{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-wool-class-a-uniform-coat-with-axis-prisoner-of-war-pw-stenciled-size-36r","title":"Original U.S. WWII Wool Class A Uniform Coat with Axis Prisoner of War PW Stenciled - Size 36R","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. WWII Military Issue Class A Winter Jacket, as issued to American troops during the war. This jacket was reissued to an Axis Prisoner of War, most likely on the American Homefront.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs World War II raged on the other side of the globe, Allies, such as Great Britain, were running short of prison space to house POWs. From 1942 through 1945, more than 400,000 Axis prisoners were shipped to the United States and detained in camps in rural areas across the country. Some 500 POW facilities were built, mainly in the South and Southwest but also in the Great Plains and Midwest.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the same time that the prison camps were filling up, farms and factories across America were struggling with acute labor shortages. The United States faced a dilemma. According to Geneva Convention protocols, POWs could be forced to work only if they were paid, but authorities were afraid of mass escapes that would endanger the American people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEventually, they relented and put tens of thousands of enemy prisoners to work, assigning them to canneries and mills, to farms to harvest wheat or pick asparagus, and just about any other place they were needed and could work with minimum security.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Prisoners of War sent to the United States were still clothed with their enemy uniform in which they were captured. Having to cloth Prisoners of War was yet another issue the U.S. Government has to contend with. The solution was to issue enemy POWs with reissued GI garments, obsolete garments, or factory defect garments. These items were occasionally dyed a different color, or simply stenciled with “P.W” (Prisoner War) on the front and back. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular garment is a GI issue Wool Class A Uniform Jacket reissued to an Axis Prisoner of War. The Jacket exhibits heavy wear from heavy use and features a white-stenciled “PW” on both the sleeves and back. Size is a US 38 Regular. These are seldom found items today, as most were destroyed at the end of WWII following the release of the prisoners.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApprox. Measurements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCollar to shoulder: 9”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eShoulder to sleeve: 23”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eShoulder to shoulder: 16”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChest width: 17”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWaist width: 15”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHip width: 18”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFront length: 30\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40351632719941,"sku":"ONSV22MAX160","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV22MAX160__01.jpg?v=1664565335","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-wool-class-a-uniform-coat-with-axis-prisoner-of-war-pw-stenciled-size-36r","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}