Did You Know Department? Fairfax City History

German POW camp in Fairfax County
Did you know that in 1945 there were 1,200 German POWs camped near where Wagmen's is today near Fairfax City? The actual number of German prisoners is still classified; however, that was an estimate made at the time. The Germans lived in tents. The American guards also lived in tents since the Genva Convention requried that the captors had to live and eat like the enemy POWs. The U.S. military lived up to the letter of the convention rules in hopes the enemy would do the same; however, records showed after the war that both Japan and Germany disregarded the rules allowing Allied POWs to live in terrible conditions. The files at the Fairfax camp showed that only 15% of the prisoners were actually German. These soldiers had been forced into the army from all over Europe including parts of Asia. A report showed that when Army units started capturing "German" soldiers in Europe, the prisoners were found to be from 40 different countries. These soldiers were forced to fight in the German army or they would have been shot on the spot. The camp remained in Fairfax well after the war because the US Army did not want masses of former soliders coming back to Europe at one time. Finally, the camp was closed in 1946.

Gift to Fairfax WWII Veterans

Did you know that local businessman, Amos Chilcott, wanted to donate the entire city block to the newly formed American Legion Post. Officers of the Post only wanted the plot that is now part of the Legion property--- about half of the land offered by Mr. Chilcott This plot was worth in 1946 dollars over a million dollars. The Little League ballfield called Chilcott Field would be leased to the Fairfax Little League for $1.00 per year. The lease renewed this year for $1.00. Each year on Memorial Day, Legion members pay their respects where Amos is buried in the city cemetery almost within sight of the Post property.