World renown historian and author to present “The Enemies Within” Memorial Day in Waukon


Historical research will be part of Memorial Day presentation ... Historian and author Michael Luick-Thrams points to an exhibit at the University of Heidelberg’s Center for American Studies located in Heidelberg, Germany. Luick-Thrams will be conducting a two-part presentation at the Town Theater & Pizza Pub (formerly Main Feature Theater & Pizza Pub) in Waukon the afternoon of Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 on his research regarding World War II Prisoners of War from the Midwest and from Germany and how lessons learned from their past experience can be applied to current situations. Submitted photo.

Issuing the “Next Generation Challenge” to veterans and youth

“I feel an obligation to continue to tell their story, because, like it or not, there aren’t many of them left to keep telling it.”

That’s what historian and author Michael Luick-Thrams says about the World War II Prisoners of War (POWs) that he has researched and written several books about over the past 20 years. That feeling of obligation has further led to the establishment of TRACES, a nonprofit organization started by Luick-Thrams in the late 1980s that has helped gather and preserve those and many more stories of historical significance through which Luick-Thrams says he wants to help “apply lessons of the past to current situations.”

Luick-Thrams will be bringing part of that message to a two-part presentation he will conduct Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, from 3-5:30 p.m. at the Town Theater & Pizza Pub (formerly Main Feature Theater & Pizza Pub) in Waukon. Entitled “The Enemies Within: Midwest and German POWs in Each Other’s Homes, 1943-48,” the presentation by Luick-Thrams will be offered in two parts in a slideshow presentation he will narrate himself.

From 3-4 p.m., Luick-Thrams will present “Behind Barbed Wire: Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany”. From 4:30-5 p.m., he will then present “The Fritz Ritz: German POWs in the Midwest.” The two combined PowerPoint presentations offer insight into how Midwest and German POWs touched the lives of their “hosts”, at times  literally coming into “the enemy’s” homes, with lasting impact.

In between those two presentations, any U.S. military veterans, living or deceased, will be honored and recognized by those in attendance, especially former Prisoners of War. The event is free and open to everyone. Luick-Thrams will also have copies of his books available for purchase and signing. The event is being co-sponsored by the Robey Memorial Library Foundation Board and the Allamakee County Historical Preservation Society.

Luick-Thrams’ interest in the World War II era began at an early age and steered him through an education in history. In 1989 he founded TRACES, a nonprofit educational organization which “gathers, preserves and presents stories of people from the Midwest and Germany or Austria who encountered each other during World War II.”

His work in that field has further led to a career as an educator, author and guest lecturer throughout the world. His Memorial Day presentation will focus on the nearly 100 World War II Prisoners of War he has interviewed, half of those being Midwesterners held captive in Germany and the other half being Germans held in prison camps in the Midwest, with focus on the Algona, Iowa camp system.

In welcoming everyone to attend his presentations, Luick-Thrams also presents what he calls the “Next Generation Challenge” as a means of further education. “I want all veterans and adults out there who may be interested in attending to challenge themselves to bring as many 15-35 year-olds as they can to this presentation, because that’s where I am seeing the gap begin in knowing or even caring about this history that formed our great nation,” he explained. “If we don’t continue to pass this information on, what becomes of the legacy of those who endured it? Why did they even go through it if it’s something that we are just going to let fade away as if it doesn’t matter?”

For more information on the presentation or Luick-Thrams, contact Daryl at darylhansmeier@earthlink.net or 563-568-4954.