TRANSLATION BY THE LONDON DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE   Germany

SECTION OF STALAG III D FOR BRITISH

Visited by Drs. Marti & Wasmer on the 11th December 1942

General British Camp Leader  Sergeant-Major SEWARD No. 11218

        This Camp Leader has not been changed since the Camp first came into existence. He performs his duties to everyone's satisfaction.

        Stalag III D comprises prisoners of various nationalities. In this report we shall deal only with British prisoners.

        The British Section of Stalag III D is at present divided into 6 Labour Detachments:-

Labour Detachment No. 714

Camp Leader  Sergeant STANWAY No. 11509

Strength  440 men of whom 5 are Australians

                                           2   "   New Zealanders

                                         35   "   Irish

                                         25   "   Egyptians

        This Detachment where the prisoners are employed in work connected with levelling ground and laying railway lines is subdivided within itself into a dozen small Detachments which are near to the principal Camp 714.

Site and Accommodation

        Detachment No. 714 is made of huts of the usual kind. The two-tier bunks are sufficiently widely spaced one from another. The lighting and ventilation are adequate.

        Each prisoner has three blankets issued to him by the German authorities.

        The rooms are well heated.

Clothing

        Clothing and footwear are in very good condition, but there are not enough socks.

Food

        The prisoners receive the normal food rations; these are never mixed up with the food stuffs which come from collective parcels.

Hygiene

        This is satisfactory; enough water, absence of vermin, latrines in good condition.

Infirmary

        British doctor for the Detachment  Major Palandri, John No. 23899 (VIII B)

        The Infirmary consists of a spacious examination room, as well as another similar room. Serious cases are sent to the Reservelazarett 119 or 128.

        At the time of our visit to Detachment 714, there were 4 patients who were slightly ill at the Infirmary. The British doctor has enough instruments and drugs. He did not express a desire for anything in particular.

Leisure - Religious and Intellectual Needs

        The prisoners in the Camp expressed no special requests on this subject.

Correspondence

        Correspondence with England is normal. That of Australians, coming by Air-Mail gains one month, nevertheless it takes about 3 or 4 months; by ship it takes 4 or 5 months.

        At present neither despatch nor reception of correspondence are subjected to any restrictions.

Collective parcels

        The Camp Leader for the Detachment has at his disposal for dealing with food parcels a special room to which there are two keys; one is kept by the Commandant, the other is in the hands of the Camp Leader. This system has proved to work excellently.

        Each prisoner has a card on which is written with great exactitude everything he receives, both clothing and food.

        Up to now the prisoners have regularly received one package each per week. The instructions of the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning economy in respect of food parcels have been received at the Camp, with the result that only 2 parcels a month are now distributed, until the receipt of consignments of food parcels can be trusted to be regular.

        Christmas parcels also arrived, in good condition.

        There is, however, one irregularity to be observed; the hospitals Nos. 119 and 128 get their food supplies from Stalag III D & receive parcels direct from the International Red Cross Committee as well; an excess of food therefore goes to these two hospitals. Apart from this one particular instance the distribution of parcels from Stalag III D is very well organised.

        In respect of personal parcels about 10% of these do not arrive at the Camp.

Work  (See below)

Discipline 

        Nothing special to report.

Interview with the Camp Leader (without witness)

        Only two points were raised:-

        1) The question of air raid shelters. These consist merely of a trench dug in the shape of a broken line, about 1.50 mrs. deep, but wide, without cover, and affording no shelter except laterally. The British prisoners of this Detachment would like to have a proper air raid shelter.

                The Camp authorities' reply to this has been under consideration for some time; but it is difficult to give prisoners any satisfaction; the authorities of the Detachment say, moreover, that the region is not a danger zone.

        2) The question of work  The prisoners have to get up at 5.0.a.m. and they begin work at 7.30.a.m. On Sunday they get up at 7.0.a.m.

                Prisoners have too little sleep and authority ought to be obtained for them not to get up until 8.0. on Sundays. The Camp Authorities will look into this question.

Conclusion

        This is a good Labour Detachment, and the organisation of the distribution of collective parcels is excellent.