German PoWs built 'Wembley Way': Documentary

London, Mar 16 : A new documentary has revealed that the Wembley Way, the road leading to the home of English football Wembley Stadium, was built by German prisoners of war (PoWs).

According to BBC Radio 4's Document programme, when the stadium was selected to host the Olympic Games in 1948, German PoWs were enlisted to redevelop the area, which included laying the road.

The PoWs were used as England faced a worker shortage. They were originally considered for refuse duty, with a suggestion they should sweep up cigarettes and other rubbish during the Olympics.

However, then Olympics Minister Philip Noel Baker felt that giving them such demeaning tasks would reflect badly on Britain, and decided they would help with the construction work.

Following Baker''s decision, the Wembley Stadium Ltd said: "In view of the adverse reaction they are now proceeding with the idea. They are however, employing German Prisoners of War on the preparatory work."

"The idea came to them because the local council, who are widening the approach roads, were using German Prisoner of War labour. The stadium authorities applied for German labour and are now employing 44 Germans out of a total of 123," The Telegraph quoted the statement, as saying.