When 25 Nazis Escaped into the Arizona Desert - Finding the WWII Escape Tunnel Monument 

Not all Germans or German soldiers were Nazis during World War II.

I grew up in Arizona in the 70's and 80's. I've mtn biked, backpacked, kayaker, sailed and driven just about everywhere. I never thought some guy from San Diego would teach me about so many cool spots in my state. Thank you

The German prisoners arrived in the United States, and on the long train ride to Arizona, they were astonished at the immensity of the United States, and as their train seemed to go on and on, they realized that the war was lost.

I'm a Phoenix native so I've always known the story. Thanks for sharing it in such a detailed manner, big thumbs up.

For those interested in checking out this area and it's history, you can still find the foundation for one of the guard towers between thr NTL Guard building and the baseball fields. That and the Elks Lodge are the only two physical things left from the camp.

In Windsor, CA there also was a German POW camp. Except there the prisoners were “farmed out” to local plum orchards and vineyards during harvest time. Some prisoners “escaped” to go to San Francisco to see the sights, but called back to the camp, for a return ride)) The German POW’s held at Windsor had a better life than being on the Eastern Front. Several POW’s emigrated back to this area of Sonoma County after the end of WW2. You can see pictures of the camp at the Windsor history museum, just off Hwy. 101. I learned about this camp from a former camp guard back in 1980.

Steve, I've gotta say you've come up with some interesting stuff, but this is really fascinating! It's a shame it's not been a little more publicized! Thanks!👍

When I lived in Germany for 8 years one of my neighbors was an elderly German man that was a POW in the US during WW2, but anyhow my neighbor had no animosities of the past and explained that he was treated like a celebrity but was afraid to return home to Germany after the war ended due to the fear of being assassinated, despite he returned home a year after the war ended.

Lived in the PHX area for 30 years before moving away, never even heard of a WWII POW camp in the region let alone, at the park where I played softball at for years being part of the camp. My mind is blown. Thank you for these videos, I always learn something.

I had to view this one despite knowing the area as well as anyone. I grew up in this neighborhood and still run all over the park. It is still quite a large area. The ramadas in the actual park were built by the CCC. Governor Hunt and his family are all interned in the pyramid within the park. He was I believe an 8 term governor and the tomb is lit up at night. My grandkids night hike with me regularly when in town and some hikes can last well over a couple hours as I know all the extended trails. Two of them are 6th generation Arizonans. Everyone gets a headlamp and off we go. The lakes in the park were part of a fish hatchery and extend into the Phoenix Zoo. Needless to say I fished many a day there with amazing results during the late 60s and into the 80s. The lakes then had lily pads, frogs, abundant stocks of Bass Crappie, catfish and sunfish varieties.as well as clean water. Now I fish the canals. Most of the homes in the area were built in the mid 50s and the 60s. The park also had much wildlife, as a kid I saw rattlesnakes, chuckawallas, racoon, skunk, mule deer, coyotes, owls, bobcat and more. There are even some pottery shards to be found occasionally. Regardless I like your videos and have been to a fair number of places you have visited. I gold prospect and have some excellent claims in the Bradshaws near Prescott. Best of luck and keep on adventuring.

I use to live by a prisoner camp and the buildings were still there until 20 yrs ago. But the few buildings that were left were moved. Original area around Scottsdale Rd and Thomas.

Good video. I was born and raised and still live in 1/2 mile away from this monument. I ride by it a couple days a month. We learned about this escape in Arizona history class in high school.

This is really amazing. I'm an Aussie that moved to Phoenix about 8 years ago. It's so dang hot, I don't get explore as much as I'd like. I'm trying to get my 8 year old out to explore and this is the perfect short journey. It's an amazing story and a bit of history I had no idea about. Thanks mate, love your content.

I read an article about this years ago - thanks for the link to the book! There were German and Italian WWII POW camps all over the U.S. . . . There were some out in Western Nebraska where my mom grew up.

How interesting. Both sets of grandparents lived in Phoenix at the time. How I wish they were still around to ask about this event. Thank you for highlighting this interesting history.

two of the barracks buildings from that camp are in the back lot of the city of Tempe , Former Mayors Mother purchased them years ago to build a museum with them, unfortunately she passed before it could be done.

The best thing about not discovering this channel long ago is getting to watch all of the old videos! I'll make sure I give them a few more bucks after the first of the year cuz I love these videos!

Down your way in San Diego County at Campo, there was a German/Italian POW camp established in 1944 at Camp Lockett. I haven’t been to Campo in some years so I don’t know what still exists of Camp Lockett. I think that area was designated as a historical landmark.

The old camp was located next to where the National Guard armory is located now and a portion of it is actually under the baseball fields there were subsequently built there. As far as I know, though, the present neighborhood area was not actually part of the camp. All that remains is one or two of the footings from one of the guard towers but be aware that if you go look for it, you're probably gonna get greeted by a couple of guard soldiers asking what you're doing milling around behind their base. The marker is not too far from there and accessible by parking in a cul du sac in the local neighborhood. The big mountain you showed is Camelback mountain. The smaller ones are part of what are collectively known as the Papago buttes. You need to do a story on the the Japanese relocation camp outside Maricopa. However, you will need permission since its on reservation land. There is a monument (which has decayed pretty badly) there and the foundation of several buildings as well as a water tank, but otherwise it was torn down as soon as the war was over. One famous occupant, for a time, was "Pat" Morita (otherwise most known for his role as "Mr Miyagi") when he was a young boy, before he and his family were transferred at their request to Washington State (I think) to be with family. It's a sad tale from history but one that needs to be remembered. Note that the order was drawn up quite some time before it actually happened. Pearl Harbor was not the genesis. Rather, it was the excuse.

My father used to get these World War II magazines, and I ended up reading the articles and one of the articles about this. Glad you’re telling people.

Interesting video. I knew about this incident but did not know there was a marker. I've biked right past it before without knowing. The mountain you point out, that some of the POWs fled to, is Camelback Mountain, probably the best known landmark of Phoenix.

Your videos are refreshing informal but always interesting and educational. I was born in SD County and I knew the area well. Keep up the good work Steve.

I went to see this just yesterday. I came from New York to visit family in Arizona and made this my first stop on my trip. My cousin and her husband were quite interested. Great video.

When I lived in Scottsdale, I met and spoke to the artist who designed this monument. If you get back to Scottsdale sometime, there is a small marker on the bike path at the triple point where Scottsdale, Tempe & Phoenix all meet. It is located on the same crosscut bike path after you go through the tunnel under McDowell Rd.

I have know about this for a while and have explored the area. Near the baseball fields you can find cement stumps from one of the towers that was there. It may have been a guard/watch tower and I have pictures of that and other building related material. Good video.

This was a fun story. I lived 1 year in Phoenix, and remember Papago park & Ledgend City, an amusement park near by!

I’ve spent most of the last 30 years shooting the National Highpower Rifle Championships at Camp Perry Ohio. Much of the competitor housing on post were the original huts used to house Italian (and I believe, some German) POWs during the war. From the history there, the prisoners were given the opportunity to work for local farmers in the area, and a great many chose to do so. During my time in the army, I was stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY. In an area on post known as Clarksville Base, there is a small cemetery. The graves there are comprised entirely of German POWs who died during their internment there during the WWII period. There were quite a few small camps like this scattered all across the USA.

there was also a japanese pow camp outside of casa grand arizona as well

I enjoy your videos very much. I discovered a story about a man who lived in San Diego County. His last name is the same as mine, Cross. Could you do a video about Earnest Cross? Here’s some text from a website forgotten destinations. They are telling about Ballarat, CA. In 1903 Radcliff Mine suspended its operations and the towns start fading into history. Soon afterward, other mines began to fold as the gold played out. The post office closed in 1917 and the only remaining residents were a few die-hard prospectors including Shorty Harris, who lived here on and off until his death in 1934. In the summer of 1904, Harris partnered with a man named Ernest "Ed" Cross and on August 9th, they discovered the Bullfrog Mining District. The way the story is told as two partners were to head out for a day, Ed was cooking breakfast when one of Shorty's mules took off . Shorty run chasing after the mule , he stubbed his toe on a rock and fell down. As he was getting up, he looked around before letting out a yell: "There it is, the strike of the century! Forget the breakfast Eddie, let’s get to a Goldfield and get this assayed!" "Incredibly, the ore samples came back to be worth $3,000 per ton and Shorty wasted no time going to the saloon to celebrate. While Shorty is on a binge for almost a week, Ed was working on lining up a sale for the mining rights. Unfortunately, Shorty would come out on the "short-end" of this great find as while he was "celebrating," he gambled away his share for $1,000 and a mule to a man named J.W. McGaliard. His partner Cross, however, joined with McGaliard and formed the Original Bullfrog Mine. Later, Ed sold his share for $25,000 and he and his wife bought a big ranch in Escondido, California" Thank you.

Very interesting story Steve, I really appreciate your work, thank you

this is what is so great about you videos. I would never have heard of these cool spots. thanks!

Thanks for this video. I had heard of this but never really knew much about it. You always do so much with so little in these video stories. Not much left and yet you are able to find the small marker and the lone building left. Thanks again.

Very interesting. I liked that there was a reunion of the former guards and surviving prisoners. And that those older gentlemen where treated to a trip to the Colorado River so they could see how far the escapees would have had to walk before they might make another raft this time of reeds and float to Mexico and possible freedom :) Remember Mexico had a fighter squadron that was in the Pacific against the Japanese. Mexico was an ally and might have returned them if caught.

Excellent. I’ve probably gone by it a hundred times without knowing it. I’ll go by on my next visit to Phoenix

Wow, ty for introducing this history to us. You do an amazing job on your vids❤

Wow, I've been in the Phoenix area for a while now and didn't even realize it had a WWII history. Like you, I am a WWII buff, so I'll definitely be picking up this book. Thank you for that recommendation and for the video!

Very interesting presentation about a site in our backyard here in the Phoenix area. I would have never known about it. Thank you for sharing.

ThNk you for the great history of the POW camp. I am always looking for history in Arizona. I post on my channel of the history that I find though out Arizona. This is a really great peace of history that i was not aware of. Thank you so much for the great videos.

That is really interesting. I never knew this

Heading to Scottsdale later this month. Hope to look up this hidden monument. Thanks for the info!

I live right down the road from there and never new this, I knew that we had POW camps here in the states, but didn't know of this one in Scottsdale.

Great video! I have heard of this escape, but I didn't realize that it was in Scottsdale. I thought that it was in the Tucson area.

Lived in Az all my life, been in that area many times, never knew about this. Thanks for the education, FYI the g in saguaro is pronounced like an h. Another great video.

Really enjoyed this one!

Interesting stuff! Thanks.

Thank you for the video.

I didn’t know. Thank you. Very interesting.

I knew about the Japanese interment camps as there was one in the Catalina mountains north of Tucson on the way to Mt. Lemmon, but I didn’t know about Nazis being held in Arizona. Thanks for the video!

Steve, thanks for this fascinating nugget of history. I am working in Az. I am always looking for interesting places to visit. I will add this to the list.

Wow… I had no idea we had a POW camp here. Thanks for sharing!

52nd and McDowell Rd military reservation was a Territorial prison back at the 1800's. I flew out of there for years.

I lived in Phoenix for many years and a knew about this story. They didn't know that the Salt River doesn't actually have water in it. Thank you for the interesting history.

Great video, be sure to check out the military museum there on the base, it has a diorama and more info on the prison camp. The museum has lots of Arizona history.

Obviously they didn't understand what the things we call "rivers" in the Southwest really are.

Cool video, thanks

As an Arizona native the fact nothing remains really is irritating 😠. We love to bulldoze history here for the next new shiny thing.

Awesome video, Az native here! Going to check this area out immediately !!!

Hello from Phoenix. I’ve lived here all my life and I didn’t know anything about this. I grew up in central Phoenix near the 51 and Bethany home Road then I live many years near PV mall now I live in North Central Phoenix near I 17 and Jomax. Great video thanks!

Camp Lockett in Campo CA housed Italian POWs during WWII. It also had been a training camp for the Buffalo Soldiers.

Wow !! I lived in Phoenix most of my life ,I never heard this. Thank You.😊

I knew about POWs in the desert from watching the movie Captain Newman M.D. . They were just a sub plot. Thanks for a great video.

I did not know about this, thanks!

Fascinating! It's my understanding that WWII POWs were supposed to be held in a climate similar to that where they'd been captured. So, perhaps these Germans were from the Afrika Korps?

Even though the German military prisoners were being kept in the middle of the Arizona desert, I have all ideas that their quality of life was far superior to ANY Allied prisoner being held in Germany.

Very interesting. Thanks

The Great Escape in reverse go figure!! Love your passion and personal take!

Been watching these presentations. I am Welsh. There was a mass escape from a camp near Bridgend (Island Farm) when 84 German POW's escaped. in March 44. Some of them were awaiting to stand trial at Nuremberg . There is a claim that 3 were not recaptured. There is a book about this as well. I am also reminded of the excellent film The One That Got Away.

After the POW camp closed, they moved the prisoners Barricks a few miles away and used them for low cost apartments.

I grew up in that part of Scottsdale, just a 1/2 mile south of where you are. I had always thought the camp was on the other side of the Buttes (named Papago Buttes) and that mountain is Camelback Mountain. I grew up on the other side of Mcdowell. We would ride our bikes all the time to Papago Park, the Phoenix Zoo and there is a place called Hole in the Rock. I hope while you were there you got to visit the Botanical Garden which is really nice. All of this within a bike ride of where you are at. We learned about the prison camp in school. This was in the 60's & 70's. I think there is still an Army Base there which has a lot of helicopters. I don't know as I have not lived there for over 30 years.

Really interesting. Never knew about this.

Here in California we have Manzanar Internment camp, which is very well known, but I never heard of this story before. Phoenix, even back 30 years ago was a pretty spread out area, I can only imagine what it must have looked like back in 1944. Those prisoners must have looked out over the desert, saw no water in the river and said to themselves "wir werden sterben"

You really have the best show on RU-vid.

My mother lives in Mesa, not very far from this monument. Really cool sir.

Excelentes videos

wow as a person who is fascinated with WWII history I'm surprised that I haven't heard of this

Many people that lives here in AZ don’t know how rich in history this state is. I’ve been living here since 2007 and still finding out historical history here and there.

Great story!

This needs to be a movie

From what I understand, the Geneva Convention required that that prisoners of war be held in a similar climate to that in which they were captured. When I first heard this story, I thought that maybe these German POW's were captured in North Africa, or something (as many of these POW's were sent to Texas)... but no, (according to Wikipedia) many of these POW's were crew from captured U-boats.

What a really interesting story thank you

Thanks great & interesting history lesson Steve, mahalo 😂

Thanks again for a great video. They’re always interesting.

Elks lodge? I'll drink to that

The Elks Lodge was the Officer’s Club! Lol of course it was. Awesome bit of WWII history for Americans to touch! Had no idea we had German POWs in Arizona, awesome story! 178 feet through the desert ain’t no joke - that’s some German engineering right there lol!

That is so interesting. I need to check that out

Very interesting. I never heard of thus before.

Ride my bike along that trail often, knew the story but not the location of the monument. Cool man.

I live in north texas. Stories about p.o.w. Prisoners put to work building lake texoma. Some stayed after the war. same stories about the beautiful country in contrast to the stories they were told back home

I knew a fella who got to be a prison guard for a POW camp in West Texas. His story was that they didn't worry too much about escapees -- they'd cross the border into Mexico, hit Boys' Town, and then come back. Also, for the future -- it's PrisonerS of War, not Prisoner of WarS. (Probably confusing because the abbreviation POWs is correct.)

I gotta say... it's quite surreal heading to the Papago area to hike, bike, climb up the rocks or head to the zoo knowing about the history of the immediate area. Really good research on this one but I have to ask... did you get your Chino Bandido? 😅 Actually thought about popping by there this weekend but lacked the time.

We had a POW camp located in Bowmanville, Ontario, quite close to where I grew up. Several of the Nazi prisoners there did the tunnel escape thing. They also turned themselves in, fearing retribution from local residents. Many also emigrated and became Canadian citizens after the war. German prisoners there were treated quite well. "Camp 30, in Bowmanville Ontario" if you want to learn more. There's a few videos on RU-vid.

Thanks!

I live your stuff man, but the g in saguaro is pronounced like an h. Only nitpicking because I dont want you to get called out by an unfriendly. Great job on this. I always thought the camp was closer to the buttes at McDowell Rd. Learned a lot from you. PS love the videos about Desert tower, the cafe, etc!

Fascinating story! I'm like most people - I had no idea we had POWs in the US, much less that they had escaped. Great video!

As a paperboy in 1963 I would rent horses at 48th street and mcdowell and ride to papago park, in the late 60s it was a fine place to go with girls. My uncle, a bighorn sheep guide told me of the great escape of German pows...and I have run into people looking for artifacts as recent as 2021. (Remnants of the pow camp). A fine place to hike, bike, see the zoo, desert botanical gardens....

My father's uncle ran a POW camp at fort Sill Oklahoma. The Germans there were hard core nazis. A couple did manage to escape, but were soon found dead in the scraggly terrain surrounding the post. Back then fort Sill was very isolated. The local Indians got a small reward for finding them. Dead or alive.

There were also German prisoners in N. Idaho... outside Athol, Idaho.

That is Camelback mountain to the north and the red rocky ones behind the military facility are the Papago Buttes. Saguaro is pronounced swaro and is the tall cactus with the multiple arms indigenous to the Sonoran desert.

That was kewl!

Very interesting