SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF HUDSON BAY
Thousands of German prisoners of war, among them Georg Högel, who was working as a radio operator on the U-110 at the time of capture, reached the logging camp in northern Ontario in Canada in 1941. Enthusiastic and inspired by the beauty of the landscape, Georg painted and drew a number of pictures during his imprisonment. He also made sketches and studies of his fellow prisoners, so that the camp management also took notice of him. Impressed by his talent, he was allowed to do his own thing and was even commissioned to do portraits. Georg also earned great admiration when, predestined by his training as a typesetter, he helped a fellow prisoner to attempt to escape with masterfully forged documents.
"The most valuable work of his life."
THE GIFT
Högel discovered new beauty all around him, painted and sketched the landscape and the life it produced, and created "the most valuable work of his life". He donated 315 of these paintings to the Thunder Bay Military Museum in 1997. The donation was a "world first" as never before had a former prisoner of war given and been able to give to the country that held him a day-to-day artistic representation of his time in captivity. He did this to say thank you for the treatment he and his local comrades had received while they were prisoners of war.
DELIVERY OF THE PICTURES
In August 1997, the collection returned from Germany to the area of its origin, to be presented to the public for the first time in May 1998 as an inspiring testament to Canadian culture. These are still open to the public today.
ADRESS
Thunder Bay Military Museum
317 Park Ave,
ON P7B 1C7, Thunder Bay
Kanada
OPENING HOURS
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SONA DAY
Closed
10:00 am - 12:00 am
Closed
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Closed
Closed
Closed
This exhibit has been developed as a partnership between the Thunder Bay Military Museum and Georg Högel developed.