| Nazi German prisoners of war languish in a makeshift barbed wire enclosure on Utah Beach. Note the censor has scratched out 1 vehicle. GMC CCKW 2½-ton 6×6 trucks are visible in the background. 1 Nazi German solider retains his Stalhelm helmet. The United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division glider pilots accompanied 125 prisoners to the beach on their way back to the United Kingdom. They joined additional prisoners captured in the amphibious assault on Utah Beach by the 101st Airborne Division, the 4th Infantry Division, the 90th Infantry Division, and the 4th Calvary Regiment. A temporary Prisoner of War enclosure was established and 1 corporal and 4 privates, none of them trained for the task, ran it throughout the night. Evacuation began on the 1st evening, with the prisoners taken out to Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) for transport back to the United Kingdom. Regulations contained in the Geneva Convention specified that prisoners of war would be evacuated to a place of relative safety as soon as possible. The provost marshal of an advance section of the Communications Zone (ADSEC) attached to and in support of the United States 1st Army, began evacuating the Prisoners of War with a goal of complete clearance of these personnel from the beach enclosures every 24 hours. ADSEC was responsible for the prisoners of war not only for the invasion but also until the establishment of a rear boundary by 1st Army. At such time, Forward Echelon, Com Z, was to assume responsibility. Although this was originally planned to happen between D + 15 to 20, 1st Army never declared an army rear boundary because of crowded conditions. Consequently, ADSEC retained responsibility for Prisoners of War until Communications Zone (Com Z) landed on August 7. The Provost Marshal, European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA), directed the establishment of a Provost Marshal Section, Forward Echelon, Com Z to develop, in liaison with the Provost Marshal, British 21st Army Group. Gefrieter Paul Golz (April 4 1925 – Still living as of May 2024), Grenadier Regiment 1057, 91st Air Infantry Division, engaged American paratroopers in combat behind Utah Beach and was captured on June 9, 1944. By that time, 231 Nazi German soldiers had been processed at Utah and Omaha Beaches and pressed into work details for the Allies. Upon arrival at the Utah Beach enclosure, he saw the LSTs and shore party, and knew the war was lost for Germany. After a Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) took him to a British-crewed transport, he had his 1st meal in 3 days of sausage, mashed potatoes, white bread and coffee. He was deported 1st to Scotland, and then to Virginia, United States. His letters home to Germany were censored – the Nazis took out his stories of eating American chocolate. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0413.jpg |
| Image Size | 788.42 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2855 x 2886 |
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| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 6, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Utah Beach |
| State or Province | Normandy |
| Country | France |
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| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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