During World War II a prisoner of war camp was established by the War Department near Orchard Park southeast of Roswell, which housed some 4800 German prisoners of war. On January 1, 1943, the first prisoners arrived here from the "Afrikacorps", Rommel's men from the 8th Army.
From 1943 to 1946, during the incarceration of these POWs, the men worked as field hands on the many farms in Chaves County, as well as in the Artesia and Mayhill areas. In 1943 a 50-man detail worked on a flood-control project in Roswell by riprapping or laying rocks on the Spring River banks.
On the north bank between Pennsylvania and Kentucky Avenues the POWs used different size rocks to make an iron cross on the bank. Some Roswell citizens were incensed by this and poured five yards of concrete over the POWs handiwork. The concrete washed away over the years, and the Iron Cross is again clearly visible from this point.
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