Art by American prisoners of war

[Anders L]

Here is something I have never seen before, art by American war prisoners / internees dated 1943.
They was presented to a Swedish Red Cross worker that was visiting German stalags with Americans.

Is this something interesting for the American market?
There are three paintings, a lake in Bavaria, night scen and one from Argostli bay in Greece.

Signed by American internee #533. I can't read the name....
From Stalag 383, dated September 1943.

[Anders L]

2.

[Anders L]

3.

[Gerdan]

The first painting is named Ilag (Internierungslager) VII Laufen OBB (Oberbayern). American

Internée - what means he was not a military person but civilian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilag#Il...and_Tittmoning

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laufen_(Salzach)

Gerdan

[Gerdan]

The 2nd pic shows Stalag 383 - Hohenfels near Nürnberg

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/cSt_383.htm

https://www.google.de/search?q=stala...w=1523&bih=701

Gerdan

[cesky67]

His name looks like John F. Chwalibog

[Anders L]

Thank you Gerdan, very interesting!

WAF member Narvik1940 found this info:

http://archives.record-eagle.com/199...s/0199obit.htm


John T. Chwalibog
Died January 4, 1999
TRAVERSE CITY - John T. Chwalibog, 82, died Monday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
He was a resident of Traverse City since July 1998, moving from Royal Oak. John was an artist for Ford Tractor in Birmingham for 32 years, retiring in 1982. Born May 25, 1916, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a member of the Scarab Club in Detroit and the Michigan Steelheaders, Southeastern Michigan Chapter. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, and making hand-crafted wooden trains and hand-painted decoys.
Survivors include two sons, Ted (Diann) Chwalibog of Traverse City and Andrew (Eileen) Chwalibog of Huntington, W. Va.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes; the Rev. Bill Lipscomb will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the SIDS Research Foundation of Michigan.

[mjfur]

His Son or Grandson (Ted)
http://www.yellowpages.com/whitepage...city=&state=MI

Andrew
http://www.yellowpages.com/whitepage...&zip=&state=WV

[NARVIK1940]

The internee's grandson contacted me today and is very excited by this find! I put out a feeler on Facebook last summer but he overlooked my message until now. He tracked me down and called me at work just now and was over the moon!

Where are these paintings now? They should be reunited with his family if possible!

[NARVIK1940]

[NARVIK1940]

[NARVIK1940]

[NARVIK1940]

[NARVIK1940]

The family member is registering an account here and can tell us more. The last picture is of the artist himself. His story, and that of his wife, is quite remarkable.

[jchwalibog]

Very Excited to see some more paintings that were done by my Grandfather. When I opened the message about them, I was overwhelmed with excitement. Needless to say my father (the artist's son) was completely speechless to hear the story. We are eager to learn as much as we can about the painting's owners and if there are any stories about how they were acquired. My grandfather led a very interesting life and had many stories about his experience in Poland (pre-war) and during his time in the camps. Hoping I can share more about what I know, not sure the best way to do that?