Nebraska’s World War II POW Camps

During the Second World War, the United States agreed to take POWs from crowded camps in Europe. Three Nebraska communities were selected as POW camp sites with 25 more communities, including Grand Island, serving as branch camp sites. Michelle Setlik with the Hall County Historical Society will share the story of Nebraska’s POW camps, their role in supporting Nebraska communities, and the experiences of prisoners living more than 7,000 from their homelands in the Nebraska camps during this program on July 14.

Michelle Setlik is an educator, writer, and community historian with deep roots in Hall County, spanning seven generations. In addition to her role as a college administrator, she serves on the Hall County Historical Society Board as Vice President, is a Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation trustee, is a freelance journalist contributing historical articles to several publications, writes a monthly historical column “It Happened Here” for the Grand Island Independent, and is a passionate volunteer for historic preservation projects and educational programs.