"In the 1940s East Texas sawmills and paper mills lost many of their loggers to the armed forces fighting during World War II. The problem was solved with a unique exchange. German soldiers who had been captured in Europe were brought to the U.S. and conscripted as loggers. Today, the unusual trade is remembered by seven Texas historical markers placed near German POW camps at Alto, Center, Chireno, Huntsville, Lufkin, San Augustine and Tyler." http://www.texasescapes.com/BobBowman/Nazis-in-East-Texas.htm
![](http://www.texasescapes.com/BobBowman/Images/CampAltoTXHistMarkerBB.jpg)