World War II Prisoners of War

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945), was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many engaging in total war on an unprecedented scale. World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, causing the deaths of 60 to 75 million people, a majority of whom were civilians. Millions died as a result of massacres, starvation, disease, and genocides including the Holocaust. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea were occupied, and German and Japanese leaders were tried for war crimes.

Prisoner of War (POW)

A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.

Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a range of reasons. These may include isolating them from enemy combatants still in the field (releasing and repatriating them in an orderly manner after hostilities), demonstrating military victory, punishment, prosecution of war crimes, labour exploitation, recruiting or even conscripting them as combatants, extracting or collecting military and political intelligence, and political or religious indoctrination.

World War II Prisoners of War

The World War II Prisoners of War series has information about U.S. military officers and soldiers and U.S. and some Allied civilians who were prisoners of war and internees. The record for each prisoner provides serial number, personal name, branch of service or civilian status, grade, date reported, race, state of residence, type of organization, parent unit number and type, place of capture (theater of war), source of report, status, detaining power, and prisoner of war or civilian internee camp site. Records of prisoners of the Japanese who died also document whether the prisoner was on a Japanese ship that sank or if he or she died during transport from the Philippine Islands to Japan. There are no records for some prisoners of war whose names appear in the lists or cables transmitted to the Office of the Provost Marshal General by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

World War II Prisoners of War, by State or Territory

Alabama World War II Prisoners of War - Surnames: [ A-G ] [ H-O ] [ P-Z ]
Alaska World War II Prisoners of War
Arizona World War II Prisoners of War
Arkansas World War II Prisoners of War
California World War II Prisoners of War
Colorado World War II Prisoners of War - Surnames: [ A-D ] [ E-J ] [ K-M ] [ N-Sc ] [ Sd-Z ]
Connecticut World War II Prisoners of War
Delaware World War II Prisoners of War
Florida World War II Prisoners of War
Georgia World War II Prisoners of War
Hawaii World War II Prisoners of War
Idaho World War II Prisoners of War
Illinois World War II Prisoners of War
Indiana World War II Prisoners of War
Iowa World War II Prisoners of War
Kansas World War II Prisoners of War
Kentucky World War II Prisoners of War
Louisiana World War II Prisoners of War
Maine World War II Prisoners of War - Surnames: [ A-K ] [ L-Z ]
Maryland World War II Prisoners of War
Massachusetts World War II Prisoners of War
Michigan World War II Prisoners of War
Minnesota World War II Prisoners of War
Mississippi World War II Prisoners of War
Missouri World War II Prisoners of War
Montana World War II Prisoners of War
Nebraska World War II Prisoners of War
Nevada World War II Prisoners of War
New Hampshire World War II Prisoners of War
New Jersey World War II Prisoners of War
New Mexico World War II Prisoners of War
New York World War II Prisoners of War
North Carolina World War II Prisoners of War
North Dakota World War II Prisoners of War
Ohio World War II Prisoners of War
Oklahoma World War II Prisoners of War
Oregon World War II Prisoners of War
Pennsylvania World War II Prisoners of War
Rhode Island World War II Prisoners of War
South Carolina World War II Prisoners of War
South Dakota World War II Prisoners of War
Tennessee World War II Prisoners of War
Texas World War II Prisoners of War
Utah World War II Prisoners of War
Vermont World War II Prisoners of War
Virginia World War II Prisoners of War
Washington World War II Prisoners of War
West Virginia World War II Prisoners of War
Wisconsin World War II Prisoners of War
Wyoming World War II Prisoners of War

Source: The National Archives - Record Group 389.