Memo addressed to the Enemy Alien Internment Camp Commander at Camp Forrest requesting the transfer of certain Internees to Chattanooga, Tennessee. During World War II, a civilian internee could be an individual who was a U.S. Citizen, or an immigrant who did not have American citizenship but was deemed a threat to national security. A civilian internee was also referred to as an Enemy Alien or Civilian Enemy Alien.
Often it is assumed individuals were detained by the federal government because they were engaged in wrongdoing or were traitors. Civilian Internees could merely be deemed suspicious and be forcibly detained. In some instances, the evidence to support the accusations was weak or witness testimony was based on rumors and conjecture. Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Civilian Internees at Camp Forrest produced a monthly German language newsletter, The Latrine. Initially, editors translated newsletters into English for Post Headquarters and the Civilian Internee Encampment Commander. Military personnel were required to review each newsletter for subversive information. Courtesy of Library of Congress
Photograph of Jakob (Jacob) Guenther (Günther). Guenther came to the U.S. from Germany in the mid-1920s. He became a prolific artist, winning numerous local and state competitions. He was an instructor at the College of William and Mary and was a commercial artist in Richmond, Virginia before his arrest as a Civilian Internee. To date the reasons for his detention are unknown. Courtesy of Camp Forrest Foundation
Infantry Journal magazine, April 1947 issue, cover art drawn by Guenther. Courtesy of Camp Forrest Foundation
Reproduction oil on canvas painting of Susanna (Beverley) Randolph by Jakob (Jacob) Guenther (Günther). The original painting was a miniature portrait created in the early 18th century. Courtesy of Camp Forrest Foundation
Pencil drawing by Jakob (Jacob) Guenther (Günther) of Colonel Russell S. Wolfe, Commander of Civilian Internee and Prisoner of War Camp at Camp Forrest. Guenther drew the portrait while he was at Camp Forrest. Guenther was transferred to North Dakota before he could paint Wolfe’s portrait. Courtesy of Wolfe Family
Charcoal drawing by Paul Lameyer. In 1933, while living in the U.S., the Nazi government froze the monthly investment income he received. The loss of regular work and his German income frozen, he was less able to provide for his family. Apparently, his wife did not prefer her husband poor. The FBI’s arrested him after he refused to grant his wife separation. False testimony accused him of not supporting his family and being “Pro-Nazi”. It took three and a half years for the courts to receive accurate information about Lameyer. He was eventually paroled and returned to work as an architect. He eventually moved to Italy and passed away December 1960. We are left to wonder whether he was subversive or merely a victim of unfortunate circumstances. Courtesy of Camp Forrest Foundation
Lameyer watercolor of POW living quarters at Camp Forrest. Courtesy of Camp Forrest Foundation
