CONFIDENTIAL

No.576.

BRITISH

Date of visit: September 19th, 1944.

BAU- und ARBEITSBATAILLON No.20, HEYDEBRECK O/S.

Camp Commander: Major Sorge

Accompanying Officer from OKW: Hauptmann Jeske

British Man of Confidence: CSM P. McDonald, POW No. 15055

British Medical Officer: Capt. W.O. James, POW No. 1301

                                    Capt. R.J. Griffiths, N.Z.E.F. (Padre)

On the day of the visit there were altogether 1037 British prisoners of war in this camp.

A few days after our last visit the former man of confidence, Sgt. J. Lunn has been returned to Lamsdorf and T.S.M. G. Nicholls, POW No. 20824 had been selected by all the POWs as new man of confidence. The tension between the British and the camp commander eased considerably, both parties having made every effort to bring upon this camp better understanding and peace and the old complaints mentioned in our last report had been settled. However, due to the very heavy air-raids on the factory close by and the bombs dropping in the compound, T.S.M. Nicholls had a nervous breakdown and had to be sent to Lamsdorf lazaret, where he is improving. A new man of Confidence had been elected, who, with his coolness and quietness, has done much good in keeping his men in good discipline in spite of the various heavy raids.

The situation of this camp is even closer to the factory than that of Bau- und Arbeitsbataillon No.21 and is also included in the smoke screen area. During the heavy raid of July 7th, 1944 bombs dropped in the compound, killing one man, Pte. Eric Lightwood, POW No. 15721, Regtl. No. 2753487 Black Watch R.H.R. due to caving in of slit-trenches. Ten other POWs have been wounded, 6 of whom were sent to Lamsdorf hospital and 4 having been treated at the revier. One of the barracks was also damaged but was at once being repaired.

After this raid, the camp commander ordered that all POWs in the camp should be taken into the nearby woods outside the smoke screen to prevent any further loss of life, in spite of the OKW order, that all POWs have to remain in the camp during an air-raid.

During the air-raid on August 7th, 1944 17 bombs fell into the compound, demolishing 3 barracks, including the one with the Red Cross store room and damaging others nearby, no lives were lost, since all the POWs were outside the smoke screen. The loss of Red Cross food is 5 1/2 % of Standard parcels and 15 1/2 % bulk food.

During the air-raid on August 22nd, 1944, three POWs were killed in the woods outside the smoke screen by anti-aircraft gun shells and 2 were wounded. Immediately the camp commander ordered slit-trenches to be made in the woods.

According to the British POWs as well as the German authorities all civilian workers and the POWs working in the factory leave the area for the slit-trenches in the woods even before alarm is given. Apparently as soon as planes are approaching, the management of the firm rushes out by car to safety, thus giving the sign to all workers that a raid is due. It appears that the scrambling on the roads on such an occasion is beyond description, thousands of workers, men and women, cars, tricks etc. rush as fast as possible to some safer area outside the smoke screen and if possible outside the belt of anti-aircraft guns. During the raid on September 13th, 1944 Tp. Thomas Cyril Bradbury, POW No. 63, Regtl. No. 5956518 Beds. & Herts. Regt. was killed while being pushed unintentionally underneath a truck in one of the scrambles on the road.

The nerves of all POWs are in a very bad state and their one desire is to be sent back to Lamsdorf or to be sent to another working detachment in a safer region.

The camp commander of Stalag 344 has visited this camp immediately after each air-raid and is fully supporting the Delegate's request for the withdrawal of the POWs from this danger zone. However, since the removal of the camp can only be done by order of the OKW, the matter will be taken up again with that authority. After the raid of August 7th, 1944, the Commanding General of the POWs in the Wehrkreis VIII, General von Wolff visited this camp and when requested by the man of confidence for immediate removal of the POWs from this area, General von Wolff accused him of being a coward. A strong protest was made by the Delegate to General von Wolff on the occasion of a conference while visited Stalag 344 Lamsdorf, requesting again for immediate removal. General von Wolff informed the Delegate, that a protest from the Swiss Legation to the OKW has already been forwarded to him and he is now studying the question of removal the POWs in this danger area to a safer place. The OKW will again be pressed to attend to this matter at once.

A list of the POWs killed and wounded during these raids is attached herewith.

The man of confidence informed the Delegate, that since September 8th, 1944 the issue of French cigarettes has been cut by 50% and is only being delivered to those POWs who are working. Until that day, every POW, whether working or not has been allowed 100 French cigarettes per month. Since this appears to be a new restriction from the OKW, the matter will be discussed with the German High Command.

The closing of the theatre is also affecting this camp. The case is being treated with the OKW.

A further protest in connection with the air-raids is the fire-picket of 36 POWs who have to remain in the compound during a raid to fight fires and to prevent fire from spreading to other barracks, should bombs drop again on barracks. The camp commander informed the Delegate that he could not alter this, as most of his staff has to remain on the ground for the same reason. The OKW will be approached also on this matter.

The following 2 working detachments were represented by their respective man of confidence at this conference to bring forward their complaints and requests:

Working Detachment E 711:

Man of confidence: C.S.M. R.I.J. Bull, POW No. 22147.

744 British prisoners of war.

This detachment is also within the smoke screen zone of this area. Their main complaint is the situation of their camp. This request has already been taken up with the OKW at the same time as for the other camps.

Apparently, the POWs have had no shower since July 16th, 1944. The installation is said to be there, however, due to some deficiency no water is coming through the pipes. The German authorities promised to examine the case and to make the necessary arrangements, that the POWs will get their weekly hot showers.

Working Detachment E 711 a:

Man of confidence: Sgt. C.W. Bessell, POW No. 23842.

340 British prisoners of war.

This camp has been completely bombed out and the POWs shifted to new quarters, which, however, are still in the smoke screen area. The only complaint is the immediate removal of the POWs to safer quarters. This is also one of the camps which has been requested to be withdrawn from the danger area.

A few minor complaints and requests at Bau-und Arbeitsbataillon 20 could be settled on the spot. As mentioned in the beginning, there is a very good understanding between the British POWs and the camp commander prevailing and were it not for the danger zone in which this camp is situated, and the nervous strain, the men would be very content here.

Sig.: Albert A. Kadler.

BAU-und ARBEITSBATAILLON No.20, HEYDEBRECK O/S.