German POW's lasting legacy

This afternoon we made time for a special treat. We visited the Algona POW Nativity.

The story behind the nativity is pretty special. During World War II, Algona had a prisoner of war camp. In 1944, one of the German POWs, Eduard Kaib, made a small Nativity for the camp using baked soil. The camp commander saw it and was impressed, and later asked Kaib to consider making a larger one. So he did. And this is what's still on display in Algona today.

Once inside, you can sit on a low bench and listen to a recording telling the Nativity's unique story while you enjoy the scene. And the story goes something like this:

During 1945, Kaib and five other German POWs including Horst Wendlandt created the existing Nativity out of concrete, wood and metal supports, and plaster paid for from the prisoners own funds. The POWs earned $0.10 per hour they worked. The total cost of materials for the Nativity was over $8,000 in 1945.

Christmas of 1945, a special Christmas service was held and the public was invited along with the German prisoners. Today's caretaker and guide, Marv Chickering, told us stories of this joint service where the prisoners sang Christmas carols in German on one side of the building and townspeople sang in English on the other. Algona is proud of their heritage where the German POWs may have come as enemies, but left as friends.

When WW2 ended and the POW camp was to be disbanded, the City of Algona made arrangements with Kaib and the POWs to keep the nativity on display in Algona. Kaib requested there be no admission charged to visit the scene. For a time, the Jaycees maintained the Nativity. Now the Men's Club of Algona First United Methodist Church are the caretakers and the Nativity and it's maintained through donations.

In 1968, Eduard Kaib brought his family to Algona to see where he lived as a prisoner of war and to visit the Nativity. That's Eduard in the back on the left.

In front of the Nativity, the sheep mozey around, grazing and chatting amongst themselves. They're so cute! Such nice little baa-baas.

Watching over the sheep, the shepherds have their own hillside seats for admiring the angel and Star of Bethlehem above the Nativity.

From the shepherd's hill, they can see the magi approaching, bearing their gifts for the Christ child.

The three kings are decked out in all their finery...

...their camels and lackeys are following behind.

Marv Chickering told us each of the camels weigh 500 pounds! The one with the cool backpack tree house is my favorite.

The detail in the figures' faces is amazing. To think this is all concrete and plaster and a bit of paint.

The camel's eye view is pretty cool too.

However, one of the most interesting parts of the Nativity, is to the left of the stable.

A family from Bethlehem is shown at the Nativity too. When was the last time you saw a woman and her two kids included in a Nativity? Eduard's personal take on the Nativity is really neat.

After the narration ended and Marv finished telling us interesting facts and had gone back to his desk by the door, we sat in silence for a few moments and reflected.

Today was the last day the Nativity will be open for the season. It'll reopen next year at Christmas-time. If you have a chance, it's definitely worth the stop.