Hand Carved German Bomber Aircraft and Box, c. 1942 to 1946
P20080025000

Between 1942 and 1946, Lethbridge’s population grew by upwards of 13,000 persons after the Federal Government decided to locate one of Canada’s largest prisoner-of-war (POW) camps on the north eastern outskirts of the City. Camp 133’s internees were former German soldiers, including members of the Deutsches Afrika Korps, downed Luftwaffe aircrew and captured Kriegsmarine sailors.

The POWs passed the time in Camp 133 in a variety of ways, including creating handcrafted goods. The items were made available for sale to the guards and, at times, could be acquired in trade for luxury items including cigarettes. Although officially forbidden, interaction did occur between the POWs and the civilian population, reflected by the area residents’ acquisition of POW-made items.

This wooden HE-111 Bomber was given to 9 year old Lethbridge, Alberta resident Roy Bolokoski by Camp internee Feldwebel (Sergeant) Kubler. Bolokoski and his father made regular deliveries to the Camp on behalf of local wholesale distributor Horne and Pitfield. The bomber was treasured by Bolokoski during his childhood and he safeguarded it by storing it in his parent’s bedroom closet.

Donated by May Bolokoski

Prisoner Hobby Craft, c. 1945 19752908010 A Lethbridge Herald published photo of handicrafts made by German internees in Camp 133. The handicrafts were, according to the newspaper article, produced for sale to the Camp’s guards when funds from Germany stopped arriving and the internees’ canteen credits were exhausted. Items including wooden model battleships, tanks and aircraft sold in the range of $10 to $30 dollars depending on the item’s quality. The POWs were paid for their work in the form of canteen credits.