CONFIDENTIAL

BRITISH/AMERICAN

No.429.

Date of visit: April 27th, 1944.

KRIEGSGEFANGENENLAZARETT DES STALAG II A NEUBRANDENBURG.

        This lazaret was visited for the first time by a representative of the Protecting Power.

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

        The lazaret is situated on a flat field in a pretty position overlooking the town. It seems to be a rather windy, but still healthy spot.

        There are six wooden barracks to lodge the patients and four stone-buildings for the operation-theatre, the store-room, the kitchen, the laundry and the mortuary. The constructions are all solid. The revier-barracks have central-heating.

        The space between the barracks is quite large and used for gardening. Besides there exists also a small sports-field.

        The delousing plant is installed at the Stalag II A main camp.

        This lazaret is foreseen for prisoners of war patients of all nationalities (French, Poles, Yugoslavs, Belgians, Dutch, Italians, British and Americans) which, as far as feasible, are accommodated separately according to their nationality.

        The British and American prisoners of war are housed in two wards (8 in one room exclusively reserved for them and the remaining 3 patients in another room with French and Belgians), one is moreover in the isolation-barrack. The lazaret is at present fully occupied and therefore a complete separation cannot take place.

        The medical personnel for the British and American patients is Polish. Besides, there is a staff of 8 doctors (6 Poles and 2 French) who work under the supervision of the German chief medical officer.

II. CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL.

        This lazaret offers accommodation for 330 patients. At present there are:

                British        5 (all officers) from Stalag Luft 1.

                American   7 (6 officers)       Barth

                                12

        Moreover:

                French 145, Poles 42, Yugoslavs 23, Belgians 30, Italians 69, Dutch 15, totalling 345 patients, and 75 members of the medical and lazaret staff.

III. INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS.

        The wards are whitewashed, clear, well housed, spacious and tidy. There are all single iron beds with a clean and good bedding. The only complaint lodged was about the electric lighting. Bulbs with a strength of a 15 watt unit only are allowed. This proves entirely insufficient for reading. The delegate of the Protecting Power sternly requested an improvement, but as the same conditions are said to be in force for the German military lazarets, nothing can be done.

IV. TREATMENT.

        There was but one praise regarding the very careful attention these prisoners receive by the Polish medical officer in charge of them, as well as from the Polish medical orderlies. The doctor knows well English and there is no particular difficulty in that respect. The patients are very grateful for such a good treatment.

V. STATE OF HEALTH.

        Full particulars are given hereafter. There is no serious case which should be presented to the Mixed Medical Commission.

VI. FOOD AND COOKING.

        There were no complaints, as all the British and American patients receive now their regular weekly Red Cross food parcel, which helps them very much. Some additional invalid food and milk parcels are requested and will be supplied by Stalag Luft 1. As the eating utensils are always withdrawn after the meals, the patients have no possibility to prepare tea in the intervals. Supplementary cups and sets cannot be issued from the lazaret for permanent use. If these articles could be supplied by Stalag Luft 1, there would be no objection to have extra arrangements made for the British and American patients and to comply with their wish. Otherwise the preparation and individual cooking of the Red Cross food meets no difficulties.

VII. ENTERTAINMENTS.

        The facilities are poor. There are only a few English books, belonging to the library of the lazaret. The Stalag Luft 1 will now be requested by the delegate of the Protecting Power to send regularly books and games (chessboards) to these patients. A table-tennis is available.

        Those patients who can get up are allowed to take walks in the garden the whole day long.

VIII. MAIL.

        Only one patient, who entered this lazaret on January 25th, 1944, has received news from home. The others are still very anxious to get mail from their relatives.

        The outgoing mail was very erratic, as the letter forms and cards, which have to be furnished by the Stalag Luft 1, have been delivered irregularly. This was put straight by the delegate of the Protecting Power on his visit to the said camp a few days afterwards.

IX. COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS.

        (1) A control of the Red Cross food parcels was not yet possible, but will now be entrusted to a French prisoner of war.

        (2) The patients are not allowed to wear their British or American uniform when leaving their ward. The clothes, issued by the Detaining Power, are in a very deplorable state, all lacerated and worn out. Upon strong remonstrances made by the delegate of the Protecting Power it was then agreed upon by the Commandant that the American and British prisoners of war will immediately be supplied again with their uniform, which has been withdrawn from them, when entering the lazaret.

        (3) The store-room, where the personal belongings are kept, is very damp so that many articles (particularly boots) have become musty. Promises have been given to improve the conditions as best as possible.

        (4) Hot showers are available only fortnightly. It will be arranged to provide for weekly showers very soon.

        (5) There is but one French Roman Catholic priest at the lazaret. The British and American patients would very much appreciate periodical visits by the chaplains of Stalag Luft 1. The commandant of that camp will be requested to meet this wish, as on the side of the authorities of the lazaret no objection was raised to grant such an assistance.

        (6) Medical parcels (dressings) and special drugs have been requested from the IRCC but have not yet arrived. The Stalag Luft 1, from which all these patients are dependent, will be asked to provide for the necessary supply.

X. GENERAL IMPRESSION.

        Generally speaking the running and organization of this lazaret is on a whole satisfactory. The only really serious inconvenience is, that patients of various nationalities have to live together. However, this fact in itself alone is not sufficient enough to consider this lazaret inadequate for British and American prisoners of war although they are particularly affected by this circumstance which does not make allowance for them to enjoy the various privileges granted by the Geneva Convention to such an extent as would be possible in a lazaret reserved entirely to their nationals.

        The sanitary installations are primitive for a hospital. The toilets could be kept cleaner, but the necessary cleansing appliances are no more obtainable. The medical equipment, instruments and medicaments are sufficient and allow a regular surgery. The septic and antiseptic sections are completely separated.

        Air-raid shelters are under construction.

        The heavily sick will be brought to the cellar below each barrack, whereas the light patients have to seek shelter in slit-trenches.

        As no man of confidence was yet appointed amongst the prisoners of war who, of course, are continually changing, it was decided to entrust that patient with these functions who presumably has to remain for a considerably longer period (2 - 3 months) at the lazaret. In consequence 1st Lt. Fisher, James B. (American prisoner of war no. 1708) will now overtake the duties of a man of confidence for his comrades. He will get immediately in contact with the senior British and American officers of Stalag Luft 1 in order to settle all welfare matters directly. This will certainly bring about the best solution to the problem of providing the British and American patients of this lazaret with the necessary continuous assistance, granted under the regulations of the Geneva Convention.

        Provided that the collaboration with the authorities works well as it is to be foreseen, no objection can be made to have the British and American prisoners of war of Stalag Luft 1 treated here together with those of other nationalities.

        The patients are all in a very high spirit. Their healing process can be considered normal. As soon as their health is completely restored, they will be sent back to Stalag Luft 1.

XI. FULL PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN P.O.W. AT PRESENT UNDER TREATMENT IN THIS LAZARET.

1. Steyn, Jerry, born in Johannesburg on 19.4.19.

POW No. 1540

Wife: Catherine Steyn, 87 Elbans Ave. Johannesburg, S.A.

admitted 29.3.44.

Diagnosis: duodenal ulcer.

Prognosis: improvement to be expected in about 4 weeks.

2. Sorel, Simon, born in Bastia on 21.6.17.

POW No. 1382

Friend. Tilde Salmond, 7 rua d.Pedro V, Lisbon

admitted 29.3.44

Diagnosis: Gastritis

Prognosis: Recovery to be expected in 3-5 weeks.

3. Paton, Thomas, born in Saltcoats on 12.12.18.

POW No. 1603

Wife: Ann Paton, Heywood, Lancs, Manchester Rd. The Woodlands

admitted 14.3.44.

Diagnosis: meniscus injury.

Prognosis: will heal in about a month.

4. Johnston, George, born in Castle Douglas on 14.11.17.

POW No. 1592

Father: Archibald Johnston, Alston, Lornhouse, Cumberland.

admitted 29.3.44.

Diagnosis: Stomach ulcer.

5. Robbertse, Peter, born in Dulstroom on 17.4.18.

POW No. 1741

Father: Josef Robbertse, Johannesburg, 27 Streatly Ave. S.A.

admitted 14.3.44.

Diagnosis: stomach ulcer.

Prognosis: improvement hoped for in about 3 weeks. In case of deterioration operation available.

6. Williams, Gordon, born in Te Aroha on 26.12.20.

POW No. 1454

Mother: Doris Williams, Melville Hamilton, 8 Tava St. N.Z.

admitted 25.1.44.

Diagnosis: inflammation of forehead and cribiform cells (Stirn-und Siebbeinzellenentzüdung)

Prognosis: improvement to be expected in about a month.

AMERICAN:

1. Weeks, Neil, born in Riparia on 22.5.19.

Serv. No. 19032204

Wife: Charlotte Weeks, Denver 3203 Madison, Colorado USA.

admitted: 21.4.44.

Diagnosis: general contusions with several small splinters in shoulder, lower arm and right fore-finger.

Prognosis: will heal in about 4 weeks.

2. Maynor, William, born in Goodwater on 27.5.16.

POW No. 2285

Wife: Mildred Maynor, Oklohoma City, 3008 North West 28, USA.

admitted: 14.3.44.

Diagnosis: injury to right shoulder

Prognosis: discharged after about a month with slight contraction in shoulder-joint.

3. Linneham, Arthur, born in Boston on 3.6.19.

POW No. 2192

Wife: Barbara Linneham, Vallejo, 15 Alameda Str. Cal. USA.

admitted. 14.3.44.

Diagnosis: old badly healed fore-finger fracture with splinters which have been removed.

Prognosis: will be discharged in about 10 days with partial stiffening of finger.

4. Beach, Warren, born in Bristol on 27.11.15.

POW No. 3164

Mother: Helen Beach, 20 Bellevue Ave. Bristol, Conn.

admitted 14.3.44.

Diagnosis: badly healed fracture of lower leg. Good callous growth.

Prognosis: capable of working in about 3 months.

5. Fisher, James, born in Saint Louis on 21.12.14.

POW No. 1708

Father: James Fisher, Cloyton, 6401 Alamo Str. Miss.

admitted: 28.1.44.

Diagnosis: badly healed lower arm fracture.

Prognosis: expected to heal in 2-3 months.

6. Nesbitt, Wayne, born in Greeley on 25.11.17.

POW No. 1454

Father: Joseph Nesbitt, Greeley, Rt. 4. Box 224 Colo.

admitted: 13.4.44.

Diagnosis: chronic gonorhoea.

Prognosis: cure to be expected in about 3 weeks.

Berlin, May 1st, 1944.

WALTER BRAUN.