CONFIDENTIAL

No.113

Date of visit: March 13th, 1943.

BAU & ARBEITSBATAILLON 21 and BAU & ARBEITSBATAILLON 48 are as from the 14th of March amalgamated and will form one camp called:

BAU & ARBEITSBATAILLON 21

Camp commander: Oberstlt. Haenelt

        1198 British prisoners of war, including some 300 naval men.

        On the day of the visit the camp was in course of reorganisation and it is impossible to describe the new camp inasmuch as many points have not yet been decided. The scheme is to bring both camps together in one compound, to have only one theatre, one chapel and one revier.

        The visit was devoted chiefly to interviews with the camp commanders and the Man of Confidence of both bataillons; there was no complaint about anything but the Men of Confidence expressed their views about the reorganisation of the camp; they are very anxious to know who will be the new Man of Confidence for the whole camp; further they expressed the fear that the excellent spirit which existed in both bataillons might be spoiled through the amalgamation; specially the Man of Confidence of Bataillon 21 who, through his courage and spirit of enterprise, had built up one of the best camps in Germany expressed the opinion that if, as it was already talked of, all the common institutions (theatre, orchestra, chapel, library, revier etc.) were to be transferred to the Bataillon 48 side of the new camp and on the other hand about 200 men from the Bataillon 48 transferred to the Bataillon 21 side of the new camp, first it might lead to some difficulties with the prisoners of Bataillon 21 and secondly the accommodation (washhouses, latrines etc.) would not be adequate. Further it was asked for a special Protestant chapel in the new camp. It was asked too that the naval men be lodged together in rooms of their own.

        All these questions were discussed between the Legation's representatives and the new camp commander; the latter said that he was perfectly aware of all these difficulties, that no final decision was made and that nothing will be changed in haste; he wants to reorganise the camp step by step and with the collaboration of the prisoners; thus the Legation's representatives suggested to have a committee formed comprising 2 medical officers, the Men of Confidence and the British Coys representatives of both bataillons which would discuss everything and work in cooperation with the Camp commander.

        It is believed that these difficulties will be easily overcome and that everything will settle down satisfactorily within a few weeks.

        The Protestant padre asked for a cup for the communion and his wish will be communicated to the YMCA.

        There are in stock Red Cross parcels for about 11 weeks.

        The clothing condition was said to be generally good.

        For the time being there are still two separately working infirmaries, but in a near future they shall be amalgamated in the actual compound of bataillon 48. Capt. Davidson and Capt. Lake shall remain in charge of the medical attention in the new united camp. However, it is not yet known what will be the definite organisation of the new infirmary.

        At the present time there are 29 patients in both infirmaries together. There is still a rather large amount of boils and furunculosis met with at the sick parade. From what he observed and experienced in many other camps, the doctor delegate comes to the conclusion that this somewhat high frequency of acute follicular inflammation and especially the bad healing tendency is not due to an absence of vitamins, but to a lack of butter. One must keep count of the fact that neither the German food nor the British Red Cross parcels provide butter. The only butter the prisoners of war get is contained in the Canadian and South American parcels, which do not arrive very frequently. By studying the statistics in the different camps the doctor delegate definitely observed that there is a decrease in the frequency of these affections when the prisoners of war consume these latter parcels, whilst vitamin preparations and vitaminised margarine seem to be without any obvious effect. It would therefore be advisable to provide the prisoners of war with a greater amount of butter containing parcels.

        No serious working accident was reported and the British doctors do not consider that the rate of working accidents is abnormal.

        Besides no change since last visit of November 30, 1942.

Gabriel Naville

Dr. Aloys Schnieper