TRANSLATION BY THE LONDON DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE

DULAG Ob WEST DE CHARTRES-MORANCEZ

dependant du STALAG 133.

(British and American Prisoners of war from the Normandy front.)

Visited on the 18th July 1944 by Dr J. de Morsier.

        This camp which has been opened since the Allied offensive in France is made up of two of the large "halles" at MORANCEZ. The prisoners of the DULAG are kept completely separate from the other prisoners.

        The camp strength varies considerably as new batches arrive nearly every night and every other day a certain number are transferred either to CHALONS-sur-MARNE or directly to Germany. Some of the prisoners have been in the camp since its opening, while others have only just arrived, as in the case of the only two officers in the camp, 2 American Military doctors.

        The Commandant has agreed that one of these doctors, Captain Louis KAPLAN, Medical Corps, 0507982 USA, should be appointed Camp Leader of the DULAG, whilst the other, Captain James B. HARRYMAN Medical Corps, USA 0-419185 should help him or take care of the infirmary.

        In an interview (without witnesses) with these two men, the Delegate explained to them their duties and responsibilities in their new role and what he hoped to be able to do for their camp.

Strength.

        On the day of the visit the camp strength was 1554 prisoners, of whom:-

                516 British

                617 American

                    1 Free French Forces

          and 420 prisoners arrived the preceding night and not yet sorted out into nationalities.

        All these prisoners have already completed their capture cards.

Accommodation.

        The men sleep on straw on the ground. At the moment there are no double beds nor mattresses at the camp. There is enough straw and its quality is good.

        The cubic capacity of the halls is ample as regards airiness, and, besides, the prisoners are out of doors most of the time.

Food.

        There is as yet no special kitchen for the DULAG and the meals are prepared in the general kitchen of the Camp. The prisoners are given the same basic rations as the German soldiers.

Clothing.

        The men in the DULAG do not seem to have lost their clothing, but a small stock should be provided in this camp for the more urgent cases (clothing and foot-wear.).

Hygiene.

        The prisoners suffer from the scarcity of water as the water pipes for the camp were broken during a recent air raid on CHARTRES. Water has to be brought to the camp in barrels.

        The latrines at MORANCEZ suffice generally for the camp, but new ones are being built for the DULAG.

        The German Authorities are sorry that they were obliged, owing to transport and supply difficulties, to establish the DULAG at MORANCEZ, when all had been provided for the DULAG to be elsewhere, near a little town in a large sanatorium.

        In the opinion of the French doctor, (Dr. MALASPINA) who has, so far, looked after the prisoners in the DULAG, the state of health is good and there are no patients, at the moment in the infirmary. Within the next few days a special infirmary for the DULAG will be organised under the care of Dr. HARRYMAN. It would be advisable to send him some special parcels of medicines, surgical requirements and special food for diets.

Food parcels.

        The German Authorities have agreed to the Delegate's sending as from the beginning of next week, (July 24th) about 700 parcels a day. This can be arranged, thanks to a gas lorry and driver provided for this purpose by the Prisoner of War Service of the Secretariat of State for Defence. Each truck will be accompanied by the attache of the Paris Delegation of the International Red Cross Committee.

        Failing British, Canadian or American parcels, in sufficient quantities, the Delegate despatches to the DULAG British parcels from the South African red Cross drawn from trucks which had originally been intended for British Colonial South African natives at STALAG 133 at CHARTRES, ORLEANS, or BEAUVAIS; but which could not be sent by rail beyond PARIS and were therefore added to the stocks there.

        Meanwhile, on the 15th July, in accordance with the request of the camp authorities, the camp leader of the British Colonial South African natives handed 606 food parcels to the DULAG (which is one parcel per two men); but he refused to give any cigarettes saying his stock was too low; but, as the Delegate has stated in his report on the South African camp, he found, on checking the returns, that the stocks of cigarettes and tobacco were higher than they should have been when compared with the number of food parcels in store, and the camp leader could very easily have given 50 cigarettes per parcel.

        In agreement with the camp leader, therefore, as also with the Camp Commandant and the new camp leader of the DULAG, the Delegate has removed 50600 cigarettes from the stock of the South African camp (which is 100 cigarettes per parcel of food distributed) without interfering with the comparative ratios of the stocks in store.

        These cigarettes will be distributed in the next few days to the prisoners in the DULAG on the basis of 10 cigarettes per man every other day.

        The food parcels and cigarettes borrowed from the camp of the British Colonial South African Native prisoners will be returned as soon as the stocks in the Dulag will make this possible.

        It is most important to build up a good stock of food parcels at the DULAG at MORANCEZ, as not only will it supply the prisoners on the camp, but it should allow for supplying prisoners in the DULAGs nearer the front.

        There are in fact, anyway, other DULAGs in the east, and the German Authorities have agreed that trucks or ambulances bringing prisoners to CHARTRES should go to these camps carrying parcels. Camp Leaders will be appointed in each of these camps, so that the Camp Leader of MORANCEZ will be able to send them parcels to be receipted in the same way as though he were sending them to detachments depending on his camp.

        The prisoners in these DULAG would particularly appreciate tobacco, as most often they arrive very tired after hard fighting and long and arduous marches.

        The Y.M.C.A. has agreed to provide books, indoor games, and sports equipment tot he DULAG at CHARTRES. These things will be sent when one of the trucks carrying parcels is despatched.