honoring German POWs side-by-side with their American counterparts was the first remembrance of any Axis POWs, which shone a national spotlight on the cemetery and the surrounding community. In the first part of this episode, Shelby explains the cultural and historical factors that lead to this unique ceremony - such as Michigan's strong German heritage and the peaceful behavior of the POWs during their internment. The second half talks about how the West German government used the annual ceremony as a platform to develop the alliance between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States. The narrative presented reflected the tensions during the Cold War Era more so than it represented the 26 POWs being honored, which is why this small ceremony had international implications.