CONFIDENTIAL

BRITISH/INDIAN.

No.617

INDIAN WORK-DETACHMENT 1088 BRALITZ

DEPENDING ON STALAG III C

Date of visit: 15th November 1944.

        A personal visit of the Delegate of the Protecting Power to this detachment had been formally applied for and approved. In the last minute this visit was called off and the Delegate was informed by the German High Command Accompanying Officer that local Authorities objected this particular area to be visited.

        An agreement was reluctantly reached permitting the Indian Man of Confidence to go to Stalag at Altdrewitz to meet the Delegate there. On November 15th 1944, a conference took place, attended by an English speaking German Officer.

        The following is the Indian Man of Confidence's report.

I. Compound of 11 barracks situated in a forest. 80 to 90 or 160 men per barrack.

II. 957 British-Indian prisoners of war. They arrived on September 24th, 1944, from various camps of the Epinal and Koblenz area.

III. Double-tier beds with palliasses, two blankets per man. Tables and benches. No mess hall and no recreation room.

IV. No washing facilities except one water pump. No hot water for washing or bathing since arrival.

V. There are two latrine houses with a total of 32 seats, one of which is in bad repair. Pit type.

VI. Cooking is done by Indian cooks, two boilers of 500 lt each are in operation. Supplies are not in accordance with ration scale. Lack of store rooms. No stoves for cooking Red Cross food.

VII. There is a sick room to accommodate 30 patients. Sick parade is taken by a Russian physician. Scanty supply of medicines and bandages. Due to poor hygienic arrangements - primitive washing and no bathing facilities - approximately 80% of the prisoners are infested with lice.

VIII. Prisoners' clothing was partly destroyed as a result of the air bombardment of Epinal on May 11th, 1944. No supply as replacement from Detaining Power or IRCC. Only one short [shirt?] per man, complete lack of underwear, most shoes are unserviceable. Relief from Geneva is urgently needed.

        Among prisoners are tailors and shoemakers, no tools and material to work with.

IX. There is no laundry facilities.

X. No pay whatsoever, prisoners are engaged on cable work and vegetable gardening, loading and unloading waggons.

        Working hours are from 6.30 to 18.00 hours, a break of 25 minutes is allowed for meals, prisoners have never had a twenty-four consecutive hours rest, working every Sunday.

XI. There is no canteen.

XII. Four tents have been supplied to serve as temples.

XIII. No arrangements at all.

XIV. No satisfactory arrangement yet, irregular issue of letter forms and cards, no incoming mail so far.

XV. No welfare activities.

XVI. Further complaints:

        1. No supply of fuel. Organised wood generally confiscated at the gate. Prisoners suffer very badly under the cold.

        2. A number of N.C.Os and Medical Orderlies who had formerly been recognised as such lost identifications in the bombardment. They are now treated as ranks.

        3. No air-raid precautions.

        4. Cases of ill-treatments.

        Commandant was presented with a written statement referring to all of the above mentioned complaints. He pointed out that Stalag III C had taken over this detachment early November 1944, that is less than a fortnight ago. He frankly admitted the complaints, particularly with reference to the general accommodation and interior arrangements. However, with regard to the working hours and Sunday work, the Arbeitseinsatz-Offizier considers the complaints as gross exaggeration, pointing out that only two thirds of the strength were called out to work, one third always taking a rest.

        Commandant informed Delegate that he had detailed his best officer, a lieutenant, to take over the command of this detachment. In fact the Indian Man of Confidence confirmed that substantial improvements took place since November 11th.

        This work-detachment will be as far as possible visited by a Protecting Power Delegate in the course of January 1945.

(Signed)

Rudolph E. DENZLER.