This is the dedication page for Hardy A. Mitchener, Jr.'s journal during his stay as a POW in Germany during World War II. He has dedicated the diary as follows: "To 'Irish': - + and, in spite of everything - Memories of a POW." The "Memories of a...
This is the last page of "Mothers' Sons," a poem about the sons who don't make it home after the war and the ones who do. Mitchener is aware of his own luck to have survived his air missions, but sympathetic to those mothers who will never see...
This is the signature page for Hardy A. Mitchener, Jr.'s diary during his imprisonment in Germany during World War II. He has signed it, "H.A. Mitchener 2nd Lt. A.C." The YMCA insignia can also be seen.
This is the table of contents page for Hardy A. Mitchener, Jr.'s journal during his stay as a POW in Germany during World War II. He has created his own list, with sections such as "Cellmates," "Our Creed," and "The B-17."
This item, a shipping or mailing label, has been taped in Mitchener's diary. It indicates that a package was sent to Mitchener from his mother, Estelle F. Mitchener, of Nashville, Tennessee. The label has a stamp from a U. S. Censor. In his diary...
This page (and the following three pages) features a poem or song called "Kriege's Lament," written by Willie Munger. The poem has an a-b-a-b rhyme scheme and is seventeen stanzas long. The subject is the return home of the American POWs to their...
This page has a Christmas program taped to it. The program reads, "Christmas Time Sagan, Germany, 1944." On the top of the page, Mitchener has written, "Our Entertainment - Yuletide --"The remainder of the program is on the following page.
This page has a playing card, a Jack of Spades, pasted on it. Next to the card, Mitchener has written, "#11" and "Thus passed Christmas -- As typical as barbed wire -- The cutting of cards designates selection of Kriege present."
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of a group of prisoners who are passing time by playing cards. They are sitting next to a heating stove that, according to Mitchener, has a six-foot radius. He writes,"There's at...
Barbed wire; Tables; Stools; Blackboards; Prisoners; Military personnel; Books
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of a POW writing lessons on a chalkboard or blackboard. Above the blackboard, Mitchener has written,"For the sake of knowledge - to ward off monotony." He has listed a number of...
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of several POW barracks within the camp. He has written, "An important item on the top of the page. Below is his drawing of the camp, "The Cook Shack." He includes information...
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of the interior of a POW barrack. A row of doors can be seen. Mitchener has written, "On the left - the 'little girls' room' - as you enter...The Front Door. The hall is swept, at...
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of the library at the POW camp. On the top of the page, he has written,"For a little learning is a dangerous thing." Underneath this, he has drawn a picture of books on shelves and...
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of the toilet facilities at the camp. On the top of the page, he has written, "The Germans had a name for it. 'Abort' ---" Underneath the drawing, he has written, "Busy Corner (3...
Barbed wire; Prisoners; Military personnel; Tree stumps; Trees; Fences
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of two men trying to remove tree stumps from the ground at the prison camp. He has written, "In order that there be parade grounds" on the top of the page. Underneath the drawing,...
Barbed wire; Ships; Military personnel; Prisoners; Public speaking
This page in Mitchener's diary includes a drawing of an old ship, the "Santa Maria," on which he has written, "Promise of the Future." Underneath, he has drawn a picture of a prisoner on stage, Colonel Darr H. Alkire, C.O. Stalag Luft III, West...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows a bedroom in what appears to be a private home. One prisoner can be seen by the bed, resting. Mitchener writes,"About thirteen hours later & 29 km. -- 'Resting a Bit' - In the hamlet of Freiwaldau, the caravan...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows a drawing of two train cars with "40 Hommes 8 Cheveaux"(40 men 8 horses) written on one of the cars. Mitchener writes,"As you approach the 'Zug' [train] Yards - Spremburg---'Board!' Fifty-six men per car--Hardly...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows the barracks as they appeared on January 27, 1945, after a rapid evacuation of the POW camp. The picture shows the interior of a room with everything in disarray. He writes,"As result [sic] on a cold Sat. P.M....
This page in Mitchener's diary shows the oncoming Russian advance into Poland and Germany in January 1945. It is captioned,"From Memel to Budapest" and "Uncle Joe Moves Again." The diarist has drawn a calendar with the date January 12 circled as...
