Warrant Officer Cyril Rofe
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/34
Name: 959619 Sgt. (now W/O) Rofe, Cyril.
Unit: 40 Squadron, Bomber Command, RAF.
Captured: Maas Estuary, 12th June 1941.
Escaped: Working camp 593 (Schomberg), 20th August 1944.
Left: Murmansk, 10th December 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 18th December 1944.
Date of Birth: 11th April 1916.
R.A.F. Service: Since 8th April 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Hotel manager.
Private Address: Old Forge, High Hurtswood, near Uckfield, Sussex.
Post in crew: Navigator.
Others members of crew:
S/Ldr. REDGRAVE (pilot) )
Sgt. ROCKINGHAM (wireless operator) )
Sgt. POTTER (2nd pilot) ) Believed P/W.
Sgt. ABERNETHY (rear gunner) )
Sgt. ALDRICK (front gunner) )
1. CAPTURE.
We took off from ALCONBURY at about 2300 hours on 11 Jun 41 in a Wellington aircraft. The aircraft was attacking by a night fighter near the Dutch coast, and we crashed into the MAAS ESTUARY at about 0015 hours on 12 Jun. My right arm was broken in the crash. The whole crew stayed on a sandbank until daylight, when we were captured by German soldiers and taken to the mainland in a launch.
Sgt. ALDRICK, Sgt. ABERNETHY, and I were taken to a first-aid post, where we stayed together for about an hour. Sgt. ABERNETHY was then sent with Sgt. POTTER to AMSTERDAM. About an hour later Sgt. ALDRICK and I were taken by ambulance to the Luftwaffe Hospital in AMSTERDAM, where we remained until 11 Jul.
On that day we were taken by ambulance train to FRANKFORT-ON-MAIN and then by bus to OBERURSEL Hospital attacked to DULAG LUFT. About 20 Aug Sgt. ALDRICK was sent to a P/W camp.
I remained at the hospital until 19 Sep, when I was sent to STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF) where I arrived on 22 Sep and remained in hospital until 1 Mar 42. During this period I was exceptionally well treated by the British M.O's.
On 1 Mar I was sent to the R.A.F. compound at STALAG VIII B. I remained there until 9 May.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
OBERURSEL HOSPITAL (DULAG LUFT), 11 Jul - 19 Sep 41.
STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF), 22 Sep - 14 May 42.
ALTROTWASSER (working camp), 14 May - 1 Aug 42.
NIKLASDORF (working camp), 26 Aug - 15 Sep 42.
TARNOWITZ (working camp No. 479), 15 Sep - 17 May 42.
JAWORZNO (working camp), 18 May - 11 Jun 43.
STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF), 10 Jul - 17 Oct 43.
HENNERSDORF (working camp No. 408), 17 Oct - 21 Oct 43.
STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF), 21 Oct - 17 Nov 43.
LABAND (working camp No. 708), 17 Nov - 30 Dec 43.
PEISKRETCHAM (working camp), 30 Dec - 15 Jan 44.
GLEIWITZ (working camp), 15 Jan - 27 Jan 44.
ALTHAMMER FORST (working camp No. E 218), 27 Jan 0 7 Feb 44.
STALAG VIII B (now TESIN), 7 Feb - 8 Mar 44.
SCHOMBERG (working camp No. 593), 8 Mar - 20 Aug 44.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES.
(a) FROM ALTROTWASSER.
At 2345 hours on 1 Aug 42 Sgt. JACKMAN, 603 Sqn., R.A.F.; Sgt. LUXENBURG, 603 (?) Company, A.M.P.C.; Cpl. ROSENFELD, 603 (?) Company, A.M.P.C.; and I escaped from the working camp at ALTROTWESSER (GERMANY 1:250,000, Sheet P 51, H 7135). We got out of the camp by climbing through the lavatory trench and then cutting through the wire fence surrounding the camp. We walked South East at night and hid in the woods during the day until 0100 hours on 11 Aug, when Sgt. LUXENBURG and I were apprehended by a member of the Heimwehr at HINTERDORF (H 9012). We were taken to WURBENTHAL (H 8813) and handed over to the police. We remained there in a cell until 14 Aug when we were taken to a Germany Army Company H.Q. at FREIWALDEN (H 7324), where we were sentenced to ten days in cells. On 26 Aug we were taken to NIKLASDORF (H 8132) to a working camp. Subsequently we learned that Sgt. JACKMAN and Cpl. ROSENFELD gave themselves up on 12 Aug owing to illness.
(b) FROM JAWORZNO.
On 12 Jun 43 I escaped from the coal mine where I was working at JAWORZNO (Sheet Q 51, Y 7764). At 2300 hours I climbed through a window of the bath house after having a shower at the end of my shift in the mine. I then crawled through a hole in the fence surrounding the mine. I had arranged to meet a Polish civilian with whom I had worked in the mine, but he was not at the appointed place. I walked until daylight (13 Jun) and then approached a house, where I was given a meal and allowed to dry my clothes. I was given directions to a village where I believed the Polish miner lived. During the afternoon I walked towards this village and met a Polish civilian who offered to assist me.
I stayed at various houses until 30 Jun when some Polish people handed me over to the Mayor of SUCHA (Z 1378) because I was a Jew. I was taken to GOLOZA (Z 2478) and handed over to the Polish police.
I remained there in a cell until 1 Jul, when I was taken to MIECHOW (Z 3180) and handed over to the German Criminal Police. I was kept in a cell until 6 Jul. I was then taken to KRAKOW (Z 24), where I was taken to a French punishment camp on the Southern outskirts and kept there in a cell. On 9 Jul I was taken to STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF). I was detained in a cell for one day and then sent into the convalescent compound. On 17 Oct I went on another working party.
(c) FROM ALTHAMMER FORST.
On 29 Jan 44 Pte. LEDUC, Luciel, F.M.R., and I were prepared for an attempt to escape from a working party at Working Camp No. E 218 in the ALTHAMMER FORST (Y 18). The German guard watched us very closely and at noon, when we returned to the camp, we were searched. Pte. LEDUC had managed to give his false papers to another member of the working party, but I had not been able to do so. My papers were discovered, and I was kept in a cell for ten days awaiting investigation. At the end of that time (7 Feb) I was taken to STALAG VIII B (then moved to TESIN) (Sheet Q 50, O 8183).
4. ESCAPE.
On 20 Aug 44 Cpl. HILLEBRAND, Charles, A.M.P.C. (S/P.G.(G) 2825) and I escaped from the working party at working camp No. 593, SCHOMBERG (Sheet Q 51, Y 5080). We were engaged on erecting wooden bungalows on the outskirts of the town. We commenced work at 0600 hours and about a minute later we went into an empty bungalow and took off our overalls. We then walked away from the site dressed in new civilian clothes which we had been wearing under the overalls. We travelled by tram to BEUTHEN (Y 5281), where we arrived at about 0630 hours. While we were waiting there for a tram to KATOWICE (Y 5971) we were approached by a member of the German Feldgendarmerie who asked me to tell him the time. He spoke broken German, and after I had answered him he stated that he was a Ukrainian. He was travelling to MYSLOWICE (Y 6869) and we travelled on the same tram, discussing various topics.
Cpl. HILLEBRAND and I got off the tram at KATOWICE at 0730 hours and went to the railway station. We produced our false identity papers at the booking office and purchased third-class tickets at ZYWIEC (Sheet Q 50, S 9465). The train left KATOWICE at 0810 hours and during the journey to BIELSKO (S 8481) our papers were examined by the conductress. Some of the Germans travelling in the same compartment of the train were not in possession of travel permits and the conductress showed them my papers and explained that this was what was required.
We arrived at BIELSKO at about 1000 hours and the "alert" was sounded soon afterwards. We went to the air-raid shelter. At 1100 hours it was announced that the train to ZYWIEC was about to depart. We left the shelter and travelled (third class) to ZYWIEC, where we arrived at 1200 hours. During the journey we saw 24 twin-engined aircraft flying in formation at about 6000 feet. On arrival at ZYWIEC we went into the air-raid shelter at the station, where we remained until the "all clear" at 1230 hours.
We then left the station and walked through the town to a wood on the Eastern outskirts. We then destroyed our false travel permits, but retained our false identity papers. We changed our shoes for boots which we had carried in parcels and walked East until evening when we went to sleep in the woods.
At 0500 hours on 21 Aug we continued walking East, and at 0200 hours on 22 Aug we believed ourselves to be across the Polish frontier. We slept in the woods until 0430 hours and then walked East. Soon afterwards we came to the German-Slovak frontier, which was marked with white stones having "D" on one side and "S" on the other. We continued East and came to a notice written in Polish so we assumed that we were in POLAND. We walked on and arrived at ZAWOJA (Y 1959) at 0700 hours. We went to a house and were given a meal.
At about 0730 hours we commenced walking to MARKOW (Y 2966). Some time later we were given a lift in a cart, and we arrived in MARKOW at 1300 hours. We then walked South East across country and had to make a large number of detours, as German soldiers and Polish civilians were digging trenches in that area. We spent that night in the woods about 3 kms South East of MARKOW. At 0500 hours on 23 Aug we began walking East and arrived at CHABOWKA (Y 4549) in the evening. We had been given food at several villages on the way. We spent that night in a barn on the outskirts of RADKA (Y 4751).
At daybreak on 24 Aug we continued walking East and we spent that night in the woods. Cpl. HILLEBRAND was feeling ill, and on 25 Aug we approached a house and were given permission to stay in the barn. We were given food, and we remained in the barn until 0800 hours on 26 Aug. We then started walking East. At 1200 hours we reached the river DUNAJEC about 20 kms South West of NOWY SACZ (Sheet R 50, Y 0047). While attempting to ford the river Cpl. HILLEBRAND fell into the water and lost his boots. From then on he had to walk in shoes. We crossed the river by boat about two hours later.
We spent that night in a barn, and at 0700 hours on 27 Aug we resumed our walk East. At 1800 hours we were near the river POPRAD about 8 kms South of STARY SACZ (Y 9540) when we were met by three armed Polish civilians. They questioned us and them informed us that they were partisans. They took us to their camp in the woods, where we remained until 31 Aug.
On that evening six escaped Russian P/W and ourselves were escorted across the river POPRAD and guided by a Polish boy to a house where we spent that night. On 1 Sep we were escorted by another Polish boy to another house, and in the evening we met the leader of another group of partisans who took us to his camp in the woods. We remained at this camp until 4 Sep, when we were escorted to a hill named JAWORZE, near BINCZARAVA (Z 1938). Here we were to make contact with another partisan group. On the way we were joined by 30 escaped Russian P/W. We arrived at the hill during the night of 4 - 5 Sep, but could not find any partisans. We went to an adjacent hill and remained there until the morning of 5 Sep.
We then left the Russians and walked towards a hill named HELM, 3 kms East of KACLAWA (Z 1941). This whole area was being fortified and trenches were being dug by Polish women under the supervision of German guards. At the foot of the hill called HELM we were stopped by two German Feldgendarmerie who examined our papers and packs. They discovered some chocolate and insisted upon buying two bars. They paid us 20 zlot, and allowed us to proceed.
We returned to the hill called JAWORZE, where we arrived at 2000 hours. The Russians had gone and we spent that night on the hill. At 0600 hours on 6 Sep we met the party of Russians and stayed with them in the woods during that day. In the evening the whole party went to PTASZKOWA (Z 1242), where the Russians had established a contact. Cpl. HILLEBRAND and I were separated from the Russians and we spent the night at a house. The following evening (7 Sep) we were taken to another house in the village, in which we stayed until evening of 9 Sep, when we were escorted to a farm about 8 kms East of the village. We were moved because Germany troops had been billeted in the village.
We stayed at the farm until the evening of 10 Sep, when we were taken to a house about 2 kms West of ROPA (Z 2541). On 15 Sep the leader of a partisan group took us to a house on the hill MIEZSK GORA (Z 2940). On the morning of 17 Sep a guide took us to South of BIELANKA (Z 3040). We then walked South East and spent that night in a wood on the outskirts of BANICA (Z 4332).
On the morning of 18 Sep we met a patrol of Russians in SWIATKOWA WLK (Z 5130). They took us to KREMPNA (Z 5728), where we were interrogated by Russian army officers. We stayed with these officers until 26 Sep. We discovered that we were with four Divisions who were cut off. They fought their way back to their own lines and made contact with the main force on 26 Sep. We were very well cared for during this period.
I became separated from Cpl. HILLEBAND on the morning of 25 Sep. I reached the main Russian lines on 26 Sep at TALAWA (Z 7021). I was sent to HACZOW (Z 8743). On the morning of 28 Sep I was taken by car to JASIONOW (Z 9241). Here I met Cpl. HILLEBRAND on 29 Sep. We were taken by car to TRZEBUSKA (Sheet R 51, V 7164), where we were handed over to a Russian political group on the morning of 30 Sep.
We remained with this group, moving from village to village, until 6 Nov when we were at RZESZOW (V 7145). We were billeted there until 24 Nov, when we were taken by air to MOSCOW. That evening we were taken by car to a bungalow about 30 miles West of MOSCOW, where we remained until 2 Dec. We were very well treated during this period.
On 29 Nov we were joined by Sgt. EASTERBROOK, R.A.S.C. (S/P.G.(P)2824), Pte. MANN, Queen's Regt. (S/P.G.(P)2823), and Mr. FIRTH, an English civilian from WARSAW.
On 2 Dec the five of us were taken by car to MOSCOW and handed over to the British Mission. We were accommodated at the British Mission until 4 Dec, when we were escorted by Capt. NAIRES to MURMANSK. We travelled by train (first class). On arrival at MURMANSK on 7 Dec we were accommodated at the British naval hospital. On 9 Dec we left by sea for the U.K.
Corporal Charles Hillebrand
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/39
Name: Pal.13042 Cpl. Hillebrand, Charles.
Unit: Palestinian Pioneer Corps.
Captured: Kalamata, 29th April 1941.
Escaped: Schomberg, 20th August 1944.
Left: Murmansk, 10th December 1944.
Arrived: Scapa Flow, 18th December 1944.
Date of Birth: 15th April 1919.
Army Service: Since 30th October 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Driver.
Private Address: Sichron-Jaakob, Palestine.
1, CAPTURE,
I was captured on 29 Apr 41 at KALAMATA (GREECE).
2, CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
P/W Camp (CORINTH) - May - Jun 41.
P/W Camp (SALONIKA) - Jun - Jul 41.
Frontstalag 306 (MARIBOR) - Jul 41.
STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) - Aug 41 - 20 Aug 44.
Working Camps attached to STALAG VIIIB:
Adolf Hitler Canal (BLECHHAMMER) - Aug 41 - Apr 42.
KRAPPITZ Paper Factory - Apr 41 - Jun 42.
GLEIWITZ - July - Aug 43.
SCHOMBERG - Apr - 20 Aug 44.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES.
Though I never succeeded in getting out of camp before my final escape, I contacted civilians on several occasions when on a Working Party with a view to obtaining their help should the opportunity of escaping arise.
4. ESCAPE.
I escaped from a Working Party at SCHOMBERG (GERMANY, 1:250,000, Sheet Q 51), on 20 Aug 44 with Sgt. ROFE (S/P.G.(G)2832) and the story of my experiences is the same as that contained in his report.
I began my preparations for escape some months beforehand, by exchanging cigarettes, tea, chocolate, etc. for civilian clothing with the foreign workers. I had planned to escape in Apr with Sgt. BROWN of the Commandos, who had been taken prisoner in ITALY, but he was moved to another Working Party before we could put our plan into effect.