No.44

CONFIDENTIAL

STALAG VIII B

Date of visit: November 28th, 1942.

Camp Commander: Fregatten-Kapitaen Gylek.

Abwehr-Offizier: Hauptmann Birkhoff.

British Man of Confidence: S.M. S. Sherriff.

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        There is no change in the general outset of the camp since last visit.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        At the time of the visit there were:

                6271 prisoners in the main camp (of whom 857 R.A.F. and 406 in the lazaret)

              13120 prisoners in 289 working detachments

                  973 prisoners in 17 Jewish working detachments

              20364

        Since the 8th October 2300 prisoners are in chains (of whom 800 R.A.F.) the rest being prisoners captured at Dieppe. The whole length of the chains used is 80 centimetres leaving a freedom between the hands of about 40 to 50 cenitmetres; the chains are not heavy and the men are in chains from 8 in the morning till 9 o'clock at night; all the men in chains are reunited in the special compound which used to be the R.A.F. compound. They are specially watched and there are 170 prisoners in each room which means that the lower beds of the triple-tier bunks are used; as the floors are cement floors, it is of course rather unhealthy; besides there is an order that the prisoners must not sit or lie on their beds between 9 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon and as there are sitting facilities in the rooms only for 120 men, the others have to stand which makes things even harder for these prisoners. The Camp Commander stated that these harder conditions are only temporary and that they would cease when the chaining of prisoners would stop.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        For the rest of the camp no change in the interior arrangements; however, after the last visit of the Legation's representatives, the R.A.F. were no longer treated otherwise than the other prisoners and were entitled to the same privileges.

        The lighting in the rooms was improved since October, more and stronger bulbs have been provided.

        A very serious question is the question of blankets; since the German blankets have been taken from the prisoners some months ago, none has been restored to them and at present there is no longer one German blanket in the main camp; this means that prisoners actually rely only on the Red Cross blankets and on the private ones they have received from home. The Man of Confidence redistributed the Red Cross blankets, giving one only to the men who have a private one and two to the others; thus most of the prisoners have now 2 blankets; however, many prisoners are still in need and specially the repatriables who certainly ought to have three blankets in winter as they are not able to take enough exercise to get warm. The Man of Confidence asked if the I.R.C.C. could not send some 5000 blankets to the camp specially as many working detachments are also in need of more.

        As it was established that in many working detachments as well as in several camps of the Wehrkreis VIII there is either lack of blankets or that the blankets issued are often too small or too thin, the whole question will be discussed with the General Commandeur of the Prisoners of War of that Wehrkreis and, if necessary, with the German High Command.

        However, in the meantime and for the welfare of the British prisoners of war, it would be advisable that the I.R.C.C. should send at once as many blankets as possible to this camp.

IV.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES

        The deficiency in the water supply of the upper part of the camp referred to in the last repot has been somewhat corrected, a new water pump having been installed and the water supply was said to be now sufficient.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        Nothing to report.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        The private cooking on the stoves in the rooms is no longer allowed because it seems that some prisoners of war have been using some pieces of furniture as fuel. The consequence is, that, since some time the Red Cross parcels' food which has to be cooked or warmed up is cooked in common in the main kitchen for the whole camp, the prisoners receiving personally only the cold food as for instance biscuits, cheese, chocolate, butter, jam etc. This was organised in collaboration with the Man of Confidence and it seems that it is working well and that there was no seriously complaint about it.

        Since last visit spoons have been issued but no forks.

        A small cut in the rations of German food was ordered some time ago under the pretence that as the prisoners receive so many parcels, some of the German food is wasted; this was discussed with the Camp Commander who stated that this was done in accordance with a general order from the German High Command, but that in case if the prisoners should receive in the future less parcels or no parcels at all the full German rations would at once be restored. This will be checked on next visit.

        The situation with regard to the Red Cross parcels has greatly improved; all working detachments have been provided and they have now an average of 8 weeks issue. The main camp has a stock for two months.

        Owing to the new system referred to heretofore the main camp is using most of the bulk food, sending chiefly the individual parcels to the detachments.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        There is no change in the general outlines of both the infirmary and the hospital.

        All the sanitators are now recognised and paid as such.

        On the day of visit there were 406 patients cared for at both stations the largest part of them are minor working accidents.

        Dental treatment is satisfactory. A consignment of material has been sent by the Red Cross which has been very much appreciated and gives the facilities to do more effective work.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        The clothing and footwear in this camp as well as in most of the working detachments is in very bad condition; suits and specially trousers are wearing out rapidly and the Man of Confidence stated that his stocks are nearly exhausted; he is in urgent need of a new shipment from Geneva and has already made an application to that effect.

        The Man of Confidence said that since he camp to the camp in 1940 less than one towel was issued per man; less than a greatcoat and a little over a suit or battledress were issued per man as an average. 30,000 pairs of boots were issued since the existence of the camp.

        The Man of Confidence asked too if the boots sent by the Red Cross could not be studded before being sent as this work was difficult to carry out in the camp.

        Could not tooth brushes been sent from the I.R.C.C.; the Man of Confidence stated that since the captivity this camp has received only one toothbrush for 5 men, although he knows that other camps have been much better provided in that respect.

        A few overalls have been provided for the men working outside the camp but by far not enough; that is a difficult question as the German authorities emphasize that it is nearly impossible to buy any.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        Nothing to report.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        The members of the Fields Ambulance Units are now regularly paid as sanitators.

        Nothing else to report.

XI.) CANTEEN

        The canteen is still very badly stocked; as in many other parts of Germany it is becoming more and more difficult to buy the articles needed. Therefore if some items as toilet-paper, razor-blades, toothpaste, boot-polish, all sorts of brushes etc. could be sent, it would mean a great help to the prisoners.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        There are now in the camp

                2 Church of England padre;

                1 Baptist padre;

                1 Roman Catholic padre.

        As they have to visit the working parties this number of chaplains is considered as not sufficient and the German High Command will be asked to transfer to the camp another Church of England and, if possible, one Roman Catholic padre.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        Since the 8th October when the tying up of some prisoners began all the entertainments have been stopped as well as the school, the reason given being that the tied up prisoners cannot be mixed with the others and that it would not be fair to them to deprive them of entertainments when the others are allowed to enjoy them.

XIV.) MAIL

        The mail restrictions have not altogether been removed; the number of letters delivered is decided by the German authorities for every month; for the present period all letters are delivered to the prisoners.

        A complaint about mail from the Jewish prisoners to their non-British relatives will be dealt with under point XVI below.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        This camp is regularly visited by representatives of the I.R.C.C. and the Y.M.C.A.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        (1) There was a complaint that cards sent by British Jewish prisoners to their non-British relatives in Poland have been returned to the senders with the mention "Empfaenger Jude". This question was already taken up by the Man of Confidence with the Camp authorities but the German High Command will be asked to take position about it.

        (2) The Man of Confidence complained that in Working detachment E 390 Patschkau, some prisoners had to pay for boot-repairs; the Camp authorities asked about it stated that an enquiry would be made and if proved true, orders would be given to stop that practice.

        (3) The Man of Confidence stated that prisoners working in the working detachment E 228 Neutitschein complained that their work was connected with the fabrication of parts of aeroplanes; the Camp Commander did not know anything about it but an enquiry will be made.

        (4) The Man of Confidence brought to the knowledge of the Legation's representatives the two following questions connected with the tying up of prisoners. It seems that many N.C.Os. who were tied up volunteered for work to avoid it and were sent to working detachment. The consequence was first that other prisoners had to be tied up to make up the total number of prisoners tied up and that even some slightly sick men are now among them, secondly, that a number of sanitators are now employed in place of these prisoners, for instance in the kitchen, for the handling and distribution of Red Cross parcels etc.; these occupations are summarised by the Camp authorities as work for the common welfare of the camp; the Legation's representatives protested against it with the Camp Commander and emphasized the fact that sanitators are not and ought not to be treated with the German High Command. However, the Swiss Legation acting as Protecting Power would be interested to know the British Government's opinion over the sanitators' question.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        The new Camp Commander is doubtless willing to treat the prisoners as fairly as possible; he has instituted a meeting every saturday morning with the Man of Confidence who has thus the possibility to discuss freely everything concerning the prisoners; the collaboration was said to be therefore easy and effective.

WORKING DETACHMENT E189 - Lamsdorf

Date of visit: November 27, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Sgt. Staley, p.o.w. No.571.

        35 British prisoners of war of whom 20 are N.C.Os. working voluntarily.

        The prisoners are working in a saw-mill in the village of Lamsdorf at about a mile from the main camp Stalag VIII B.

        They are paid 70 pfg. a day and the working conditions are fair: 9 hours of work daily and Sundays free; if exceptionally the men have to work on a Sunday they receive a free day during the week.

        The accommodation of the whole camp is in a stone building on the factory's premises and comprises a very large sleeping room with a large dining and recreation hall adjacent.

        The prisoners are sleeping in double-tier beds, each one having two blankets supplied by the employer; some of them have additional private blankets.

        There is a good stove in each room and enough fuel provided. The rooms are well lighted.

        There is a washroom with cold running water but the prisoners have to wash in basins.

        The bathing facilities are lacking and up to now the men had to wash themselves in their small basins with hot water provided by the kitchen. This of course is not sufficient and it was arranged with the accompanying German Officer that in future they would go once a week to the main camp to have a bath there.

        The toilet facilities are in the same building and adequate.

        The food is cooked for the prisoners by a woman and there was no complaint about it.

        The Red Cross food parcels were up to now issued at the rate of one parcel per week per man; there was on the day of the visit a stock for 5 weeks.

        The clothing condition is not too good; every man has two suits but many are in a bad condition. The condition of the footwear is not too bad. Clothes and boots are repaired in the main camp.

        The laundry is done for the prisoners by the woman who does the cooking and the prisoners are satisfied with that arrangement.

        There is no proper canteen in the camp but the needed articles can be bought at the Stalag's canteen and the Man of Confidence is allowed to go once a month to the main camp.

        Good recreation and sport facilities; books received regularly from the Stalag's library; good sport-field and walks outside the camp on Sundays.

        There is no recognised sanitator in this camp but one of the prisoners who used to work in a hospital is looking after his comrades; he disposes of the necessary drugs, ointments and dressings to give effective treatment; for medical as well as dental treatment the prisoners have to go to the Stalag. In case of urgency the car of the employer is available.

        This small camp makes definitely a good impression; there was no complaint about the treatment and except for the lack of bathing facilities referred to, everything was found in good order.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 510 - Boesdorf

Date of visit: November 27, 1942.

Brit. Man of Confidence: Corp. Jackson, p.o.w. No. E 24/101.

        29 British prisoners of war.

        This is only a provisory camp which exists only during about 6 weeks for the sugar campaign; the work consists in loading sugar-beets at the railway station.

        The pay is 70 pfg. a day and the men have to work 10 hours daily; they have regularly 24 hours free every week.

        The prisoners are sleeping and living in a single large room furnished with double-tier beds, tables and benches. Each man has two blankets.

        The washing facilities are rather primitive, the prisoners having to wash in basins, 5 basins being provided for the whole camp. The bathing facilities are inexistent. A complaint about it was made to the accompanying German Officer but, as the camp is going to be closed soon it is too late to do anything about it.

        Toilet facilities of the pit type can be considered as sufficient.

        The food is prepared by a woman and there was no complaint about it.

        The Red Cross parcels were issued at the rate of one parcel per week per man.

        The clothing conditions are not very good; each prisoner has only one uniform and many are rather worn out.

        The prisoners can play foot-ball and have only a few indoor games as they are only for a short time in this camp.

        There is no recognised sanitator in the camp but the prisoners are being take care of by one of them who has some medical knowledge.

        For medical examination and dental treatment the prisoners have to go to the civilian surgeon in the nearby village.

        In case of urgency an ambulance car is available.

        The material conditions in this camp are certainly not what they should be; but as the camp is going to be closed soon no special representations will be made to the German authorities.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 161 - Ziegenhals

Date of visit: November 28, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Bombardier Joseph Davenport, p.o.w. No. 45/55-Crete.

        42 British prisoners of war.

        The prisoners are working in a paper-mill; 12 of them work 12 hours a day at the machines and the others work 9 hours. No Sunday work; the pay is 70 pfg. a day.

        The camp where the prisoners live is at about ten minutes from the factory and situated in a small valley surrounded by fields and woods. It is composed of two one storey stone buildings separated by a large yard, the whole inside the barbed wire compound.

        In one building are two rooms and in the other one.

        There is enough space in the rooms which are furnished with double tier beds, tables and benches. Each prisoner has 4 blankets provided by the factory.

        In one of the buildings the washing facilities are adequate with running cold water installation in the room; in the other building there is only a tap in the room and the prisoners have to wash in basins out in the yard; it was pointed out to the German accompanying Officer that it would not do in winter and that some installation inside the building ought to be made; he promised to take the necessary steps in that respect.

        Bathing facilities in the factory; possibility for the prisoners to have a hot shower bath whenever they want.

        Toilet facilities of the pit type installed in the courtyard; are emptied often enough and can be considered as sufficient.

        The food is cooked by a woman in the factory and the prisoners eat their lunch there; for the men who are not working and on Sundays the food is brought to the camp and, if necessary, warmed up there again. There was no complaint about it.

        One parcel per man was issued up to now and at the time of the visit there was in the camp a stock of 35 parcels only.

        There is in each room a stove where private cooking can be done.

        Each prisoner in this camp has two suits but they are in a rather bad condition.

        The laundry is either done by the men themselves or washed by the woman in the factory who does the cooking.

        There is no canteen in the camp but the prisoners can have the articles they need bought in town.

        The camp received once a visit from a padre from the Stalag.

        Sport facilities good; however, a new football is needed.

        Indoor games are provided but new playing cards are wanted too as well as some musical instruments (guitar and piano accordion); these wishes will be communicated to the Y.M.C.A.

        The incoming mail was said to be regular.

        For medical attention up to now the prisoners were looked after by two of them with some medical experience; however, it was found necessary to have a recognised sanitator in this camp and the accompanying officer promised to have one sent as soon as possible from the Stalag.

        Apart from that, medical attention and dental treatment satisfactory.

        This camp makes a good impression and when the question of washing facilities and the sanitator are settled satisfactorily, it will be a good detachment.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 348 - Neisse.

Date of visit: November 27, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Corp. Crocker.

        27 British prisoners of war.

        The prisoners are working in a mill situated in the town of Neisse. They are paid 70 pfg. a day and work 8 hours daily in 3 shifts. They have one day off every week mostly Sunday.

        The accommodation is on the second floor of a large stone building on the mill's premises.

        The prisoners are sleeping and living in a very large room furnished with mostly single and a few double-tier beds; each man has two blankets. There are enough tables and benches provided. The room is well heated by central heating and well lighted.

        The washing facilities on the same floor are adequate and the men can have a hot shower bath every day at the factory.

        The latrines are outside the building and for the night there is, as in many camps, a bucket in a corner of the room. As the room is very large and airy it is in this case not inconvenient.

        The food is cooked in a restaurant nearby and brought to the camp. At a time the food was not good but the Man of Confidence complained about it and it seems that it has improved since and is now satisfactory.

        The Red Cross parcels were issued up to now at the rate of one a week per man and there was at the time of the visit a stock of 309 parcels.

        A small kitchen has been built in the courtyard of the factory where prisoners have an opportunity to cook their private food and enough fuel is put at their disposal for that purpose.

        Some of the prisoners have two suits but many are still provided with one only. They are in general not in very good condition and are wearing out rapidly.

        There is a small canteen in the camp not too badly stocked, considering the present conditions.

        The sport facilities are sufficient, the prisoners being allowed to play regularly football and cricket.

        They have some musical instruments, indoor games and receive regularly books from the Stalag.

        The incoming mail was not very good recently; letters from England take an average of 4 to 5 weeks.

        There is no recognised sanitator in the camp but one of the prisoners with medical knowledge from his civilian life is looking after his comrades. He disposes of all the necessary material to give effective treatment.

        The military German doctor can be visited in town at fixed hours; in case of urgency the patients are brought by ambulance car to the town hospital.

        This is not a bad camp; the material conditions are satisfactory and the treatment seems to be fair.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 383 - Ratibor

Date of visit: November 28, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Sgt. Major Hewett, p.o.w. No.18684.

        263 British prisoners of war.

        This is a permanent camp for about 25 prisoners who are working in a Sugar Factory; for the time of the sugar campaign which lasts about 3 months, the number of prisoners employed, is greatly increased as it is the season when the sugar-beets are delivered to the factories.

        Prisoners are paid RM 1.20 per day; the working hours are different for the different sorts of work; it has been agreed between the employer and the prisoners that they are to work every Sunday without day off in the week till the end of the campaign but that at the end of it they will have as many days free and paid as they have worked on Sundays.

        The camp is composed of newly erected wooden barracks situated near the factory at the outskirts of the town. 22 men are lodged in each room which means that they are slightly crowded but, as it is only for a short time, no representation has been made; they sleep in the usual double-tier beds; 153 men have only one blanket which is, of course, absolutely insufficient for this time of the year. It was, however, said that more blankets have already been ordered and are expected any time.

        There is a large iron stove between two rooms which can be used for the cooking of private food; the rooms were found warm. They are well lighted.

        The washing facilities are sufficient; they are installed in a special room at the end of one of the barracks; there is running cold water and two large boilers for the supply of hot water.

        Hot shower-baths can be taken every day at the factory; however of the two showers only one is functioning, the other one being out of order. The manager of the factory who was present at the visit, was asked to have it repaired at once and the Lt.Colonel Schaefer, Commandant of the guards' battalion, gave order that it had to be repaired within two days and a report sent to him.

        The latrines are of the pit type in a special wooden barrack; they are well installed and were found clean and adequately disinfected.

        The cooking is done by women in cooperation with a British prisoner; the kitchen is well installed and clean and there was no complaint about the food. One parcel per week per man was issued up to now; there was at the time of the visit 8 weeks' stock.

        Like in most of the detachments of the Stalag VIII B visited, the clothing condition can be described as rather bad. However, in this factory overalls are provided by the employer for the men doing the dirtiest works.

        The laundry is given out to be washed in town, the men having no time to do their own washing.

        There is no canteen in this camp and the articles needed have to be bought in town; unfortunately there is not much for sale at the present moment; some lemonade can be obtained but not much.

        Indoor games and books have been sent from the Stalag.

        There is a sports field which was used before the campaign started, but at the present time prisoners have not much time for games and sports.

        The mail was said to be arriving fairly well now.

        There is an infirmary furnished with a dressing table and four beds; two recognised sanitators are in charge; they asked for the privilege of walks outside the camp which was granted at once.

        Medical attention and dental treatment are satisfactory.

        The general impression of this camp is not a bad one; if it were occupied the whole time by so many prisoners, some improvements ought to be done, as for example, a recreation room, but for a short period it can be considered as sufficient in its present state.

        The manager of the factory seems somewhat reluctant to do much for the prisoners, but it must be said that the Lt.Colonel commanding the guards battalion, is extremely fair to the prisoners and that his attitude towards the employer is very energetic in view to get what he is asking for.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 494 - Gleiwitz

Date of visit: November 28, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Sgt. Radnidge, p.o.w. No. 95801.

        104 British prisoners of war.

        This camp, situated near a railway station at the outskirts of the town, is composed of newly erected wooden barracks.

        The prisoners do railway work and they work 9 hours a day; for the last two months they worked two Sundays out of three without compensation during the week but they were told recently that in future there will be no Sunday work. They are paid 70 pfg. a day.

        The prisoners are lodged in large rooms with accommodation for about 70; they sleep in double-tier beds and each man has a sheet and two blankets. The rooms are well heated but the light is insufficient specially as the men take their meals and spend their time in their rooms. The accompanying officer and the camp leader were asked to improve the lighting and they promised to do so at once.

        The prisoners asked to have these large rooms partitioned in two as it would be more comfortable for them and this was granted by the employer.

        The washing and bathing facilities are in a special barrack; there is running water with 28 taps and ten hot showerbaths; this barrack is heated by central heating.

        In the same building there is a drying room for the laundry and clothes.

        Toilet facilities in a special barrack are adequate.

        The cooking is done by a civilian cook under the control of the camp leader. There was no complaint about the food.

        Red Cross parcels have been issued up to now at the rate of one parcel a week per man and at the time of the visit there were 5 issues in stock.

        Private cooking is done partly in a specially erected kitchen or on the stoves in the rooms.

        Clothing in pretty bad condition specially the trousers; only half the men have two suits. The Man of Confidence applied some time ago to the Stalag but there is hardly any Red Cross stuff now there. Boots in bad condition too.

        There is a cobbler in the camp but it is very difficult to receive leather for repairing the boots.

        The prisoners wash their own laundry.

        There is no canteen in the camp but the prisoners are allowed to buy at the canteen for civilian workers nearby; it is relatively well stocked considering the present conditions.

        Up to now the camp was never visited by a padre from the Stalag.

        The mail was said to have been rather slow last month.

        A room has recently been put at the disposal of the prisoners as theatre and a stage has already been built.

        There are not enough indoor games, playing cards, books and musical instruments in the camp and these wishes will be communicated to the Y.M.C.A.

        Sport facilities adequate.

        One recognised British sanitator is in charge of the infirmary consisting at present only of a dressing room; a sick ward with six beds will be installed in the near future. A British doctor comes twice a week from a nearby camp.

        In cases of urgency the patients are sent to the town's hospital.

        The dental treatment consists of extractions only, which have to be paid for. This matter will be discussed with the High German Authorities.

        This is a fairly good camp and the German Camp Leader seems to be fair to the prisoners and to understand their needs. The cooperation between him and the Man of Confidence seems good.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 480 - Didierwerke Gleiwitz

Date of visit: November 28, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Sgt. Kew, p.o.w. No. 15025.

        93 British prisoners of war.

        This camp is installed in three wooden barracks in a small compound in the town.

        The prisoners are working in a brick factory; they are working 10 hours a day and have as a rule one Sunday free out of three; the Legation's representatives protested with the German Accompanying Officer but it seems that the order from the German High Command to the effect that prisoners of war may have to work two Sundays every month has not yet been withdrawn, notwithstanding the previous strong representations of the Protecting Power; this question will be taken up again with the German High Command. Prisoners are paid 70 pfg. a day.

        The men are sleeping 22 in a room which means a slight overcrowding considering that there is no recreation room in the camp and that the prisoners have to stay always in their rooms. They are sleeping in the usual type of double-tier bunks, each prisoner being provided with 2 blankets from the firm. They are taking their meals in their rooms. The rooms are well heated and well lighted.

        The washing facilities are installed in a part of one of the barracks with 28 taps of running cold water. Hot showerbaths in the factory every day.

        Toilet facilities of the flush type adequate and clean. At night toilet buckets in the entrance of each room.

        The cooking is done by a woman at the factory and there was no complaint about it. Private cooking can be done either on the stoves in the rooms or on a special stove installed in the washhouse.

        Up to now Red Cross food parcels have been issued at the rate of one a week per man and at the time of the visit there was a stock of 638 parcels.

        The clothing condition can be described as rather bad; half of the prisoners only have two suits. On the other hand the boots are in good condition. There are in the camp a cobbler and a tailor who can do small repairs but they have no machines and have to do all the work by hand.

        The laundry is sent out to town and there was no complaint about it.

        Prisoners are allowed to buy at the canteen of the factory; beer is obtainable there but other articles are rather scarce.

        Up to now the camp was never visited by a padre from the Stalag. The accompanying German Officer was asked to arrange for one to be sent for a visit.

        The weak side in this camp is the lack of a recreation room and of sport facilities, the compound being too small to include a sport field; although there would be enough space for a recreation barrack. The accompanying German Officer was asked to consider these questions and promised to do his best to have them settled satisfactorily.

        Sport outfits, indoor games as well as boots are provided.

        The mail was said to be regular.

        A recognised sanitator is in charge of the infirmary consisting of a dressing room and a sick ward with three beds.

        The medical attention is satisfactory.

        As for the dental treatment it does not comply with the conditions agreed upon as only extractions are carried out and have to be paid for.

        The Legation's representatives were told that this is in accordance with a new order from the German High Command; therefore this matter will be discussed with higher military authorities.

        This camp, although not particularly good, specially owing to the town surroundings, which must have a rather depressing effect on the prisoners' mind, will be sufficient when the questions of sport facilities and of a recreation room have been settled.

WORKING DETACHMENT E 62 - Gleiwitz-Steigern

Date of visit: November 28, 1942.

British Man of Confidence: Bombardier Gray, p.o.w. No. 15659.

        51 British prisoners of war.

        This camp is installed in an isolated brick house surrounded by fields at the outskirts of the town. Prisoners have to walk about 15 minutes to their working place.

        They do railway construction work and most of them are working on agreement; they are paid 70 pfg. a day. For some time there was no Sunday work but they were recently told that they might have in future to work two Sundays out of four without compensation in the week. This question will be taken up again with the German high authorities.

        The prisoners are accommodated in 4 rooms, 2 small ones on the ground floor and two larger ones on the first floor; the last ones are attic rooms with very small windows, hot in summer and cold in winter. The men are sleeping in single iron beds without mattresses as they refuse straw to avoid vermin; each man has two blankets but they are worn out, thin and too small. There is a stove in every room but the Man of Confidence complained that the German Camp Captain, an under officer, does not allow them more than one bucket coal a day for each room. Therefore, the rooms are cold and, as there is no recreation room, the prisoners have to stay during  their free time in their rooms where there is not enough space and by daylight not enough light owing to the very small windows.

        There is no washroom and the prisoners have to wash in basins; there is no water whatsoever in the camp and all the water, as well for the washing as for the cooking has to be carried from a distance of about 500 meters.

        Bathing facilities at the factory where the men can have hot showerbaths whenever they want.

        Latrines in the courtyard, of the pit type; can be considered as sufficient.

        As night latrines buckets in the rooms; as these have very low ceilings and small windows, one can imagine the smell in the morning.

        The food is cooked in a small kitchen in the building by two prisoners. The men receive heavy workers' rations and there was no serious complaint about the food. The Man of Confidence was recommended to control the quantity and quality of food given out and to control the proportion of bones in the meat, which seems to be sometimes too large.

        Private cooking can be done in the stoves in the rooms.

        Red Cross food parcels were up to now issued at the rate of one parcel every ten days; 5 issues are on stock.

        Clothing condition fairly good; each prisoner has a battledress as second suit. Boots too are generally in good condition. There is a cobbler in the camp who does shoe repairs but no tailor.

        Laundry is washed by the prisoners themselves but it is hard work as they have to carry the water from so far away.

        There is no canteen in the camp but some articles can be bought in a nearby village.

        This camp was sometimes visited by a padre from the Stalag.

        Football is played every Sunday and the prisoners are very keen about it; they have some indoor games and books are regularly sent by the main camp; some musical instrument are provided but some more would be welcomed; a gramophone was sent 9 months ago by the Y.M.C.A. but never arrived to the camp.

        The mail was said to be regular.

        There was a complaint that the building is infested with mice and rats.

        There is one recognised sanitator working in this camp. For medical attention a German military doctor can be seen.

        On the day of the visit there were two patients.

        The first one already blind from one eye is suffering from an inflammation of the other eye; the German military doctor refused to send him to a specialist. The Legation's representatives insisted on the necessity of special treatment and this man will be sent to the oculist at Kattowitz.

        The second patient is suffering sine a long time from asthmatic bronchitis; he has coughing attacks at night; the Legation's representatives, considering this man unfit for work, asked the German accompanying officer to have him sent back to the Stalag, which was granted.

        Dental treatment unsatisfactory as only extractions are carried out; this question again will be discussed with higher German authorities.

        This camp makes a deplorable impression.

        The accommodation is absolutely insufficient from the hygienical point of view and the lack of light and of space in the rooms must have a depressing effect on the mind of the prisoners. Besides the lack of water supply and the fact that the camp is infested with mice and rats contribute to make this camp one of the worst seen by the Legation's representatives.

        They made strong representations to the German accompanying officer and the German High Command as well as the "Commandeur of Prisoners of War" in the "Wehrkreis VIII" will be asked to take at once the necessary steps to have the prisoners removed from this place.

        The Legation's representatives wish to mention the fact that the British Man of Confidence by his courageous attitude and his excellent morale has succeeded in keeping relatively good spirit among his comrades although himself as well as many of the prisoners have already more than two years in this camp.

Gabriel Naville.

Dr. K. Schaeffeler.

Memorandum

P.W.2.a.

        The following information has reached the Directorate of Prisoners of War from a reliable source. It relates to Stalag VIII B up to 1st December, 1942.

        95% of the Naval prisoners of war are at Bleckhammer work camp, about 50 km. from Lamsdorf. They are believed to be building a synthetic petrol plant. The other 5% are at Lamsdorf, (the main Stalag). This includes the sick. The total Naval strength on 1st December was 475-500.

        The following relates to Lamsdorf only.

        The Naval prisoners of war wear khaki battledress. Most of them have two uniforms in good condition. All have good army greatcoats, and at least one Red Cross and two German blankets. A few have overalls. There are adequate supplies of woollens and underclothes.

        Regimental Sergeant-Major Sheriff runs the camp very efficiently, with Regimental Sergeant-Major Lowe in charge of stores and Sergeant Laurie in charge of schools.

        Red Cross parcels were stopped for all except those at work camps as part of the Dieppe reprisals. Private parcels and bulk issues were not affected. Before the reprisals were imposed every man received half a Red Cross parcel plus the equivalent of bulk issue every week. There was a big reserve.

        Inward mail was limited to four letters and outward mail to one letter and two postcards for the period 10th September to 10th October, and these quantities were doubled from 10th October to 10th November. During some period in November the postal staff were bound, and inward mail stopped. Outgoing mail continued.

        Latrines were pit-type and sufficient. In the summer they have been most insanitary and caused much sickness. There had been a plague of flies. When the latrines are partially emptied, which is done regularly, the contents are spread too close to the camp.

        There are weekly hot showers, and a washing room in each hut. But during the summer, water had been unobtainable in certain compounds for one or two days owing to a defective pumping engine.

        All departing and arriving men are deloused.

        The medical attention is good. Collaboration between the British doctors and the one German doctor seems to be satisfactory. The British doctors appear to have control. Medical supplies and special nourishing foods such as malt are plentiful.

        Treatment is not too bad, and was rumoured to be tolerable at Bleckhammer.

        The buildings are brick huts with concrete floors, each hut being divided into sleeping quarters for 180 men (three flat bunks), wash room, and mess. There are too few tables, but the men have probably burned many.

        Jan 43.

        MAYfair 9400/.......