TRANSLATION BY THE LONDON DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE

STALAG III C

Germany.

Visited by Dr. Landolt on December 20th, 1944

American Camp Leader - Fst.Sgt. Koloman LEROY, No.81667

Indian Camp Leader (in camp) - Sgt. Khan AJUB, No.348

Principal Camp Leader (at present at Labour Detachment No.1088) Lt. S.C. SEAL, I.A.M.C. No.93574 (VIII C) formerly No.31827 (VIII C)

British Doctor - Capt. James CAMERON, No. 222 (Oflag CI C)

Remark - Among the 16 doctors in the camp area there is one British doctor; he attends to the Americans and, since lately, the Indian patients in the Russian hospital.

Strength - 23,441 prisoners including

General remarks - As the above strengths indicate, some Americans have just arrived in the camp; those remaining in the camp are N.C.O. non-workers.

        The 111 Canadians are attached to Stalag II D. Following the displacing of the "Wehrkreis" frontier, they are now in Stalag III C area. They have no camp leader; as the working parties in which they are employed are all quartered at the extreme north of the camp area, their camp leader will reside with them there.

        In view of the displacing of the "Wehrkreis" frontiers II and III, three districts which were formerly in the Wehrkreis area are now attached to Stalag III C.

        The Principal Indian Camp Representative is Lieut. SEAL, a doctor. He is both Camp Representative for the detachment and Medical Officer for Detachment BJ No.1088. Ajub Khan is Camp Leader only for Indians in the Main Camp and in hospital. It is particularly fortunate that Lieut. SEAL should be the Principal Camp Representative, on account of his remarkable personal qualities; for the Indians, it is not only a good arrangement for him to be Camp Representative at Detachment No.1088, but an absolute necessity, in view of the deplorable conditions existing in the camp.

        The Indians in the camp came from Frontstalag 315 and passed through Stalag XII A; they were not able to take anything with them when they left Frontstalag 315. They have been sent to the following labour detachments -

        The situation of the Canadian and Indian Camp Leaders is therefore exceptional; they will not reside at the Main Camp but the Delegate was assured that they would remain in contact with the Camp Commander. It seems preferable that this arrangement should continue; experience will show if it is successful.

Accommodation - Housing conditions for the prisoners are not at all satisfactory; huts are very crowded and a good number of men have to sleep on benches and tables.

        The Americans occupy two blocks containing two huts each, joined by a barbed wire fenced corridor which is open all day but is shut in the early evening. Prisoners should be able to go from one block to the other during the evening as one of the huts is used as a classroom and classes should also be held in the evenings if possible. The Camp Commander raised some objections regarding this matter.

        American prisoners have two tiered beds. In the upper bunks the men sleep side by side on light mattresses placed on sloped boards; the lower bunks the men sleep on the floor. To gain space during the day, the sparsely filled mattresses are rolled up. Each prisoner has one American and two German blankets.

        Heating is inadequate but is helped by tree stumps dug and collected by the prisoners.

Food - Attached is a list of rations issued by the German authorities.

        Americans have the use of two kitchens, one for each block. One of the kitchens is nearly 200 metres away from the huts and as each prisoner has to fetch his food in a mess tin, contents get cold on the way back. The Delegate is sending a note to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on the subject.

Clothing - The state of the American prisoners' clothing is not particularly good; trousers are very worn, also boots which could, however, be repaired. A list of mending material required has been sent to Geneva.

        The great necessity for proper clothing for the Indian prisoners, who are particularly affected by the hard northern winters, must be insistently stressed. The extremely bad conditions to which most of them are subjected at Detachment No.1088 should be taken into account and the Delegate begs that urgent attention should be given to the following requirements -

        Prisoners have no place to dry their washing although the Camp Commander affirms that one has been allotted. It is a fact that clothes hung out to dry are to be seen in all quarters (probably because it is warmer there).

Collective consignments - The consignments sent to the Americans on October 30th. 1944 never arrived.

        Americans have reserve stocks up to the end of December 1944.

        Each prisoner has the right to 2 packets of cigarettes a day.

        The Camp Leader complains that no means of transport are available for collective consignments; a vehicle for this purpose could also be used for carrying firewood.

        Toilet requisites are needed.

        The Indians have been in the camp three months and have only received one parcel each. For these prisoners who are accustomed to different and better climates, it is important that they should have regular food supplies. Consignments should be sent immediately and addressed to Detachment No.1088.

        A consignment arrived on November 24th. 1944 but did not include the watch repairing material requested.

        At the time of the visit, the Indians had no more Red Cross Parcels.

        Fifty-five of the Indian prisoners are Christians and may receive parcels of any sort. A request is made for -

        The prisoners had to abandon all their personal belongings at Frontstalag 315 and request the following articles -

Distribution of collective consignments - The storeroom for collective consignments is near the camp. Clothing is stocked in a shed at the Vorlager.

Hygiene - Generally speaking, sanitary installations in the camp are satisfactory. Prisoners may take showerbaths every day. The infirmary latrines, placed in a wooden shelter, are somewhat inadequate, whereas those in the camp are in solid brick shelters.

        The 380 prisoners in transit and the permanent staff have only one water pump in use; there is also a pump for the infirmary. Water is not drinkable and has to be boiled first and tea made. It would be difficult to make any improvement and up to the present the prisoners' health has not been affected thereby.

Medical attention - The number of doctors has already been mentioned at the beginning of the report. Among the medical personnel are included -

                2 Indians

              10 Americans

        The Indian Camp Leader states that he needs more medical personnel.

        The infirmary is well equipped but badly heated. The two-tiered beds are not very convenient.

        The lack of pyjamas and the cold weather oblige patients to remain in bed fully dressed. An urgent request is made for -

                Pyjamas

                Slippers

                Woollen bedjackets

        Each patient received a fourth blanket on entering the infirmary.

        As in other hospitals, numerous gastric ulcers have been detected after radiographic examinations; 20 to 30 cases of diphtheria have broken out during the latter months; on the day of the visit, five were under treatment in the infirmary. Attacks of diarrhoea and angina occurred lately. Three Americans suffering from pneumonia were in the infirmary on the day of the visit.

        Serious cases are transferred to the neighbouring German hospital. Prisoners requiring slight surgical attention are first examined at the Russian hospital and then come to the infirmary.

        A certain number of beds at the Russian hospital are reserved for Indians; at the present time, there are 46 Indian patients. The Delegate was unfortunately not able to visit this hospital which, however, is attached to the camp. Four of the patients are suffering from tuberculosis and will be evacuated to Stalag IV D/Z. The Indian Camp Leader makes an urgent request for hospital clothing, Medical parcels, invalid parcels and comfort parcels. Up to now, Indians have been attended by one of the Russian doctors in the hospital. The Delegate was given the assurance that a British doctor would be appointed.

Medical supplies - The American doctor considers that medical supplies issued by the German authorities are not of sufficient variety or quantity. Paper bandages have also to be used here. An urgent request is made for bandaging material (gauze and cotton wool), insecticide powder and specially exanthematic typhus vaccin, in packets. There is no exanthematic typhus vaccin in the camp.

Recreation, intellectual and spiritual needs - The Americans have no chaplain. The Camp Commander and the officer of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, who accompanied the Delegate, do not think it will be possible to find one.

        During his brief visit, the Delegate saw a cabaret show given by the Americans in the theatre hall.

        A jazz band has just been started.

        The Principal Camp Leader would be grateful for Indian books, Indian musical instruments and gramophone records.

Mail - The Indians make strong complaints with regard to the lack of mail from their families.

Work - At the Indian Detachment, the N.C.O. maintain their rights as non-workers and the Delegate was promised that they should be transferred to Stalag VIII C.

        Among the working parties visited, the Delegate noticed that one Canadian detachment gave rise to no comment.

Discipline - The new Camp Commander gives a very good impression; his dealings with the Camp Leaders are equally good. No complaints are to be made concerning treatment of prisoners, as far as the Main Camp is concerned. Any incidents which had occurred are due to sudden and unexpected events (such as the arrival of the Americans); Working Party No.1088 is not under the immediate control of the Camp authorities and they cannot, therefore, do much to improve matters - this detachment has only lately been attached to the camp and, for the moment, only for purposes of supervision. As soon as the detachment was include in the area, complaints were made to the Wehrkreis General.

Interview with Camp Leaders - The Delegate conversed for seven hours with the Camp Leaders. All points raised in this report were discussed during the interview.

Final interview with the Camp Commander and Staff - The results obtained have been enumerated in the report. Further, the Camp Commander promised to procure camp beds for the Americans now sleeping on the floor.

Conclusion - The Main Camp at Stalag IIIC is overcrowded and improvements should be made. Indian Detachment No.1088 is quite inadequate. The general situation in the camp may be considered satisfactory.

FOOD RATIONS FOR ONE WEEK

1. Distributed direct to the men - per day and per man -

2. Distributed to the kitchen - per man and per week -

Indian Working Parties (Stalag IIIC) visited by the Delegate on December 20th. 1944

Detachment BJ No.1088 - 975 Indians.

        The Medical Officer and Principal Camp Representative of all the Indians in the camp area is Lieut. S.C. SEAL, I.A.M.C. No.93574 (VIIIC), previously No.31827 (VIIIB) who is gifted with exceptional qualities - a common sense, placidity and tenacity. He was recently transferred to Stalag VIII C after some misunderstanding with a subaltern officer but was speedily brought back by the Commander of Stalag IIIC.

        Prisoners work in the arsenal; their living and working conditions are bad; the Stalag only provides their escort.

        The camp is situated in a clearing at the edge of a wood; it forms a vast square surrounded by barbed wire fences and includes 9 dormitory-huts; one hut is used as an infirmary - one as a laundry; another small shelter contains latrines built with planks (for 1,000 men).

        The huts are old, rotten and on the verge of collapse. The flooring is falling in and the Delegate twice just escaped a fall. Wind whistles through the planks and rain comes through the roofs. In the middle of each room is a small stove which would never give enough heat, even if red hot, seeing that walls, roofs and floors are not sound. The temperature of the huts may be well imagined.

        There is no lighting except the electric light in the infirmary. Prisoners make little fires between three bricks - their only means of preparing food from collective consignments.

        A broken tent is their sanctuary where they are allowed to pray.

        Water is supplied from one sole pump - for washing clothes and drinking water (1000 men)

        The kitchen is outside the camp; food gets cold before it reaches the men; they do not receive their bread regularly and have often had to go without.

        There is no storeroom for collective consignments; the Medical Officer piles them up in his bedroom.

        Clothing is in very bad condition; these prisoners come from Frontstalag 315 (where they left all their belongings) passing through Stalag XII A on the way.

        They are employed for unloading old iron; they rise at 6 a.m. work starts at 6.30 a.m. and finishes at 6 p.m. It is sometimes  8 p.m. when the last prisoner reaches the camp.

        Above all, complaints are made that work done by the Indians is insignificant and insufficient.

        The Delegate requested that a new camp should be set up for the prisoners, under better conditions and where climatic conditions would be observed, or that they should be transferred elsewhere if their treatment and living cannot be improved. It was promised that this request should be recommended.

Detachment No.1106 - 100 Indians.

        Camp Leader - Cpl. Ram DAIE, No.6882.

        The camp is good and will probably be improved upon as certain installations are now being finished (for instance - water supply). The prisoners work in the tool section of a Todt Organisation.

        The Indians request decorating material for their temple (paper, coloured chalk, watercolours etc.) and mittens to work in.