WWII Prisoners of War in Ogden

POWs Looking at Camp Clock

The Prisoners of War at Defense Depot Ogden oral history project is the documentation of the lives of the Italian and German prisoners that were held at DDO during World War II. The Ogden Defense Depot, designated as a POW camp on October 11, 1942, was one of the first ten camps in the country. An estimated 5,000 Italian prisoners and approximately 4,000 German prisoners were sent to the facility. The prisoners worked in local warehouses, farms, and orchard. After Italy surrendered in 1943, Italian Service Units were created which allowed the Italians greater freedom than the Germans, including visits to downtown Ogden. The camp closed during the summer of 1946 after the 10,000 prisoners were shipped home. This project contains interviews from people who had interaction with the Italian and German POWs, including the community of Weber County and POW widows. They discuss they daily lives of the prisoners which includes conditions at the camp, work related issues, and the feelings of the community surrounding the POW camp.

Walter Baker recalls his time as administrative personnel at the Defense Depot Ogden. He describes his memories of the Italian and German prisoners that were held there during World War II, including games of Bocci, Christmas parties, and clothes racks covered in flour and pasta. The interview took place on April 11, 2006.

Cleone Battisti reminisces about meeting her husband, an Italian World War II POW, at the Defense Depot Ogden. The interview took place on February 7, 2006.

Robert Busico discusses his time working at the Defense Depot Ogden with World War II POWs. He describes their talents in baking and craftsmanship, and mentions that several Italian prisoners knew members of his own family in Italy. The interview took place on December 1, 2005.

Bud Elliott describes his experiences working with the Italian and German prisoners of war at DDO while he was a junior in high school. He also talks of his thirty-seven years of service in the U.S. Navy. The interview took place on November 28, 2005.

Madelon Besso Fallows shares the experiences of her parents working with prisoners of war in Ogden during World War II. The interview took place on December 8, 2005.

Carl V. Fernelius, a military policeman at the Defense Depot Ogden during World War II, shares his recollections and experiences with prisoners of war. The interview took place on November 21, 2005.

Dean Gillman shares his experiences with having WWII prisoners of war work on his orchard in Orem. He discusses the prisoners' work ethic and the Utah State Labor Association. The interview took place on November 28, 2005.

Glade Gillman discusses the presence of POWs on his farm in Orem during World War II. He discusses picking up and driving the prisoners to the orchard to pick their quota of fifty bushels of apples. The interview took place on November 28, 2005.

Beth Giordano shares her recollections and experiences of meeting a prisoner of war in Ogden during World War II and her subsequent marriage to him. She discusses the language barrier between English and Italian. The interview took place on February 16, 2006.

Bergetta Grant shares her experiences working as a taxi driver for the prisoners of war and soldiers at the Defense Depot Ogden. The interview took place on November 3, 2005.