Original U.S. WWII Axis Prisoner of War PW Painted Uniform Lot - Three Clothing Articles Total with Camp Newspaper
In stock
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Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is an unusual grouping of three original U.S. Army WWII uniform garments repurposed for Axis prisoner-of-war use in the United States, each carrying large PW or P identification markings, together with a September 2, 1943 issue of the Camp Carson Mountaineer concerning German prisoners working at the Camp Carson laundry. The clothing consists of an early-pattern olive-drab field jacket, a U.S. Army shirt, and heavily worn HBT trousers.
During WWII, the United States held more than 425,000 Axis prisoners of war, the majority of them German, in hundreds of main and branch camps across the country. Under the 1929 Geneva Convention, the detaining power was required to provide prisoners with clothing, underwear, footwear, and appropriate work clothing where necessary.
The items include:
- M1938 “Parsons” Field jacket stenciled on the back in black with PW with another PW stenciled in orange over it. There is some heavy wear including mothing of the wool lining. There is no retained tag, but there are initials under the collar, BGP.
- U.S. Military Issue Army shirt, stenciled with PW on the back in red. The shirt has a tag, 14/32 for the size. The interior shows that PW was likely stenciled in black first before being redone.
- U.S. Army HBT Trousers with very large torn hole in crotch. The backs of the legs are both stenciled with P. There is some damage as shown to include rust staining that has worn away the material and the very large tear in the crotch. There is what looks like a laundry number stamped three times inside.
- Camp Carson Mountaineer newspaper dated September 2nd, 1943 showing that German prisoners of war are doing work at Carson Laundry. A great inclusion to this POW uniform group.
Camp Carson’s own installation history records that nearly 9,000 German, Italian, and some Japanese prisoners passed through the camp during WWII. Prisoners were employed in agricultural and logging work as well as on-post duties, including work in the Quartermaster Laundry.
A very rare set of uniforms in rough condition, which is to be expected for uniforms worn countless times before being issued to POWs.
This grouping is particularly noteworthy for the combination of three original U.S. Army garments visibly converted for prisoner-of-war use, multiple PW/P markings in different colors and locations, and a September 1943 Camp Carson newspaper documenting German POW labor at the installation. The garments provide a direct material example of how surplus or serviceable American clothing was adapted for enemy prisoners held on the U.S. home front during WWII.
Approximate Measurements:
Jacket:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23"
Shoulder to shoulder: 17.5"
Chest width: 19"
Waist: 19"
Hip: 20"
Front length: 25.5"
Pants:
Waist: 15.5"
Rise: 15"
Inseam: 29"
Shirt:
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23.5"
Shoulder to shoulder: 17"
Chest width: 20"
Waist: 18"
Hip: 20"
Front length: 32"
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