Frontstalag 194

The camp occupies several buildings on the French barracks at CHALONS-sur-MARNE, built in 1877 and known as "QUARTIER FARGEOT". They are three storied buildings, and in the centre is a large court yard surrounded with trees.

On the morning of July 26th the camp strength was 1037 prisoners; but at the time of the Delegate's arrival, about 10 o'clock, there were only 807 as 230 prisoners had just left for the station to go to Germany.

British

Americans

French of the French

Committee of

National liberation.

Total:

Officers.

NCOs.

123

250

Privates

453

272

743

Total.

596

419

1037

As the prisoner's sojourn at CHALONS is seldom longer than ten days for any batch, the camp authorities have not considered it necessary to separate the prisoners according to their different nationalities.

The officers are accommodated in Bloc III and the NCOs and privates in Blocs I and II.

At the time of the Delegate's visit there were 695 NCOs and privates in Bloc I, 68 NCOs in Bloc II and 44 officers in Bloc III, making 807 prisoners in all.

In Bloc I, on each floor a few more than 230 men can be accommodated, 12 men to a room. Each room has two windows. There are double wooden beds with a straw mattress and two blankets for each man, a table, benches and chairs furnish the rest of the room. There is one electric light in each room, which is sufficient.

On each floor there are two wash rooms with 15 taps; the water is left to their discretion so that the men can wash at any hour.

Bloc II only accommodates 68 men on the ground floor, 6 to 8 men to a room. The officers who are accommodated here each have a bed made of iron with a straw mattress and two blankets. The rooms are larger.

Hygiene is the same in all three blocs. The latrines are those of the French barracks, situated in a corner of the court yard, they are not altogether satisfactory both owing to their number and the arrangements. They are kept as clean as possible, with three washes out with water and three times disinfected with lime every day. For the officers in Bloc III the German Authorities have built individual lavatories which can be closed, with seat and water flush.

The food is the same as for the German soldiers; though the German Authorities realize that the British and American prisoners of war require a more generous supply. Is it because of the fatigue of the journey or is it because they are used to a more bountiful food ration? In any case, it appears that that which suffices a German soldier is not sufficient for an Anglo-saxon or American prisoner.

Henceforth the weekly menu will regularly be displayed. The Camp Leader, of whom more later on, will be able to check whether the quantities provided to those concerned are the same as those advertised.

Prisoners of another nationality prepare the meals, as no squad of British nor American prisoners wish to remain in France to undertake this work permanently.

The Delegate gave precise instructions so as to avoid any confusion between the goods sent to the DULAG by the Comite International de al Croix Rouge or its Paris Delegation and the goods sent to the detachments of French prisoners by the French Red Cross and Service des Prisonniers de Guerre. Arrangements will be made with this in view, and amongst other measures, the store for British and American Red Cross parcels will have two regulation locks.

Up till now those parcels which could be sent to the camp have not been distributed regularly about once a fortnight, but most of them have been distributed one parcel to every two men in order to complete the ordinary ration in the course of their transfer from CHALONS to-wards Germany. In spite of all the arrangements which may be made, the German Authorities cannot foresee the delays in the journey from this camp to the transit camp for re-sorting in Germany.

The Camp Authorities promised the Delegate to provide a special kitchen for the prisoners of the DULAG, which would enable them for some of their number to cook food from their parcels which needs to be cooked. Owing to the peculiar character of the Dulag, where more prisoners are constantly arriving, it is not possible for small stoves to be installed in each billet. As it is impossible for the prisoners to collect wood, and fuel is difficult to obtain, they often supplement the fuel with some of the furniture.

The following are the consignments which so far have been able to be sent to this camp:-

23rd June 1944 :

11th July 1944 :

15th July :

19 July :

900 British Food parcels.

5 parcels of dressings

45000 cigarettes.

700 British food parcels

30000 cigarettes

100 packets tobacco.

700 British food Parcels

30000 Cigarettes

100 packets tobacco.

800 Food Parcels

25000 Cigarettes

300 Packets of tobacco.

Most probably the International Red Cross Committee will soon be able to send trucks direct to CHALONS. As a Camp Leader has now been appointed at CHALONS it will be possible then, thanks to the means of transport provided by the camp, to unload and bring the supplies to the camp in a normal way.

The Delegate hopes to send soon, a 10 ton truck which the French Red Cross has put at his disposal.

On the whole the clothes are still in a good condition. Some of the men, who were captured in difficult circumstances, such as in the sea, had no shoes and have been given clogs. The question of providing shoes for these men had been raised; but owing to their leaving camp so soon, and delays in transport it was thought more advisable for them to wait till they reached a permanent camp before receiving the things they needed.

Hygienic conditions are excellent, there is no vermin reported, and, should the need arise the camp possess the equipment to carry out the necessary disinfection; but so far this has not been necessary.

The "Oberstabarzt" sees 30 to 40 men each day during his consulting hours, they are only cases of slight illness, internal trouble, bronchitis, skin infections (furoncle etc.) "cephalee", etc.

As a matter of fact some of these men fought in North Africa, and it is there that they contracted this disease.

Up till now, all surgical cases or serious cases were taken to the Military Hospital at CHALONS where they were looked after by the German doctors and medical staff.

The Authorities at the DULAG have provided for a Military hospital, belonging to the camp, and, according to the latest information, this hospital would open on the 1st August, and would contain 200 beds. British and American doctors would be sent there and would work under the supervision of a German doctor.

All officers, NCOs and privates have despatched their capture cards, these were sent off within seven days of their capture. During their stay at CHALONS they may write one letter on a single sheet of paper, and there is no restriction on what they write. It goes without sating, that the Camp Leader, if he is more or less permanently in the camp, as will be the case for the personnel of the Lazarett, can write, regularly, 2 letters and four post cards a month.

The DULAG Commandant informed the Delegate that he made the prisoners write on ordinary white paper and not on the regulation forms, as, by showing their present address on the forms, the Commandant feared there would be replies sent to the camp at CHALONS, and when these arrived the prisoners would certainly have been transferred to Germany.

The prisoners at the DULAG need indoor games and reading matter. The Delegate will consult with the prisoners of war service of the Y.M.C.A. and see what can be done.

So as to give them something to do, the Commandant employs the prisoners on the work of the camp; but, of course, it is impossible to organise any lasting arrangement as the prisoners are only at the camp for a short time.

Discipline is good, no one has been punished at the moment. All are very anxious to be transferred to a permanent camp in Germany.

After an interview with the major of the Guard who was more particularly concerned with the DULAG, the Delegate saw Sergeant SWEENEY Charles Albert, No. 7594955 for an hour and more, and explained to him the duties and responsibilities of his position and his duties to his comrades. The Delegate explained to him how he should keep account of everything connected with parcels and how he should check the contents of the trucks on their arrival at the station. He also explained to him about the store which should be locked with a double lock, and he advised him, that when he should have at his disposals different kinds of parcels (British or American) not to try to give British parcels to British prisoners and American parcels to American prisoners; but to give all the men in one Bloc one kind of parcel each distribution and alternating these in successive distributions, so that he should use the stocks he has in the usual way and avoid provoking jealousies or fusses amongst the prisoners on their not all receiving the same kind of parcel.

He request that The International Red Cross Committee should forward as quickly as possible soap, handkerchiefs, towels, tooth brushes, tooth pastes, razors, razor blades, brushes, combs, in fact all that might be needed by men who have lost everything.

The Camp Commandant added to this list white paper and envelopes without any headings so as to facilitate correspondence, as mentioned above. The paper supplied by authorities is always headed.

The stock of the depot of the PARIS Delegation will be able to supply some of these things, but not in sufficient quantities. As amongst other things, there is no lavatory paper, the camp commandant and the camp leader would be glad if Geneva could send a consignment as soon as possible.

PRIMO Paris delegation visited, first, on 26 July Dulag O B West depending on Stalag 194, secondly, Dulag O B West depending on Stalag 133. Strength 516 British 617 Americans 1 Gaullist 420 P/W not yet sorted out Conditions of housing, clothing health, hygiene, food, adequate, thirdly, on 3rd August Lazaret La Pitie Strength 45 Americans 164 British Physical conditions up to standrd of modern hospital Most wounds, caused by bullets and shell burst. Information supplied in reports on secondly and thirdly mentioned rendered obsolete by subsequent events so shall not transmit to you telegraphically.

Existence of two other Dulags in district now occupied by Allies reported to Paris delegate at end of July. Total strength then about 1200 P/W.

SECUNDO Dulag secondly mentioned stocked from Delegation Paris up to about 12th August Have sent 4000 Food-parcels 56 tobacco parcels 200 Invalid Diets 20 medical units and one case tooth paste one case shaving brushes one case shaving soap one case hair-brushes one packet of coffee for British prisoners 6000 Food-parcels 100 Invalid Diets 20 medical kits 150 capture-parcels for American prisoners. Dulag firstly mentioned stocked direct from Geneva 4000 Food-parcels 56 tobacco-parcels 200 Invalid diets 20 medical units 1 packet coffee for British prisoners 4000 Food-parcels 20 medical units 150 Capture-parcels for American P/W

TERTIO We have received between 5th July and 23rd August from firstly mentioned about 1800 capture cards from British P/W without the usual indications as to camp: 488 however bore on the back stamp Stalag 133. According to information supplied by delegate Allied P/W in Dulags have received blank letter paper to obviate replies from families to transit camp. We suppose similar reasons explain absence of indications on capture cards. From secondly mentioned one official telegram from 177 British P/W with indication "West Front". For American P/W see our D.9521 (copy annexed, trans). All names on lists and capture cards communicated to competent authorities....

Your 3158 Information given in our two previous cables applies equally to Americans who are P/W. Have noted existence of two independent organisations at London for American and British P/W Agency has received to date 1500 capture cards from American P/W on Normandy Front and official O.K.W. telegrams transmitting several hundred names of American prisoners mentioning Stalag 221 Orleans.

Stalag 122 Heilag (Convalescent Camp) Compiegne visited 20th June Camp Leader Lieutenant Bhagat Singh, Senior Officer 199/29480 Sergeant Major Mahd Saidka 210/32794 Sergeant George XX Lamiere South African 16790/32696 Strength 341 of whom 169 are Indians 93 are South Africans 14 are East Africans 15 are Palestinians 4 are Egyptians 9 are Mauritians 16 are Algerians. The Indians and South Africans are unfit for service and have come from various camps to pass the examination of the M.M.C. (Mixed Medical Commission) in Germany. About 200 are tubercular cases Housing Accommodation is inadequate Two arrivals of Red Cross parcels from Parisian depot.

Lazaret at Reims idem XX 5 British fracture and slightly wounded cases Excellent attention in modern civilian establishment outside town Two parcels monthly Saint-Denis send books No family news yet received. As soon as possible will be transferred to Germany.

Dulag Chalons-sur-Marne visited 21st June Capacity 6000 At present 119 British passing through. 23rd June will arrive consignment 900 parcels B.R.C. medical parcels and 45000 cigarettes.

Stalag 194 visited 22nd June Fort in Re-assembly camp temporarily overcrowded. Out of 8000 prisoners 893 Indians from stalag 315 Camp Leader Saboh Abdul, Sergeant Mahometan POW 2330. 369 South Africans. Authorities will do their best to facilitate arrival of parcels at regular intervals.

Stalag 315 idem Badly damaged at time of bombardment recent occurrence At present in full tide of reorganisation Out of 3029 prisoners 40 killed 80 wounded 700 missing.