Stalag IIID

This camp was formerly an entirely French camp and only lately have British prisoners of war arrived at it. There is no real base camp but only an administrative office. All the prisoners are in big work camps, which has made it possible to keep the different nationalities better separated. In the whole area dependent on this Stalag there were at the time of the visit about 2500 British and Dominion prisoners but as they have only been here for some weeks, the exact number of the different nationalities could not be stated. There are, however, British, Australians, New Zealanders, possibly Canadians, Arabs, a few Somalies and Cypriots. All the prisoners had been captured in Greece or on Crete except for 30 men who are all in a military hospital. At this time only two of the work camps were visited. The other two and the hospital will be visited in the near future.

The Commander stated that the prisoners had arrived here in a very bad condition. Many had been almost without clothes and all had been more or less exhausted. Their condition had, however, already been improved very much and improvements are continuing.

The camp consists of 4 big wooden living barracks and a smaller barrack for wash and bathrooms. It is surrounded by a double barbed wire fence. Just outside the fence is a kitchen barrack and a small vegetable garden. The camp is located some miles outside Berlin in a flat and sandy, partially forested district. There are no lawns or trees inside the camp which has, however, plenty of open ground for exercise inside the fenced area. It was stated that the outlook would be made a little more pleasant by next spring. There are as yet no air raid shelters and the accompanying officer stated that they had so far not been able to solve this problem as the ground water is too high here to allow shelters to be dug. Some kind of shelters will, however, be arranged in the near future.

In this work camp there are in all 926 prisoners of war. Of these 325 are British, Australian or New Zealanders, 200 Cypriot and 400 Arabs, including 3 Somalies. Most of the prisoners are working on roads but some of them are employed in agricultural work. They work about 9 hours a day but have Saturday afternoons and Sundays free.

The different nationalities in the camp are, in so far as possible, living in separate barracks. The barracks are all alike inside. Each room is furnished with 2 or 3 rows of double-tier wooden bunks. In the middle of the room are two tables and benches. The beds now have 2 blankets. It was stated that from October 1, one more will be provided. The rooms are heated with stoves and the prisoners are already allowed to have fires. The coal supply was stated to be sufficient. There is electric light. The windows are big enough, but to make the black-out more complete, most of them have been painted blue. The Embassy inspectors complained about this and the accompanying officer immediately gave ordered that the windows should be washed. Though the dormitories as such are quite good, they were, however, too crowded. In every room measuring about 180 sq.m. there were lodged up to 40 men, giving an air space of only 4.5 sq.m. per man. This is definitely too little. This matter will be brought to the attention of the German High Command.

Washing and bathing facilities are as mentioned above in a separate barrack. There are long stone troughs and faucets with running cold water in a sufficient number. Some mirrors for shaving were promised. The adjoining shower room has 14 showers. Warm water is provided every Saturday and Sunday.

The latrines are of flush type with special stand up toilets. They are in sufficient number and were kept in good order.

The kitchen is modernly equipped. No real menu card could as yet be obtained, but it was stated that the prisoners receive the food ration for "heavy workers" including 850 gr. meat or sausage, 315 gr. margarine, 2600 gr. flour, 225 gr. sugar, and 150 gr. marmalade, all per week. The British doctor in the camp stated, however, that the food is hardly substantial enough and that it consists mostly of potatoes. This matter will be checked on the next visit. One of the German officers accompanying the Embassy representatives stated that he was the responsible mess officer of the whole camp and that he was making his own first inspection trip to this work camp. He said that he would look into the food question. He insisted that the prisoners were getting full rations and gave it as his opinion that the faults complained of might be in the method of preparation.

In the camp is a British Doctor who also acts as Man of Confidence. His name is Captain J.H. Annan R.A.M.C. POW No: 11898 III D. There are also 3 men from New Zealands Medical Corps acting as sanitary personnel. Seven more from the same corps who have not the proper papers have been put to work with the other prisoners. Their names are:

C.T. Hodgson

L.A. Shilling

S.G. Bolton

R. Ewart

B.A. Watt

A.V. James

N.Z.M.C. 31822

" 31951

" 9938

" ?

POW 10209 III D

" 10207 " "

" 10205 " "

" 10208 " "

" 10202 " "

" 10201 " "

The Doctor and two of the sanitary personnel are living together in a big room adjoining the infirmary.

The Infirmary is supplied with 10 beds. It is a big light room, satisfactory for its purpose. At the time of the visit there were only 6 patients. Three of these had malaria, 1 influenza, 1 bronchitis, and one was treated for an abscess. They were all doing quite well. Some cases of diarrhea had occurred in the last days, but nothing serious. Doctor Annan stated that he had received enough drugs and equipment of all kinds except quinine and vitamins, which apparently seem to be short in Germany. He had enough to go on with for some time but would very much appreciate having some sent from England if possible.

He also asked for some English surgical books as he is studying for a higher degree.

Clothing condition was stated to be not bad. Every man has received one complete uniform, 2 pairs of undersuits and, besides the shoes they had when captured, one pair of clogs. They have, however, mostly received "foot cloths" and would very much like to have some woollen socks sent to them.

As the wages are paid monthly and the prisoners only have been in the camp for about 3 weeks, they have so far received no money. The accompanying officer stated, however, that they will receive the usual amount of RM 0.70 per day, and that the doctor and the sanitary personnel will receive pay according to rank.

There is no canteen so far, but steps have been taken to arrange one as soon as the prisoners have enough money to run it.

There is no religious activity. Among the Arabs are about 40 Christians, belonging to 12 different Confessions, and the others are Mohammedans. This makes it very hard to arrange any satisfactory religious activity. Most of the British prisoners probably belong to the Church of England. The Doctor stated that if they could have some hymn and sermon books, they would try to read the sermons themselves. The Embassy will bring this to the attention of the International Y.M.C.A. in Berlin.

The Mohammedans in the camp were not working on the day of the visit which was a Friday. They have Fridays free instead of Sundays. The German officers stated that they would be glad to provide a clergyman for them, but could find none because "we have not yet caught any Mohammedan priests".

No kind of recreation has so far been arranged in this camp. Inside the fences is enough space for walks and ball games, but no sport equipment has been provided. Nor are there any recreation rooms in the barracks. As the dormitories are overcrowded as they are, it will not be possible to clear one of them to be used as a recreation room. This lack will be brought to the attention of the German High Command.

It was stated that some books and games will be sent from the Stalag headquarters in the near future. The Embassy will also try to supply some books and the matter will be brought to the attention of the International Y.M.C.A.

No mail has arrived yet. The prisoners have been able to write 2 letters and 2 post cards a month. The accompanying officer stated that they had received no order that the British prisoners should be allowed a greater number of cards. This matter will be brought to the attention of the German High Command.

As many of the Arabs are not able to write themselves, a writing room with four writers has been arranged where they can have their letters written.

Besides the complaints about the food mentioned above in point VI, the Doctor stated as follows: "As many of the prisoners arrived in the camp in a very poor condition, they were not yet strong enough to stand the hard work which they have been put to do. This was especially the case with many of the Arabs. These latter will also hardly be able to stand the cold German climate. This matter has been taken up with the German authorities.

As the camp is in many respects not yet ready, it is hard to express a real opinion. If the present overcrowding can be settled and when parcels and mail start to arrive, it will, however, probably be quite satisfactory.

The Commander and the accompanying officers made a very good impression, and seem to be eager to do what can be done for the benefit of the prisoners.

This is also a barrack camp with 4 big wooden barracks. In the middle of the camp there is a big lawn and flowers. The camp is located in the suburbs of Berlin. Air raid shelters of the common type have been dug in the ground. They are lined with wood and equipped with benches along the sides.

In the camp there were at the time of the visit 389 prisoners of war, all English except for an Indian Doctor and three Australian sanitary personnel. They are all working at roadbuilding. They work 9 hours a day and are free from Saturday at 2 o'clock until Monday morning. The work was not stated to be too hard. The prisoners have only been in the camp for about a fortnight.

The dormitories were not overcrowded. The men live about 20 in each room. They have good steel spring beds arranged in two tiers and 2 blankets each. There is electric light and the rooms are heated with coal stoves. In the middle of the rooms are tables and chairs. The rooms are white washed inside and make a quite nice impression.

The wash and bath room is in a special barrack. The equipment is of the usual type and in good order. Warm water is provided every Saturday and Sunday. For the laundry there is a special small room with cooking facilities.

The food was stated to be good and sufficient. It is prepared in a kitchen with modern equipment. The store rooms are very good and there is an electric cool room. The exact amount of the food ration could not be given, but the German kitchen leader stated that the prisoners receive the ration for "heavy workers". The menu at the day of the visit was:

Breakfast

coffee, skimmed milk

sugar, bread

Dinner

Soup with carrots

and fat.

Supper

Bread, margarine,

sausage.

The soup was sampled and tasted very good. Some samples of the sausage served were also shown and were first class. The Indian doctor stated that in his two years of imprisonment in Germany he had been in six camps and that this was the only one in which he could say that the food is excellently prepared and so abundant that he does not feel that food parcels are indispensable.

The Indian Doctor Rana Wali Mohammed Khan, Lieutenant I.M.C. POW No: 8799 Oflag IX A/H is in charge of the infirmary. Here are also working two Australian sanitators. Two more men belonging to the sanitary personnel have not the proper paper to prove this and have therefore been put to work. They are:

The infirmary is built for 10 patients and is furnished with the necessary equipment. There were at the time of the visit only 6 patients, 3 of these had influenza, 1 jaundice, 1 synovitis and 1 of an industrial accident. In addition there were three cases of diarrhea, probably not of dysentery type. None of the patients were seriously ill.

Each man has one complete uniform and 2 pairs of undersuits. All have two pairs of shoes each. There is a quite good stock of uniforms and underwear. In a small work shop two men are repairing clothes and shoes.

As the prisoners have only been in the camp for about a fortnight, they have so far not received any money. The camp leader stated that their wages are the usual RM 0.70 per day. Of these 10 RM will be paid out monthly and the rest put on their account.

The canteen is not yet open but steps have been taken to open it as soon as the prisoners receive their money. 50 cigarettes per man have been issued once.

The prisoners belong to the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church. One of the men reads a sermon every Sunday.

Nothing has been done for recreation so far. The camp leader, a German 1.lieutenant, stated that he had plans to arrange a small sport ground inside the fences. There is already sufficient space for walks and the lawn and the flowers make the outlook quite pleasant.

No sport equipment, books or games have arrived yet, but it was stated that books and games will be sent from Stalag headquarters. The Embassy will also bring this matter to the attention of the International Y.M.C.A in Berlin.

No mail has arrived. The prisoners were also here allowed to send only 2 letters and 2 post cards monthly. This will be arranged at the same time as for the first camp.

When mail and parcels start to arrive and some arrangements for recreation have been made, this will be a very good camp. The camp leader makes a very sympathetic and clever impression and the prisoners already seemed much to appreciate his interest in them.