The Prison Called Hohenasperg: An American Boy Betrayed by His Government During World War II

by Arthur D. Jacobs, William J. Hopwood, Joseph E. Fallon (Preface)

Unknown to most Americans, more than 10,000 Germans and German Americans were interned in the United States during WWII. This story is about the internment of a young American and his family. He was born in the U.S.A. and the story tells of his perilous path from his home in Brooklyn to internment at Ellis Island, N.Y. and Crystal City, Texas, and imprisonment, after the war, at a place in Germany called Hohenasperg. When he arrived in Germany in the dead of winter, he was transported to Hohenasperg in a frigid, stench-filled, locked, and heavily guarded, boxcar. Once in Hohenasperg, he was separated from his family and put in a prison cell. He was only twelve years old! He was treated like a Nazi by the U.S. Army guards and was told that if he didn't behave he would be killed. He tried to tell them he was an American, but they just told him to shut up. His fellow inmates included high-ranking officers of the Third Reich who were being held for interrogation and denazification.

Genres: History, World War II

172 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1999

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book with important historical information. Checked out this book from the University of Southern Colorado through interlibrary loan.

[Malinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir of a German-American boy who was interned with his family in US internment camps during World War II. Eventually, the family is repatriated back to Germany after the war was over. In his book, Arthur Jacobs describes the abuses his family endured to debunk the inaccurate belief by Americans that only Japanese-Americans were held in US internment camps.

[Richard Gullickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating self-published book about a little known side of WWII history. This is a story of a young American man who was jailed and then “repatriated” to a German prison at the age of 12 only for the crime of having German parents. I think we have all heard about the sad plight of Japanese Americans in one of FDR’s darkest hours. Apparently our German Americans were also subject to frequent raids by the FBI and being interned and then shipped back to Germany. More than 10,000 of them were interned without cause. This is worth reading now as a reminder of how diligent we need to be as Americans to protect our freedoms and our rights and how even presidents can be overcome by hysteria and bad judgment in time of crisis.

[RL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first hand account of an American boy who, right after WW2, was deported to Germany and treated as a war criminal by our government. He turned thirteen while this was going on. As an adult he made a career out of the Air Force. A true story or endurance and a must read for every educator who doesn't know about the 11,000 German Americans who were interned alongside the Japanese Americans during the War.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jacobs, as a 12-year-old boy was sent to a prison camp in Germany. this is an interesting story, but the writing style is not compelling. I was appalled to learn that our government sent a young German American boy to such a fate.

[Brandy Stockton · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting story, very wordy but good book overall