Mine Enemy: The Story of German POWs in America

During World War II, Americans watched news reels of atrocities abroad. But, in some small U.S. towns, the enemy was hoeing the back garden - or sharing a meal at the kitchen table.

2015 / Alison Jones / Deborah George / PRX, various, USA

Otto and Linda

During World War II, Americans watched news reels of atrocities abroad. But, in some small U.S. towns, the enemy was hoeing the back garden - or sharing a meal at the kitchen table.

From producer Alison Jones and editor Deborah George, the story of the 400,000 captured German soldiers who, during World War II, were shipped across the Atlantic to prison camps in the U.S.

Mine Enemy: The Story of German POWs in America was mixed by Ben Shapiro. It is hosted by John Biewen.

How did Alison track down the former POWs, now in their 90s? And were they eager to talk with her? Find out... in EXTRA.

produced by

Alison Jones

Alison Jones is a prize-winning print and radio journalist and a former staff writer for the Raleigh News & Observer . Her pieces have been published in a variety of newspapers and magazines, including The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun . Jones has produced stories for All Things Considered , Weekend Edition , and North Carolina Public Radio, among others. Her radio documentaries have received several awards, including the National Headliner Awards Grand Award, the National Award for Education Reporting from the Education Writers Association, and a Gracie Allen Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television.

Deborah George

Deborah George is the Senior Editor for Radio Diaries, and has recently served as Senior Supervising Editor for NPR and Senior Radio Editor for Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Featured in

May we recommend…

  • Storymakers Durham

    2016 / 12:16

    The Storymakers project elicits conversations about race and class that are candid, complicated, and as intimate as eavesdropping on someone else's dinner conversation.

  • Not Safe to Drink

    2016 / 53:34

    What would you do if your tap water turned brown?

  • Patriot Games

    2011 / 34:22

    Best friends Rich Carlson and Tom Swenor got so fed up with the political process in America that they decided to form their own Tea Party chapter in Petoskey, Michigan.