June 5, 1944

The Wynne (Cross County) area had amassed three hundred prisoners of war (POWs) who were available to work on local farms. World War II had led to a shortage of farm workers in Wynne, and local citizens had agreed to receive German POWs. A camp was established to house 600 prisoners but was reported to have housed around 2,000 at one time. These prisoners worked on local farms and helped to build the sewer and water systems located west of Wynne. Hundreds of POWs were dispersed around the county to work. The novel Summer of My German Soldier, written by Bette Greene, was based on childhood memories about these same prisoners working in nearby Parkin (Cross County).