Oflag 79

As already reported an air raid took place on August 24th, 1944, on the district in which this camp is situated, when a number of H.E., many antipersonnel and a large number of incendiary bombs fell inside the camp. The main damage was:

(a) Large bomb craters by Houses 4 and 2 L. and one just outside the camp which put the entire water and sanitary system, except for two houses, out of action.

Although most of this damage has now been made good, there are still a number of points requiring urgent attention, such as window repairs, damaged roof gutters causing flooding in houses or certain radiators still not working. The camp commander states that the delay in carrying out repairs was due to subsequent air raids in the Braunschweig area, particularly regarding the restoration of the water supply. Though confirming this, the senior British officer states that it took 10 days to repair the lighting, three weeks for the drain damage at House 4 and three months for the heating system. Water has only been available in two houses in any reasonable quantity up to November 30th, since when it has been generally turned on.

According to the camp commander, repair work is to go on though most of the required labour and material is extremely short.

(Separate reports have already been transmitted to the British Government on the casualties as a result of the air-raid).

British and Allied Officers

British ORs

Indian Officers

Indian ORs

1940

192

251

2408

Of these, 4 medical officers, all medical orderlies and 4 chaplains are employed in the camp. (For further details please see points VII and XII of this report).

It can hardly be said that the camp is overcrowded at present but it is pretty full. It must also be remembered that all camp facilities have been greatly impaired by bomb-damage and should many more prisoners arrive in the near future, there will not be sufficient facilities to provide for the needs of recreation, entertainment, education and cooking. Requested to furnish information as to the actual capacity of this camp as laid down by the German High Command, the camp commander could give no information and the Protecting Power will therefore obtain the figure from the German High Command.

Lighting. Owing to the fact that certain officers have been found in possession of home-made electrical heating apparatus and that others have bee said to be guilty of burning light unnecessarily in daytime, the camp commander expressed his intention to cut off electric current from the camp all the morning (except in the hospital) in order to comply with German regulations designed to save current. However, a great many camp activities would be affected by such a measure and the Delegate of the Protecting Power pointed out to the camp commander that it will bring considerable hardship on the camp as a whole, produce ill-feeling and lead to many difficulties. For instance the churches, the library, the bootmaker, the tailor would all be affected, and particularly the camp education classes now established in cellars of the various houses where artificial light is necessary unless educational activities are to be curtailed seriously (at present nearly 500 officers are writing examination papers). Furthermore it must be remembered that some of the rooms have windows still boarded up through lack of glass broken during the air raid. The camp commander stated that it was in the hands of the officers themselves to prevent the enforcement of the measure described above, he himself would only do it in the last resort.

Heating and blankets. The central heating at present is turned on 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon. With the exception of hospital patients, each prisoner is in possession of only one blanket from the German authorities, who state that this is in accordance with an order of the German High Command. However, as there is no heating during the night and windows and roofing in some houses are still not fully repaired, there is a great deal of ill-feeling about the German High Command instructions forbidding the re-issue of a second blanket which had been removed from the prisoners during the summer on the grounds that only one was required during the warm weather. Unless full heating is available, each prisoner should have at least two German blankets. The matter will therefore be taken up with the German High Command, pointing out that a large proportion of the prisoners in the camp have spent long periods in a tropical climate prior to capture, not to mention over 200 Indian POWs, of whom only those accommodated immediately underneath the roof (top floor) have 2 German blankets.

Baths. Until the 2nd of December 1944 no hot water had been available in the camp since the air raid on August 24th, 1944, and therefore no hot baths or showers. On December 2nd, 1944, experimental bathing arrangements were carried out again and some 450 prisoners received a hot shower. Taking into account the rather long period during which prisoners have had no baths at all as well as the fact that some recent arrivals are said to have been sent infested with lice, the Delegate of the Protecting Power requested that all will be done to enable each prisoner to have a fortnightly hot shower-bath in future. The commander promised to try and comply with the request of the Delegate of the Protecting Power, stating that at adequate supply of hot water depended entirely on the available fuel, in this case coke. The German High Command will also be informed of the situation.

At the time of the visit again in order, but during some time after the air raid prisoners had to put up with many inadequate arrangements. The string [presumably 'strain'] on the sanitary system has been very great.

In the air raid on August 24th, 1944, the well equipped cookhouse was destroyed by fire but fortunately a new cookhouse was completed quickly, although its equipment is still inadequate. The British and Indians share the same kitchen, which is reported to cause complications and an uneconomical use of the available facilities owing to the very different ways of cooking and preparing meals. The camp commander states that he has no means at all to provide a separate kitchen for the Indians, to whom in any case a certain part of the kitchen has been assigned.

At present 525 kilos of fuel per day are issued for all purposes, stated to be an inadequate ration as far as the cookhouse is concerned. The Indians seem particularly affected, due to the amount of cooking which the contents of an Indian parcel requires. When discussing the matter with the camp commander he replied that the official daily fuel ration as 240 grammes per person and that because of transport difficulties and the situation in general no increase in this ration could be made, on the contrary, it was likely that further economy will have to be made. When the Delegate of the Protecting Power suggested the introduction of firewood parties on parole (as practiced in many other camps), the camp commander at first refused to consider the suggestion, pointing out that owing to the very hostile attitude of the civilian population in this heavily bombarded region he could not risk sending prisoners out collecting firewood, but he finally promised to discuss the matter with the appropriate quarters, as the Delegate of the Protecting Power insisted that something has to be done in the matter of fuel. (Regarding hostility of the German civilian population the Senior British Officer states that with the exception of one minor incident after a heavy raid on Braunschweig, no signs of it had ever been reported to him).

Below follows a German ration scale for the week ending November 26th, 1944 (issues are shown in grammes per head):

Bread

Potatoes

Meat

Margarine

Sugar

Cooking fat

Flour

Ers. Tea

Coffee

Jam

Sauerkraut

Peas

Bratling soup powder

Fresh vegetables

Barley

2,100

3,600

230

120

140

175

225

150

1,800

In connection with German rations the Senior British Officer points out that there has been no German soap issue as far as he could remember. When discussing the matter with the camp authorities it was explained that prisoners had at one time received the ration they are entitled to but that it was later found in the camp's dustbins and thereafter had not been issued again.

Canadians

3911

English

1023

Indian

1237

Medical

288

Cigarettes

86850

Tobacco

117 (2 oz)

or a stock lasting roughly until 5th January 1945 at 1/2 a parcel per week. The Indian POWs are said to be very upset because they are not issued with a proportion of parcels other than Indian, but present instructions from Geneva confine them to Indian parcels only.

The Senior British Medical Officer, Lt. Col. Thompson, RAMC, is assisted by 3 medical officers, one of whom is an Indian doctor, namely Din Mohamed Khan, POW No. 18945. The number of employed medical orderlies is 17.

The general health of the camp is described as fairly good. In September 1944 the Mixed Medical Commission passed 14 patients for repatriation, all of whom are still in this camp with the exception of two in a Braunschweig hospital.

Regarding patients who need an X-ray examination, the transport facilities to a hospital at Braunschweig are still the same as mentioned in our last report i.e., only patients who can be transported in an open truck (or walk) can go to Braunschweig. As a result, two patients who are unfit to travel by the above methods have as yet not been X-rayed although in one case application was made 2 1/2 months ago and in the other, one month ago. When discussing the matter with the camp commander, it was promised that these two patients shall go to Braunschweig shortly.

The Senior British Medical Officer reports that during the last two months this camp has received a number of surgical cases which can only be treated adequately by special methods in a hospital. Application for their transfer has been made, but nothing is yet known what is to happen. The question of badly injured POWs bring sent to this Oflag instead of to a proper hospital or lazaret will be taken up with the German High Command by the Protecting Power.

It is complained that the dental equipment was removed from the camp revier to a hospital at Braunschweig and has not been replaced, although this should have happened some weeks ago. When discussing the matter with the camp commander, he stated that after the destruction in an air raid of the one dental station which had still existed in Braunschweig, the German supplied equipment of this revier had been removed to the town but will be brought back here as soon as it can be replaced at Braunschweig.

In the Indian ward a large proportion of the wooden beds are said to be infested with bed bugs. The commandant was unaware of this situation but promised to deal with the matter at once.

The fuel supply to the revier for the cooking of ordinary and special diets is said to be sufficient, i.e., 40 kilos of coal per day instead of 50. The camp commander states that he cannot make a special allowance for the revier, its daily quota being included in the general supply of fuel to the camp.

The position regarding medical supplies is at present satisfactory, although denture material and certain physiotherapeutic appliances from the IRCC are still outstanding. Special requests to the English Red Cross Society for vitamins (required for many of the conditions found here) have also been made.

Stocks at present are very low; recent arrivals have been badly off for clothing and the camp has not been able to help them as much. It is hoped that some supplies will arrive from the Red Cross in the near future. At present the position is as follows:

Boots

B.D. Blouses

Socks

421 pairs

224

87 pairs (reserved for new arrivals)

Two laundries in Braunschweig were destroyed in a heavy raid in October 1944 and since then no camp or private laundry has been sent out. There are prospects that bed linen may be sent out again in the near future but for private laundry no facilities outside camp are as yet available. For the time being prisoners must make their own arrangements, in camp, but owing to the scanty supply of hot water great difficulties are experienced. Here again it is a question of fuel.

Canteen supplies are negligible and on the other hand prisoners are very eager to buy things. Urgently asked for are indoor games, playing cards, matches, razor blades, boot-polish, dubbin, toilet-paper and other toilet requisites. The Protecting Power will transmit these wishes to the YMCA.

The camp commander states that it is quite out of question to find any goods in the district at the present time. Even beer is now very short.

There are 12 chaplains at this camp, out of whom 5 are employed. The Senior Chaplain, Major The Rev. J.B. Chutter, POW No.1285, states that the following chaplains resident in the camp are surplus and it is desirable that they either be given work to do in Stalag or be repatriated:

Griffith, W.A.

Simmons, R.A.

Driver, K.E.

Russell, T.

Hamilton, J.

Phillips, E.L.

Menzies, A.C.V.

228228/IVB

3356/XC

228235/IVB

990/VIIIF

128985/VIIA

00558/XIIB

90860/XIIA

Chaplain, 4th Class C. of E.

" " " "

" " " Free Churches

" " " C. of Scotland

" " " C. of E.

The matter will again be taken up with the authorities concerned by the Protecting Power as well as the case of the Senior Chaplain, who has made an application for repatriation on compassionate grounds.

In a comprehensive survey of the spiritual welfare, the Senior Chaplain states (Church of England, Church of Scotland and Free Churches):

"With most of the 2.000 Officers in this camp, the months of imprisonment have passed into years, and the opportunity created by the "Time for thought" has not been neglected by the Chaplains also detained in the camp: eight Anglicans and three of other denominations. The spiritual "welfare" or "health" of the camp, as a whole, is much affected by the vitality and leadership which the Church, both directly and indirectly, can give. A noticeable proportion of the leadership in every department of camp life is provided by Churchmen.

The Churches of the camp (other than the Roman Catholic) are divided into two groups: (a) Church of England, (b) Church of Scotland and Free Churches. An outstanding feature is the excellent working relationship between these, which found recent expression in the United Service on September 3rd, attended by over 700 Officers.

The camp is portioned out and responsibility delegated to each Chaplain, one of whom is allotted to the hospital. Sunday services are well attended and the Church has established itself as an essential part of camp life. About 500 Officers are regular members of the congregations.

Weekday activities are many and the religious intellectual questionings of the camp are met with study groups and well patronised popular lectures. One course running for six weeks, on "The Exercise of God", reaches a maximum attendance of 200 Officers. The systematic daily Theological instruction is on a high level.

A very recent series of lectures on "Belief in Christ", followed by three United Services (C. or E., Free Churches and the Church of Scotland) under the general title of "Religion in Life" resulted in very good attendances, followed by a large number of personal interviews with the Chaplains.

In addition to their public ministrations, the Chaplains are finding an increasing amount of work in the field of private conversations and interviews.

Remarkable in the sense, with the passing months and years, that church "congregations" have grown into realised Christian "fellowships" consciously sharing a common faith and common way of life.

The "C.N.", as it is called, is widely read and provides a fortnightly commentary, from a Church angle, on contemporary affairs. The editorial staff is both Anglican and Free Church.

A. Church of England. Is under the leadership of Rev. H.R. Rogers, S.C.F., who has been detained in Italy and Germany for three years.

Sunday Services: Holy Communion (average attendance 100), Choral Eucharist, Mattins (average 250) and Evensong.

Weekdays: Holy Communion, Mattins, Mid-day Intercessions and Evensong, all well attended.

The Theological Society: (founded in 1942 in Campo P.G. 21, Italy) now enters into its third year of regular daily systematic Theological teaching (15 lectures and "tutorials" a week). It has helped to train 17 Officer Ordination Candidates, and has 10 full members who expect to take the General Ordination Examination of the Church of England, in the near future. In addition, the Society has 30 Associate Members, who share with them a common discipline and rule of life. There is also a regular lecture and discussion group sponsored by the Society of Wednesdays.

Weekday General Lectures: A considerable number of study groups and lecture courses have been run by the Church of England, largely under the direction of Padre Rogers. A weekly devotional Bible Study Group is also organised.

B. Church of Scotland and Free Churches. Under the leadership of Rev. C.O. Thomas, C.F. (who has entered well into his fifth year of detention), has gone ahead since the opening of the camp. This last quarter, the arrival of a Church of Scotland Chaplain has enabled the Scotsmen in the camp to worship in their own particular manner. Sunday services are well attended and one weekdays 25-30 Officers attend morning "Family Prayers" and midday Intercessions.

(a) a group in conjunction with the Anglicans, thinking on "ecumenical" lines on the possible working of the United Church,

(b) a five-denominational group which, during the past three months, has considered such subjects as "Reunion", Religious Education, etc.

"I have to report that, temporary inconvenience apart, the Catholics of this camp are satisfied with the Chapel accommodation reserved for them. They are, however, apprehensive of any overcrowding which may oblige the Senior British Officer to take over the Chapel for living space.

Generous supplies of books, wine and wafers have been received from the "Mission Catholique en faveur des prisonniers de guerre", Fribourg, Switzerland.

In addition to a liberal programme of daily services to meet the wishes of all, the Officers meet twice a week in conference on Catholic subjects and problems. Added to this, the Catholic news-sheet, "Vigil", cannot fail to reach all Catholics in camp."

Education. The air raid damage and the arrival of new POWs have resulted in very frequent changes in arrangements for educational activities and necessitated the use of inadequate accommodation generally. Silence rooms for private study are not always available and lighting and heating often leaves much to be desired.

Lectures. "Lectures are being given in approximately 45 subjects, covering about 135 periods per week. Classes range from 150 students downwards. Lectures of general interest are arranged regularly as material becomes available. For example, a recent series dealt with the British Government's post-war plans in a number of fields, as set out in a collection of White Papers received from England.

Study Groups. A number of study groups is in operation. Among them may be mentioned a Town and Country Planning Group, and Education Group (prepared for the University Diplomas in Education), an Industrial Administration Group, and a History Group. Similar groups have been formed to prepare students for most of the professional examinations.

Societies. A number of "professional" societies have been formed (including the Law Society, the Accountants' Society, the Engineering Society, the Architects' Society and the Insurance Society) which meet regularly for papers and discussions.

Examinations. The examinations of about 15 examining bodies have already been held, either here or at Oflag VIIIF, and the papers for about 10 others have been received and are either in progress or are due to take place shortly. Owing to the situation in regard to air raids, examinations have to be held under somewhat unsatisfactory conditions in basements, where neither lighting nor heating is adequate.

Educational Library. Owing to shortage of accommodation, the Educational Library (which now consists of 1,400 books) has had to be housed in the same room as the General Fiction Library, which is an unsatisfactory arrangement and causes overcrowding and confusion."

According to the Education Officer, there is an urgent need of certain materials, notably:

Indoor Entertainments: Unfortunately the air raid on August 24th, 1944 has rather upset the former excellent arrangements for theatrical performances, concerts or film-shows, as the big theatre was lost as the building of a new one in House 1 is not progressing owing to lack of material, which, according to the camp commander, cannot be supplied now (particularly electrical equipment etc). At present the former Indian theatre on the top-floor of one of the houses is being used as general camp theatre, seating about 300 people only. Each performance must therefore be given 6 or 8 times, so that the individual officer rarely sees more than 3 or 4 shows a month. The Chairman of the Entertainments Committee, Lt.Col. E.N. Everett, reports the following details, covering the period between August 1st to November 30th, 1944:

"Camp Entertainments are in the hands of a Committee, of whom the chairman is appointed by the Senior British Officer and the remainder elected every three months. The present committee is as follows:

Chairman

Actors and Producers Member

Administrative & Constructional Staffs Member

Musicians Club Member

Play Director

Miscellaneous Production Director

Representative of the Indian Dramatic Soc.

Secretary

Lt.Col. E.N. Everett

vacant

Capt. H. Potter

Lt. J. Ditchburn

Lt. J. Grime

Lt. H. Wilson
Lt.Col. M.P. Lancaster

Lt. D.M. Ball

The volume of entertainment during the period under review has been less than usual although the size of the camp has increased. The main reasons are:

(a) The air raid on 24th August, which did a certain amount of damage, and the frequency of air raid alarms, which has caused delay and the cancellation of evening performances.

(b) The approach of the cold weather and the inadequate facilities for heating the attic theatres.

(c) The often non-cooperative attitude of the German camp authorities, particularly in regard to the supply of every piece of material, staging wood, etc.

Plays: "Ah! Wilderness", "The Late Christopher Bean", "Youth at the Helm", "Sweeney Todd", "The School for Scandal", "Ladies in Retirement", "Gas Light".

Music: 3 symphony concerts with the full Symphony Orchestra, 3 light opera concerts, "Hiawatha" by the Choral Society orchestra, 3 concerts of chamber music, "Tea-time" music by a number of small orchestral combinations.

Cabaret: One theatre was turned into a night-club with a cabaret, and dance bands played there nightly. The cold and cancellation of evening performances stopped this, but it is hoped to carry on again shortly in a basement. This cabaret was called "The Rumpot" and took the place, for the time being, of musical productions.

Open Air Performances: Immediately after the air raid of 24th August, when there was no lighting in the camp, there were performances of variety and bands outdoors.

Gramophone Clubs: Many concerts have been held, but lack of warm accommodation presents a difficulty at present, apart from which we have run out of gramophone needles."

"The Indian section of the camp have a Dramatic Society and have on the average produced two shows a month.

A cinema with apparatus loaned by the Germans has been in operation over the whole period. German films have been shown but a request for more musical films has not been complied with. So far two English films have been obtained only, and although many applications have been made for others, they have not been forthcoming."

Regarding the English films mentioned in the above report, it may be pointed out here that the number in possession of the German High Command only amounts to about 18 or 20 and these are shown to as many camps as possible throughout Germany. When it comes to the individual camp, the quota is naturally a very small one.

The camp would be very grateful to the YMCA for a fresh supply of make up, a wish which will be transmitted to that organization by the Protecting Power.

Outdoor: The sportsfield which was to have been created inside the compound area has not materialized; the prisoners state not having been given sufficient help by the Germans whereas the camp commander points out that he had made it clear from the very beginning that it was entirely up to the prisoners to build their own sportsfield, as he could not supply labour. In the summer deck-tennis and basket ball could be played but this has now been rendered impossible due to the muddy condition of the grounds. Outdoor exercise at the moment is therefore confined to walks on a fair sized strip of concrete running along one end of the compound.

When discussing the matter of walks on parole with the camp commander, he told the Delegate of the Protecting Power that he could not accept the responsibility of having British Officers walking around because of the hostile attitude of the civilian population (said to be the result of the so-called TERRORANGRIFFE) and also because of the danger of machine gunning by low flying enemy aircraft. However, in view of the fact that extensive woods surround the camp, the Delegate of the Protecting Power requested the camp commander to reconsider his decision, as it should be possible to organize walks without meeting any civilians. This he promised, but the matter will be taken up with the German High Command all the same once again. (see also point XVI regarding walks for protected personnel.)

Since the beginning of November the average daily income off letters has been 350. Private parcels have arrived rather well lately.

As such the arrangements made for air raid precaution may be described as satisfactory, the bombardment on August 24th 1944 giving proof of this. There have been no injured amongst the prisoners who had gone to the shelters but casualties amongst those who had remained outside.

The Senior British Officer, however, requests permission to hold on parole certain tools, such as spades and picks, as there may be considerable delay in getting hold of these in the event of an emergency. He also asks for emergency lighting to be made available in the air raid shelters. When discussing the matter with the camp commander, he promised the Delegate of the Protecting Power that the request of the Senior British Officer shall be met.

Detention Cells: Upon request of the Delegate of the Protecting Power the camp commander confirmed that, if expressing such a wish, any officer undergoing detention may be visited by a chaplain. The Delegate of the Protecting Power also demanded that POWs under detention be allowed to proceed to shelters in case of an air raid, the commander replying that he would have to see what arrangements could best be made.

Walks for protected personnel: In spite of repeated applications and requests, protected personnel have not been permitted to leave the camp. The reply given to the Delegate of the Protecting Power by the camp commander is the same as stated in our last report: Hostility on the part of the civilian population owing to bombardments. The matter will once again be taken up with the German High Command.

Materially speaking conditions in this camp have deteriorated since our last visit, largely because of the air raid on August 24th, 1944, and the restoration of some of the camp facilities destroyed on that occasion was delayed to a certain extent on account of further severe bombing of the region in which this camp is situated. On the other hand the camp commander tends to make a somewhat extensive use of this fact in his discussions with the Senior British Officer or for that reason with the Delegate of the Protecting Power.

On the whole, however, there is no doubt that during the period under review the relationships between the Senior British Officer and the camp commander have improved, as is reported by the former. But at times, particularly when new German camp orders are being sent in without any previous discussion with the Senior British Officer and with which it is often impossible to comply, relations between the camp commander and the Senior British Officer became very strained. It could not be said that the camp commander is easy to get on with but thanks to the skill of the present Senior British Officer relations are as pleasant as they have been at any time in the history of this camp.