CONFIDENTIAL

OFLAG VB

750 British Officers

120 British Orderlies including Australians and New Zealanders.

Senior British Officer: Colonel Tod

Senior British Physician: Lt. Colonel F.J. Morris, RAMC, POW No. 342

September 1941

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        Captain HAFNER of the district headquarters, Wehrkreis V, Stuttgart, stated that all the prisoners in this camp were going to be transferred within 10 days. This report was confirmed by the local camp commander, hence no description will be made of the physical conditions at this camp. It is uncertain whether the same German commander will accompany the prisoners to their new address. Colonel Tod stated:

        1.) Six hundred Red Cross blankets had recently arrived, 400 of which were given to the prisoners while 200 were retained by the Germans. The German explanation was that British prisoners might in the future destroy German blankets by attempting to make civilian clothes out of them. Hence the 200 blankets were being held to replace any possible destruction of German blankets. It will be observed that this matter is similar to that at Reserve Lazaret Rottenmuenster which is also in Wehrkreis V.

        2.) The prisoners, forty of whom are Catholic, would like to have a Catholic priest. A church of England chaplain is on duty here.

        3.) Accusations of collective punishments which arose when British orderlies allegedly put razor blades in the garbage pails and hence endangered the lives of German pigs have now been stopped. This incident created tension in the camp and did not improve cooperation between the Germans and the British.

        4.) Certain personal articles allegedly taken from the captives' rooms by German guards, who were searching for civilian clothes, have now been returned to the prisoners; others have not. It is not believed that these will be recovered, for according to allegations they were stolen by the guards. The personal articles had an important sentimental but not intrinsic value. They included seal rings and watches. German authorities are inclined to believe that some non-existent articles have been reported lost. This matter is now believed to be settled.

        5.) Colonel MORRIS reports that the food measures only 1600 calories per day is insufficient. It could not be observed however that the food given at this camp is less than at other officers' camps. Packages moreover are being received at the rate of one per man per week. A menu for the week ending September 13, which was prepared by the British kitchen officer and signed by Colonel TOD is as follows:

MENU FOR WEEK 7.IX. to 13.IX. 1941

        6.) Colonel Morris reports that he cannot obtain needed supplies of iodine cotton wool bandages and anaesthetics. German authorities stated that this Revier is not a Lazaret and there is no intention of keeping really sick persons here. They added that adequate supplies of a substitute for iodine, said substitute being used by the German army are on hand, that paper bandages are replacing cotton wool bandages except in serious cases and that this new type of bandage which is used by the German army must be accepted by the British prisoners.

        7.) Colonel Morris requested that an eye doctor be available. German authorities stated that those suffering from serious eye troubles would be sent to a regular hospital but that due to a shortage of eye physicians those prisoners who merely want to have their glasses changed or to reserve a general eye examination must be content with a refraction set which had been provided.

        8.) Lieutenant BAIRD, POW No. 1265, requested that his wife Mrs. Baird c/o American Express, Miami, Florida, be informed of his good health and good spirits.

        9.) Lieutenant Commander HEAP R.N., says he is only survivor of the cruiser Gloucester. He wants to be transferred to a marine camp. (Letter to Berlin authorities.)

        General conditions at this camp are not unsatisfactory although there is little evidence of cooperation between the British prisoners and the German authorities. The prisoners sleep in double decker beds and can use electric lights until 11 p.m. Their rooms are not overcrowded and they have decorated them with illustrations and with flowers. During their daylight hours the prisoners can tend flower gardens and play hand ball, cricket and can study various languages and courses such as German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Urdu, Italian, engineering, agriculture, law, economics, music, literature and astronomy. Books from the Pitman courses are wanted. A piano and a home made theatre with elaborate light system have provided enjoyment for the prisoners. A library of 2500 books exists.

        Colonel Morris reported that he has from 8 to 15 person in his Revier most of them suffering from banged shins or scarred shins from playing foot ball or from indigestion. These ill prisoners were interviewed and were found to be in reasonably good spirits. Three British dentists are on duty with adequate equipment.

        Eric CAVAYE, a British officer, died of blood poisoning in June 1941 after a long illness. He was cared for by a British physician. His body is buried in a cemetery near the prisoner of war camp and is marked by flowers and a wooden cross. It was impossible to obtain the deceased's home address.

        One man was in arrest, John SHIPPHAM, POW No. 863, an orderly, charged with stealing cigarettes. He had been provided with a lawyer by the American Embassy and is quartered in a reasonably comfortable room. This room is filled with books and Shippham stated to the Embassy representative that he was receiving the same rations as other prisoners and that conditions were not unsatisfactory.

        The following men would like to be transferred to a British prisoner of war camp for privates:

        Lieutenant Maclachlan POW No.135, Australia, a chaplain.

        Lieutenant Long (N.Z., Y.M.C.A.) POW No. 126.

        Lieutenant Hosier POW No.119, (Salvation Army), (Letter to Berlin authorities.)

Gordon Knox

Dr. Howard Fishburn

IH