title: Americans Behind the Barbed Wire: World War II:  Inside a German POW Camp
author: J. Frank Diggs
description: "This inspirational book provides a firsthand look at the remarkable men who served with bravery as prisoners of the Germans in WWII and fought to reclaim the world's freedom."-Senator John McCain; "This factual story serves to illustrate the dedication, loyalty, and willingness to accept hardships and danger for their country that Tom Brokaw has described as 'The Greatest Generation.' Frank tells us why that is a deserved description."-Senator John Glenn; "The author has performed an outstanding job by combining his unique journalistic talent and his own personal experiences to provide the reader with a very realistic view of the hazards, hardships, and conditions of military conflict."-Lt. General Thomas H. Miller, USMC (ret.)
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  ![cover](../Images/0.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/tp.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Where bored officials lounged (one cracked a joke)
  
  
  
  
  
  And sentries sweated for the day was hot:
  
  
  
  
  
  A crowd of ordinary decent folk
  
  
  
  
  
  Watched from without and neither moved nor spoke
  
  
  
  
  
  As three pale figures were led forth and bound
  
  
  
  
  
  To three posts driven upright in the ground.
  
  
  
  
  
  The mass and majesty of this world, all
  
  
  
  
  
  That carries weight and always weighs the same
  
  
  
  
  
  Lay in the hands of others; they were small
  
  
  
  
  
  And could not hope for help and no help came:
  
  
  
  
  
  W.H. Auden, _The Shield of Achilles_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  It is the plain truth which will be denied by no honest person inside our
  various propaganda organisations, that most of the energy which should have
  been directed against the enemy has been dissipated in inter-departmental
  strife and jealousies.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minute of 22 August 1941 from Bru