RESERVE-LAZARETT COSEL FOR PRISONERS OF WAR
Date of visit: August 7, 1942.
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Physician in Chief: British Medical Staff: |
Oberstabsarzt Dr. Lipka Major William Stanley SYKES RAMC P.o.W. 23914 Capt. Harold Mason FORMANN NZMC P.o.W. 23896 Capt. Peter Romney TATTERSALL RAMC P.o.W. 2605 Capt. Desmond CRIBB RAMC P.o.W. 471 Capt. George McCLEAN GORRYE RAMC P.o.W. 192 and 14 British sanitators, all recognized. |
This is a Lazarett for French, Serbian, Polish and Russian as well as for British prisoners of war. British Medical Officers are attending to prisoners of all these nationalities.
It is meant for internal medical cases. Only minor operations can be performed.
British prisoners of war are here since January 1942. All the British prisoners are together in one large barrack. New barracks are in course of building. Two of them will be put in the near future at the disposal of British patients.
On the day of the visit there were 72 British prisoners of war and 1 civil internee from Ilag VII. Their main diseases were: suspected TBC of the lungs, gastric troubles, heart failures, arthritis and so on. None of them were said to be in a serious condition.
Major surgical cases are sent to the German Lazarett of the town. There were 7 British prisoners of war there and the British Doctor stated that they were receiving good treatment.
The British Senior Medical Officer pointed out that the general treatment they are receiving from the German authorities is absolutely fair and that there is a good collaboration. In medical questions the British physicians are given absolutely free hand and have not the smallest reason for complaint.
A dressing room is temporarily installed in one of the sleeping rooms of the doctors. As soon as 2 more barracks will be available, this situation will be changed.
An English Chaplain paid a visit to the Lazarett 6 weeks ago.
Both letters and parcels take quite a long time to reach the Lazarett. Red Cross parcels arrive in sufficient number from Stalag VIII B. There is a stock of invalid comfort parcels for about 2 months.
The representatives of the I.R.C.C. paid a visit to the Lazarett in fall 1941.
Pay is regular.
Hot showers are available twice a week and the laundry is done in the Lazarett by a Russian prisoner of war.
There is no canteen, but the British physicians are given the permission to go and buy articles for personal need at the canteen of the German Lazarett.
The food is cooked by German women in the Lazarett. Physicians and patients receive the same rations as German soldiers and therefore the food was described as excellent.
Playing cards, books and a few indoor games are at the disposal of the men.
It was said that pyjamas have been asked from the I.R.C.C. through the German Authorities.
Dental treatment is given at the German dental station in the town.
For working parties in the neighbourhood a daily sick parade is held.
All prisoners proposed for examination by the Mixed Medical Commission for repatriation are sent to Stalag VIII B.
Gabriel Naville
Dr. Hans Wehrle
