Stalag 344,

Germany,

8th December 1944.

Sirs,

        I respectfully beg to submit the following report on the air attack of 2nd December 1944, which resulted in the deaths of 28 British Prisoners of War at Arb.Kdo.E/793 (formerly Bau. u. Arb. Battn. 21), and deaths of 2 British Prisoners of War at Working Party E/3, Blechhammer as reported in my letter of 7th December 1944, ref: 4/3886.

E/793

        At 1135 hours on Saturday, 2nd December 1944, the Air Raid Warning was wounded in the area, and aircraft were overhead at 1220 hours.

        During the raid, which lasted until 1315 hours, seven bombs fell within the camp, of which two struck an air raid shelter, thereby causing the deaths of 28 British Prisoners of War, and injuring a further 28.

        There were 65 prisoners of war in this shelter, which was constructed of unreinforced concrete, about forty centimetres thick with arched roof and built in the form of a letter "U".

        The dead were badly mutilated, everyone having sustained severe head injuries, while the majority had also suffered broken limbs. Two bodies were very badly crushed.

        Of the remaining five bombs, one fell about ten yards from a shelter in the East Camp, but causing no casualties: another fell between two barracks in the East Camp, destroying three barrack-rooms and a wash-house and injuring four men. A third fell about fifteen yards from a new shelter in the East Camp causing no casualties: the fourth on the west side of the football ground damaging two barrack-rooms, and the fifth fell between two barracks in the West Camp destroying two rooms.

        As the result of these bombs falling inside the Camp and of others which fell outside the wire, every building in the Camp has either been destroyed or damaged, including the Red Cross Food and Parcel Store, and the Red Cross Clothing Store, both of which were situated about fifty yards outside the Main Gate of the Camp. One bomb dropped about 30 yards from these Stores, hitting a barrack which caught fire and completely gutted in a few minutes.

        There is still a delayed action bomb outside the wire to the South of the Medical Inspection Room, and another a little outside the West corner of the [unreadable due to a torn page, but probably 'Camp']. The presence of those bombs have made it necessary for the men occupying one [?] barrack, as well as men from two rooms of another barrack, the Medical Officer and the Medical Orderlies to move to safer quarters.

        But for the fact that only five hundred of the Camp's complement of eleven hundred and sixty-nine were in the Camp at the time, the casualties would almost certainly have been far greater.

        All the dead were identified.

        At 1500 hours, the Man of Confidence, Sgt. R. Davies, requested permission to telegraph to the Protecting Power, the International Red Cross Society, and to RSM Sherriff, as he hoped they would be able to go to the camp immediately, but was told that as all telegraph communications were cut, that could not be done until the following day. I was acquainted with the incident on Sunday, 3rd December, and I travelled to the Working Party on Monday, 4th December.

        All water and electricity supplies were cut, and even after darkness fell there was a steadiness about the men in the camp which was commendable.

        The Man of Confidence approached the authorities for permission for all personnel to leave the camp in future air raid alarms, and that was granted.

        On Sunday, 3rd December, at 1130 hours, the Air Raid Alarm was sounded, and the Camp moved out quickly and in an orderly manner. That was quite a new experience for the men who, having always remained in the camp during an air-raid, felt considerably relieved to be able to move towards comparative safety.

        Food rations, supplied by the German authorities, which were destroyed, have not yet been replaced. The diet has been provided from small stocks of Red Cross food.

E/3

        During the same air attack, a lesser number of bombs fell within the Camp area, and consequently casualties and damage was much lighter; 2 British Prisoners of War losing their lives and 13 being injured.

        Here, a part of one barrack was destroyed, the men's kitchen very badly damaged as were several other living barracks.

        Here again, the presence of a delayed action bomb, buried in the football ground, has necessitated the evacuation of the men from the adjacent barracks, they having to double-up in other barracks within the Camp.

        The same procedures for evacuation of the Camp was followed as at Arb.Kdo.E/793 during the subsequent air-raid alarms, except at this Kdo. a number of men were detailed by the German authorities to remain in Camp, presumably to form a fire-fighting party, although no direct water supply was available.

        I would mention that the men in both camps, which are adjoining, have shown extreme steadiness under these very trying conditions. They are to be commended for that as also are the M.O. and N.C.O. in charge of the Camps.

        In connection with this, I would like to mention especially those, details of whom are given below, who, through their willingness and unselfish spirit rendered such [good?] assistance in rescuing wounded men, extricating the dead, and salvaging such material as was possible from the ruined barrack rooms, thereby also materially assisting the Medical Officer and His Orderlies in their work.

        As soon as it became known that a shelter had been hit, these men left their own shelter, and before the aircraft had left the area, working unceasingly until the last of the injured and last body had been extricated from the debris.