German Forces

German POW's working on a Canadian farm

Gerry Sellars

Canadian farmers in many communities were grateful for POW labour. Ironically the farmers sons were often gone to war and young Canadian men were in short supply. In this photo POW Walter Woehr is second from the left. An unidentified POW is 3rd from the right. Walter appears to be a good looking young man and is definately more interested in the young Canadian farm girl than he is the camera man. I just hope she gave him a tumble in the hay before he had to report back to camp. Many young POW's like Walter became so trusted by the authorities that they were allowed to go to the farms to work and were trusted to return to camp at the designated time. This was, of course, after the US entered the war. In Canada by that time there was nowhere to run to.