Belgium initially held no German prisoners of war of its own. For reconstruction work, it first received around 16,000 prisoners from British custody.
These prisoners were employed mainly in the mines of Limburg province.
Later, a further 30,700 prisoners were transferred from U.S. POW camps. They were put to work in mining, forestry, agriculture and mine clearance.
They were concentrated in the coalfields of Limburg, Liège, Charleroi, La Louvière and the Borinage.
Forestry camps were located in and around the Ardennes, near Couvin, Poix-Saint-Hubert, La Roche, Vielsalm and Elsenborn.
Prisoners employed in mine clearance were housed in camps at Wenduine and Kalmthout.