When 25 Nazis Escaped into the Arizona Desert - Finding the WWII Escape Tunnel Monument

The German prisoners arrived in the United States, and on the long train ride to Arizona, they were astonished at the immensity of the United States, and as their train seemed to go on and on, they realized that the war was lost.

I grew up in Arizona in the 70's and 80's. I've mtn biked, backpacked, kayaker, sailed and driven just about everywhere. I never thought some guy from San Diego would teach me about so many cool spots in my state. Thank you

For those interested in checking out this area and it's history, you can still find the foundation for one of the guard towers between thr NTL Guard building and the baseball fields. That and the Elks Lodge are the only two physical things left from the camp.

I'm a Phoenix native so I've always known the story. Thanks for sharing it in such a detailed manner, big thumbs up.

In Windsor, CA there also was a German POW camp. Except there the prisoners were “farmed out” to local plum orchards and vineyards during harvest time. Some prisoners “escaped” to go to San Francisco to see the sights, but called back to the camp, for a return ride)) The German POW’s held at Windsor had a better life than being on the Eastern Front. Several POW’s emigrated back to this area of Sonoma County after the end of WW2. You can see pictures of the camp at the Windsor history museum, just off Hwy. 101. I learned about this camp from a former camp guard back in 1980.

I use to live by a prisoner camp and the buildings were still there until 20 yrs ago. But the few buildings that were left were moved. Original area around Scottsdale Rd and Thomas.

Steve, I've gotta say you've come up with some interesting stuff, but this is really fascinating! It's a shame it's not been a little more publicized! Thanks!👍

When I lived in Germany for 8 years one of my neighbors was an elderly German man that was a POW in the US during WW2, but anyhow my neighbor had no animosities of the past and explained that he was treated like a celebrity but was afraid to return home to Germany after the war ended due to the fear of being assassinated, despite he returned home a year after the war ended.

I had to view this one despite knowing the area as well as anyone. I grew up in this neighborhood and still run all over the park. It is still quite a large area. The ramadas in the actual park were built by the CCC. Governor Hunt and his family are all interned in the pyramid within the park. He was I believe an 8 term governor and the tomb is lit up at night. My grandkids night hike with me regularly when in town and some hikes can last well over a couple hours as I know all the extended trails. Two of them are 6th generation Arizonans. Everyone gets a headlamp and off we go. The lakes in the park were part of a fish hatchery and extend into the Phoenix Zoo. Needless to say I fished many a day there with amazing results during the late 60s and into the 80s. The lakes then had lily pads, frogs, abundant stocks of Bass Crappie, catfish and sunfish varieties.as well as clean water. Now I fish the canals. Most of the homes in the area were built in the mid 50s and the 60s. The park also had much wildlife, as a kid I saw rattlesnakes, chuckawallas, racoon, skunk, mule deer, coyotes, owls, bobcat and more. There are even some pottery shards to be found occasionally. Regardless I like your videos and have been to a fair number of places you have visited. I gold prospect and have some excellent claims in the Bradshaws near Prescott. Best of luck and keep on adventuring.

Down your way in San Diego County at Campo, there was a German/Italian POW camp established in 1944 at Camp Lockett. I haven’t been to Campo in some years so I don’t know what still exists of Camp Lockett. I think that area was designated as a historical landmark.

Good video. I was born and raised and still live in 1/2 mile away from this monument. I ride by it a couple days a month. We learned about this escape in Arizona history class in high school.

How interesting. Both sets of grandparents lived in Phoenix at the time. How I wish they were still around to ask about this event. Thank you for highlighting this interesting history.

This is really amazing. I'm an Aussie that moved to Phoenix about 8 years ago. It's so dang hot, I don't get explore as much as I'd like. I'm trying to get my 8 year old out to explore and this is the perfect short journey. It's an amazing story and a bit of history I had no idea about. Thanks mate, love your content.

Thanks for this video. I had heard of this but never really knew much about it. You always do so much with so little in these video stories. Not much left and yet you are able to find the small marker and the lone building left. Thanks again.

I read an article about this years ago - thanks for the link to the book! There were German and Italian WWII POW camps all over the U.S. . . . There were some out in Western Nebraska where my mom grew up.

I have know about this for a while and have explored the area. Near the baseball fields you can find cement stumps from one of the towers that was there. It may have been a guard/watch tower and I have pictures of that and other building related material. Good video.

two of the barracks buildings from that camp are in the back lot of the city of Tempe , Former Mayors Mother purchased them years ago to build a museum with them, unfortunately she passed before it could be done.

this is what is so great about you videos. I would never have heard of these cool spots. thanks!

Interesting video. I knew about this incident but did not know there was a marker. I've biked right past it before without knowing. The mountain you point out, that some of the POWs fled to, is Camelback Mountain, probably the best known landmark of Phoenix.

My father used to get these World War II magazines, and I ended up reading the articles and one of the articles about this. Glad you’re telling people.