Stalag IIID

This so-called Special Camp has been fully described in Report No 238 dated July 29th 1943.

No changes in the laying out, interior arrangements, washing and bathing facilities.

The camp serves as a recreation centre where British prisoners of war spend a 4 - 6 weeks holiday.

The prisoners in the camp on the day of visit informed the Delegate that they are members of various work-detachments in the coal mines of Silesia. They spent already 4 weeks in this special camp and stated that it was a real recreation. They enjoyed well organized in-and outdoor sports, cinema, theatres and concerts. Excursions to Potsdam were also organized.

All these prisoners said they had considerably gained in weight thanks to the well cooked and wholesome food.

It can definitely be confirmed that there is no trace of any political propaganda in this camp. Any rumour to this effect is unfounded.

There has been no modification in this camp since the last visit of the Delegates from the International Red Cross Committee.

This camp is situated at the outskirts of the forest. It is composed of several huts in which about 14 to 16 men sleep in two tier wooden bunks. They are given 2 or 3 woollen blankets and a palliasse. Cast iron stoves heat all the rooms, and the Camp Leader asserts that there is a sufficient quantity of wood and coal. The huts are electrically lighted and the lighting is good enough for the prisoners to read in the evenings. In each room there are tables and sitting accommodation. In addition, the prisoners are allowed to use a Common-room which is relatively big and where they can remain during the day; they can also have in this room orchestral and theatrical performances.

Therefore these accommodations appear to be satisfactory, far away from any military establishment.

The British prisoners prepare meals in a well fitted kitchen, under the supervision of a German soldier. The Camp Leader, who is allowed to keep a daily control on the food supplied by the German authorities states that the prisoners seem satisfied with it. For the cooking of their personal food, they have a stove in the same kitchen, and some more stoves in the various rooms of their huts; they are allowed for these stoves a sufficient quantity of wood and coal.

In every respect clothing is satisfactory. Each prisoner has shoes; however, a few pairs need replacing. Prisoners do their own laundry. The repairing of uniforms and underclothing is entrusted to a prisoner, a tailor, installed in a tailor-shop; the same procedure applies to shoes. According to the Camp Leader, this work shop is comparatively well fitted, though the necessary material is very often missing.

Only beer can be bought in the canteen; apart from very unimportant articles nothing can be purchased there.

The installation of showers is very good, and the prisoners are able to have a hot shower each week.

The latrines are in a special hut; the number of seats is sufficient. As far as hygiene is concerned, they are excellent.

This is attended to by two members of the medical staff. The patients ward is comparatively well fitted; patients sleep in iron beds, with sheets. When the Delegate visited the Camp two patients suffering from a slight illness were in the infirmary.

There is a sufficient number of medicines and surgical dressings; most of them, however, are those that were in the Red Cross parcels. Once a week a civilian Doctor visits the patients; the Camp Leader thinks that he is a good doctor. The Stalag German doctor comes quite often to the camp to make enquiries regarding the state of health of the prisoners. Very few cases of illness are reported, and practically no accident sustained at work; a few accidents occur during sport games.

This camp is in continuous contact with the Y.M.C.A. and possesses already a great number of books and sports equipments. It is also allowed to use the circulating Stalag circulating library. The prisoners are allowed to use a large football ground and they play a lot of sports. There are in the camp two hand-ball courts. The prisoners have a sport equipment, football shorts and shoes, but they would love to receive boxing gloves, football balls and hand-ball balls, a table tennis, etc. The occupants of the camp can, during the warm season, bathe in the near-by river.

Simple soldiers write two letters and 4 cards; the senior N.C.Os 3 letters and 5 cards. They complain, however, of the slowness of the mail. An answer still takes 3 or 4 months to come from England.

Private parcels sent by the prisoners respective camps reach them irregularly; cigarettes and tobacco parcels the sending of which has been announced, are very often missing in the parcels.

These are delivered either through the main Camp Leader of Stalag III D, either through the Camp Leader of Stalag 344. The Camp Leader states that periods of two or three weeks have often elapsed during which time no collective parcels have arrived. He therefore asks the International Red Cross Delegates to make it possible for the camp to be supplied directly by Geneva through the near-by railway station. About 200 men will have to be supplied monthly. The Red Cross store for collective parcels is very large, and 4,000 parcels could easily fit in it. When the parcels are handed to him the Camp Leader distributes them, he also distributes uniforms collective parcels as well as underclothes parcels.

Works in the Camp (repair shop, cobbler shop, potato scrubbing, wood sawing, cleaning of the latrines, etc.) are entrusted to 20 prisoners of a different nationality, detailed to that camp. British prisoners have therefore nothing to do. British prisoners who are in that camp have been sent to it from all the British camps in German for a rest cure; particularly from the Labour Detachments where they have had to do a very hard work for over two years. After 4 to 6 weeks, they are sent back to their original Labour Detachment and are replaced by some other prisoners.

This is very good in every respect; there has been no complaint. British prisoners enjoy a certain amount of freedom out side the camp; the Camp Leader is allowed to go to Stalag III D. Frequently walks are organised.

Covered slit trenches have been dug in the centre of the camp; these are excellent but protect only against splinters. When there is an alert, all the prisoners must prepare themselves to go down to these trenches as soon as there is a real danger. Each hut contains extinguishers sand bags and water pails. No damage due to bombing has been mentioned.

The Camp Leader states that every one in the camp is satisfied. He insists on the fact this camp is not, as some people have frequently stated, a political camp, or a propaganda camp. It is only a rest camp, and the Delegates themselves have been able to ascertain that there are there numerous British prisoners who, during two years or more have been doing in the coal mines a very strenuous work. The Camp Leader states that the newly arrived British prisoners must, when they arrive, pledge themselves not to attempt evasion.

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

Up to now six Labour Detachments belonged to Stalag III D; at the present moment only three belong to it. The Labour Detachments that have been closed down, and which had been at an earlier date visited by the Delegate from the Red Cross International Committee, have been transferred to Stalag IV B, Two Labour Detachments still belong to this Stalag.

This Labour Detachment is situated not far from the main street of a small town. The buildings have been erected by the Reich State Railways. They have two large huts for living accommodations, one for wash-basins, one for the canteen, a small hut for the hair-dresser and one building for the latrines. The huts for living accommodation have four of five rooms, where an average of 18 men sleep in wooden beds built one above the other. The palliasses are well filled, and each prisoner is given two woollen blankets. Lighting is very good, artificial light as well as day light. Benches or chairs are in sufficient number; in each room there are two large wooden tables, some chairs and benches, and also a cast iron stove; however, coal rations are very small; Prisoners suffer from cold. The allowance per day is five coal fuel blocks per room and per stove. The Camp Leader has a primitive small room which he is also meant to use as an office. The hut for the canteen is too small for the actual staff of the Labour Detachment; it is also used for orchestral and theatrical performances; and if the prisoners go to a concert, they have to stand very close one to the other. The Camp Leader does not mention any vermin; this is due to the soap supplied by the employers to scrub tables and floors.

A German civilian cook prepares meals with the help of three British cooks. According to the prisoners these meals are very well prepared and very plentiful. The kitchen itself is very well fitted; it has four large cooking pots, also a large charcoal range which the prisoners are allowed to use, up to a certain extent to prepare their private meals. They have no other means of preparing these meals: the stoves in the rooms have not a sufficient supply of coal and do not give therefore a sufficient heat. Everyone in this Labour Detachment receives heavy workers rations. For instance the menu for the 9th February 1944 was:

The prisoners have their main meal at 4 o'clock p.m. In the morning, before they go to work, they have tea or coffee, at 12 they have a snack at their place of work, then they go back. In this Labour Detachment, in spite of the heavy work, the prisoner are well fed and in a good state of health. They naturally take full advantage of the Red Cross parcels.

The soldier, who is a medical orderly and who is responsible for the small infirmary belonging to the camp, is allowed to use food from the collective parcels to prepare diets.

All the men have two battle dresses, but the trousers are very much used. Although each prisoner has one pair of leather shoes, nearly all the shoes are in a bad state. There is a shoemaker in the camp, but owing to the lack of leather, this British shoemaker has to repair the shoes with little bits cut from old used shoes.

The men have enough underclothing, shirts, pullovers, socks, pants, etc. Every fortnight the laundry is done by a German laundry; prices charged to the prisoners are at the usual rates. They have to pay the washing powder as well as the soap which are supplied to them by the employers. The prisoners have great difficulty in obtaining hot water; owing to the lack of fuel, they cannot use the copper in the laundry.

When the uniforms are slightly damaged, they can be repaired in camp, but more important repairs have to be done in the repair shop in the Stalag.

The prisoners can only buy beer in the canteen, but this in unlimited quantity. No other article can be purchased there.

The prisoners have been unable to have showers during the past three months. The English stoker is responsible for this; he was in charge of the shower heating apparatus and, during the night he forgot to close the main water pipes, as a result of the cold this pipe got frozen and [broke?]. The Stalag authorities have frequently made appeal to the employer for the repair of this water pipe, but owing to lack of material, nothing has been done, as yet.

To help matters, the kitchen supplies, every day, hot water for bodily cleanliness. The installation of the basins is very primitive; it consists of three pails with six taps each, in a very cold room. The drains are very often blocked; this causes important floodings which, at this time of the year become frozen.

The latrines are primitive; there is a sufficient number of seats, but the latrines become very often blocked up and the lavatory pan is very small. The result can be extremely unpleasant, especially during the hot season.

This is composed of two rooms, one is a consulting room and the other one is a small ward for sick people. The consulting room is comparatively well fitted, there are in it a sufficient number of instruments and medicines. However its great disadvantage is that it cannot be heated. In the ward, the beds are well apart one from the other, and the ward itself is very clean. On the beds there are one mattress, two sheets, one pillow with pillow case and two woollen blankets. When the Delegates visited it the ward was comparatively well heated.

The medical service is done by four members of the medical staff. Four times a week a civilian doctor comes to visit the patients; the prisoners' opinion is that he is excellent and that he bears himself very correctly towards them.

At the present moment there are in the camp 17 patients, they all suffer from slight ailments and only three of them are in the ward, the others are allowed to stay in their rooms.

In the ward there is one with flu and two with gastric trouble; during the previous week [3]0 patients were ill with flu, and during the preceding week there were 50, this was caused by the insufficient heating in the huts.

Since the opening of the Labour Detachment, only one important working accident occurred, three weeks before the visit. The British prisoner Jones Gilbert, No.11152, is in the Lazaret 119 with a compound fracture of the leg. A heavy iron rail ("Eisentrager") fell on his left leg. However, according to the Camp Leader he is progressing satisfactorily.

Prisoners suffering from toothache can go to the lazaret 119, 10 men at a time, they are treated there by a French dentist; prisoners complain that they have to wait until these 10 men have been treated before the following 10 men have their turn; artificial dentures are also made but their making requires quite a long time.

Five men have got together to form an orchestra and a small theatrical Company. Prisoners greatly enjoy their performances.

In front of the huts basket-ball can be played on a small piece of ground; some gymnastic bars have also been installed. On saturdays and sundays prisoners are able to play foot-ball on the football ground situated at about 10 minutes walking distance. There is no limit fixed to the time allowed for playing.

Prisoners get up in the morning at 3. a.m., have their breakfast at 3.30 a.m., start walking towards their working site at 6.20 a.m., and arrive there at 6.30 a.m.; they have their lunch on the working site, and go back to camp at 4. p.m. or 4.30 p.m. The prisoners are employed to lay railway tracks. They are allowed to stop work and go back to camp as soon as they have laid the length fixed as the daily task. A gang can therefore frequently go back to camp as early as 4. p.m. Prisoners are free on saturday afternoons and the whole day on sundays; during these days sports are assiduously practiced.

The prisoners write a number of cards and letters corresponding to the regulation number. English mail is very slow; for instance the Camp Leader received on the 13th February 1944 a letter sent from England the 19th November 1943. Private parcels arrive very irregularly and a great number of them, particularly tobacco parcels never arrive. Prisoners complain mostly, in this particular Labour Detachment, that letters from England take such a long time to reach them. The fact that mail is censored in the nearest large town for the whole of the Wehrkreis III has already been mentioned; this is the cause of the continuous delay. (not enough censors).

The Camp Leader receives each month, through the Main Stalag Camp Leader the British Red Cross collective parcels. He has a Red Cross store provided with two locks; one of the keys is entrusted to the Camp Leader; the German commander of the detachment has the other one. Each prisoner receives a Red Cross parcel each week, as well as 50 cigarettes. The actual reserves amount of 352 parcels (provision parcels), 127 medicine parcels, 136 parcels for sick people and 4 tobacco parcels. Christmas parcels were received during the first week of December 1943, and each prisoner was given one on the 24th of December, as well as a supplementary gift of 100 cigarettes. British prisoners are grateful to the British Red Cross for the delivery of these Christmas parcels.

There is no clothing reserve left from the collective parcels; everything has been distributed. Prisoners particularly wish to receive some trousers and shoes as well as peaked caps.

It is excellent in every respect; the Commander of the Detachment is a "gentleman"; on the working sites prisoners are very well treated. Not one has attempted to escape.

This Labour Detachment is provided with a very well built air-raid shelter, this is a splinter proof covered slit trench. Dug at about 4 metres under the surface, it is in the form of a big corridor and adjoining corridors reinforced with tree trunks. This ceiling is about 2 metres thick. When there is an alert everybody in the camp must go down to that shelter which is big enough to shelter the whole strength of this Detachment.

1) The huts are insufficiently heated. Answer - More coal and more fire-wood will be supplied to the Detachment.

3) Cooking facilities for preparing diets are insufficient. Answer - This will be improved.

5) They pay the soap and the washing powder for their laundry. Answer - From now on these will be supplied free of charge.

6) In the canteen there is nothing to buy. Answer - The Camp Leader will be allowed to make purchases in town.

7) For the past three months prisoners have been unable to use the showers; this was the result of the freezing of the shower waterpipes. Answer - The showers will be repaired in the next few days.

8) As the lavatory pan is too small, the draining of the 1st ones is very defective. Answer - The lavatory will be emptied each week by a peasant from the neighbourhood.

9) 10 prisoners only suffering from tooth ache can be treated at the same time; only when these first 10 are treated 10 more men an apply in their turn for treatment. Answer - This procedure will be, from now on, modified, so that urgent cases will be able to attend to the dentist at any time.

10) Correspondence with England is very unsatisfactory. A letter from England takes at least three months to get to Germany. Answer - This cannot be improved; the Censorship's main office for the whole of the "Wehrkreis" III being in the nearest largest town.

When the deficiencies have been rectified, this Labour Detachment will be able to be considered satisfactory. The prisoners react favourably to the general condition of the camp.

Day &
Date

Mon.7/2

Tues.8/2

Wed.9/2

Thur.10/2

Fri.11/2

Sat.12/2

Sun.13/2

Strength

present

Midday

Corn Hot-pot

in Gravy.

Nourishing food

Margarine

Potatoes

Steamed meat,

potatoes, Red

cabbage

Meat with bones

Margarine

Potatoes

Red cabbage

Sugar

Vegetable Stew

in Gravy

Kohlrabi

Magarine

Potatoes

Vegetable Goulasch

Potatoes

Meat with bones

Margarine

Potatoes

Carrots

Cooked meat,

sauce Potatoes

Meat with bones

Margarine

Potatoes

Noodles in Gravy

Pastry

Margarine

Potatoes

Roast Pork, Pudding

Potatoes

Meat with bones

Margarine

Potatoes

Dried pudding mixture

Sugar

Amount

issued

75 gr.

10 gr.

410 gr.

44 gr.

16 gr.

460 gr.

30.00 kg.

35 gr.

50.00 kg.

10 gr.

485 gr.

35 gr.

16 gr.

485 gr.

30.00 kg

44 gr.

15 gr.

460 gr,

43.75 gr.

10 gr.

360 gr.

44 gr.

16 gr.

360 gr.

31.25 gr.

40 gr.

Evening

Sausage

Marmalade

Bread 1000g.

Extra for Heavy

Workers

Bread

Sausage

Margarine

Cheese

Sausage

Bread 1250g.

Extra for Heavy
Workers

Bread

Margarine

Sausage

Sugar

Amount

issued

43 gr.

175 gr.

450 g.

115 g.

31 g.

125 g.

31 g.

40 gr.

475 g.

3.1 g.

115 g.

100 g.

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

(Stalag III D) visited by Dr Schirmer and M. Paul Wyss on the 16th February 1944

These prisoners were captured in 1940 at Dunkirk they have been collected together here because they are all of Irish origin. The prisoners explained to the delegate that they feel abandoned in this camp; they would like to return to a Stalag or to be transferred once more to Labour Detachments where they will once more find themselves among British soldiers.

This Labour Detachment is situated in a large pine-forest. The site is an excellent one. The camp consists of a subsidiary camp ("Vorlager") and a Main Camp. The subsidiary camp contains the wash-places, the workshop, the Red Cross parcels stored and the Canteen. The Main camp comprises the two huts which are used as living quarters and the latrines. After 3.30 p.m. the subsidiary camp is no longer accessible to the prisoners, after this hour they have to remain in the Main Camp. The Commandant stated that quite recently this camp was planted with fir trees, which rendered the [entire] site almost invisible, but after numerous attempts to escape these threes had to be cut down for security reasons; the soldiers on guard duty are thus able to have a clear view over the whole extent of the camp. The living quarter huts are fairly well spaced out, they are spacious and - in the subsidiary camp as in the Main Camp - a large open space is available which the prisoners can use for Sports. The living quarters contain, on an average, 5 rooms each, each containing 20 beds. The prisoners sleep on wooden two-tier bunks, which are furnished with a palliasse and two woollen blankets, each room has sufficient seating accommodation. The electric light which is well installed, remains alight until 10.p.m. All the rooms can be heated, there is an adequate supply of coal and the prisoners are able to being wood from their place of work for use as fuel. As, lately, the prisoners have been unable to go into the subsidiary camp in the afternoon, they are obliged to remain in their living quarters, since the canteen, which also is situated in the subsidiary camp, is also closed to them. They complain about this state of affairs.

The kitchen is situated outside the camp in what is known as the German camp. It is very well equipped and [there are] three large cooking pots; a German N.C.O., helped by three prisoners prepares the food. The Camp Leader checks the rations; the quantities are adequate but the quality leaves something to be desires. The kitchen comprises a stove for the preparation of individual dishes; the prisoners are also able, during the winter to cook their parcel-contents in the compound. During the hot weather this is [no] longer possible. Thus the stove which is available becomes inadequate to their needs. One soldier, who is a medical orderly, prepares [food] for patients, which is made possible by the addition of British Red Cross parcels contents. The prisoners particularly deplore the small amount of bread issued, although they receive the regulation amount. All these men get ordinary rations, since they belong to the category of "light workers", only.

Most of the prisoners possess only one battle-dress; the trousers of which are in bad condition. The Head Camp Leader of Stalag III D has, up to now, sent but for[?] articles of clothing to this camp. When the delegates enquired why the prisoners in the detachment had no second uniforms, the Camp Leader who was present at the time of the visit, replied that until recently he had been unaware of the existence of this Detachment. The men's underclothing is in comparatively good condition, but their boots, and socks, are in a bad state.

The prisoners have a repair-shop, but there is a lack of the necessary material. The prisoners do their own laundry work; there is sufficient hot water for this purpose. A room beside the canteen serves as a drying ground for the clothes; at the time of the delegates' visit, this room was full of freshly-washed linen, in process of drying. Washing powder and soap are issued in the regulation amounts.

The canteen is also used as a Recreation-Room, a Theatre and an Orchestra Hall; it is large enough to accommodate all the occupants of the camp. Nothing but beer is procurable at the canteen.

The Showerbath installations are excellent; in cold weather they are supplied with hot water every day. During good weather hot water is available on Friday, Saturday and Monday. The hot room (central heating) contains 8 showerbaths. The wash-places have running hot and cold water; there are enough of them for the needs of the occupants of the camp. On their return from work, the prisoners can use them for one hour; these rooms are then closed, as in all the rest of the subsidiary camp. The prisoners complain of this state of affairs, since the Main camp is not supplied with running water. The latrines at the main camp are perfect from a hygienic point of view, and there are enough seats. They are disinfected every day with chloride of lime, two or three prisoners are responsible for keeping them in good order.

The Infirmary of the camp is installed in one of the ordinary camp rooms where the wooden bunks are replaced by iron bedsteads having mattresses and bed linen. The room is spacious and very well arranged. One soldier, who is a medical orderly, looks after his sick comrades. At the present time 4 patients are in bed in the Infirmary; there is one case of rheumatism one patient suffering from glycaomia and two are suffering from maladies of the gastro-intestinal tract. According to the statements of the medical orderly and of the Camp Leader, the medical attention available is inadequate. A German civilian doctor visits the Infirmary, but only one every second - or even fourth - week. When an urgent case occurs, attention may be awaited for a long time. The dental services, moreover, is inadequate. The prisoners complain of the way in which the doctor dentist does his work. The stoppings he does are not durable; the principal thing he does is extractions.

Drugs, in very reduced quantities, come chiefly from collective parcels. Numerous men who are unfit for service are to be found among the prisoners; it is indicated that a visit by the Mixed Medical Commission is very necessary. At least twelve prisoners among the occupants of this camp are re-patriable (as a result of wounds, glycaomia, serious gastro-intestinal trouble and affections of the heart). These men cannot work.

One death has occurred since the opening of this camp, as a result of a perforation of the intestines, complicated by pneumonia. One cannot but ask oneself whether this death could have been prevented had the medical attention available been better.

The prisoners have a library of about 200 books. They have formed a small orchestra and a theatrical company. They also have some indoor games and some card games. If they have need of anything of this kind, they write to the Y.M.C.A. for them, from whom they have already received numerous parcels.

On Saturdays and Sundays they plat Rugy [Rugby?]-football on the neighbouring Camp football ground. They have sports clothes (jerseys, etc., and boots).

Only a relatively small percentage of the occupants of this camp work. They are employed on levelling and when they have moved a certain number of cubic metres of soil they are allowed to return to the camp. They go to their place of employment at 8.0 a.m. It takes them about ½ of an hour to walk there; they work an average of three hours a day so that they return to the camp towards 1.30. or 2.0.p.m. They are then free for the rest of the afternoon. When the weather is bad they do not work The Camp Leader states that the work is not strenuous.

As in the case throughout this District, the mail works very slowly. The prisoners write two letters and postcards - medical staff twice that number. A letter from England takes 3 or 4 months to arrive at the camp. Individual parcels, particularly those containing cigarettes, arrive very irregularly, although the prisoners are certain that their families in England despatch one or two parcels a month to each of them.

They receive collective parcels from the Camp Leader of Stalag III D. The Red Cross Store is very well installed; The Camp Leader distributes parcels every week and also, when he has some, 50 cigarettes per head. The prisoners complain that they do not receive the contents of their parcels in full, but only sufficient for a day at a time. Their tins of preserved food are opened for them by a German soldier. They still have enough stocks in reserve to cover a further two distributions. There are no packages of tobacco.

According to the statements of the British Camp Leader the attitude of the German authorities is all it should be. The German Commandant, however, complains that the British discipline is bad. Attempts at escape are continually made and the British practise this as a kind of sport. At the time of the delegates' visit, one British prisoner was undergoing penal detention as a punishment for an attempt at escape. The detention cells which are alongside the Red Cross Store are in every way suitable to their purpose. The man who is being punished has a bed, three blankets and, in the corridor a stove which serves to hear both this and the cell. It was very well heated and the man undergoing detention declared that the accommodation was good. Every third day the man undergoing detention receives full rations, identical with those given to his comrades, and then for two days only gets bread and water.

1. The Camp Leader asks the delegate of the International Red Cross Committee why his comrades and he are separated from their British comrades, in this detachment. They consider themselves to be British and would like to be included in detachments containing other British prisoners.

2. The prisoners complain of receiving too little bread, although the issue made by the Germans conforms to the regulation amounts.

3. Medical attention, in particular the work of the doctor and dentist, leave much to be desired. Reply This matter will be attended to very shortly.

4. Many men in this detachment, who are unfit for service have not been examined by the Mixed Medical Commission. Reply They shall be examined at the next visit by the Commission.

5. The subsidiary camp is shut to the prisoners from 3.0.p.m. onwards, the wash-places and the canteen are therefore inaccessible to them from that hour onwards. Reply For security reasons this measure must remain in force, it will however, be re-considered.

6. Collective parcels arrive at but irregular intervals (food parcels and clothing parcels). Reply This detachment, like the other British detachments, is stocked by the Camp Leader of the Stalag itself.

This Camp appeared to be moderately good, the morale of the prisoners is, however, very bad and it seems indicated, that although these prisoners are Irish, they should be put in the company of other British prisoners.

It is requested that the Protecting Power be asked whether they are now in a position to confirm the evacuation of all British prisoners of war from Stalag IIID. The Reserve Lazarett mentioned in the telegram and all dependent work detachments including work detachment No.428 and the holiday camp No.517 at Genshagen.

Labour Detachment 961 Stalag III D. Camp Leader Sergeant Hugh Golmour 13118 visited 16th February. Strength 121 British originating from Ireland of whom 61 are English 2 are Australians 2 are New Zealanders. Camp situated in pine forest. Huts divided into 5 rooms Each 20 wooden two-tier bunks palliasse 2 blankets of wool Enough seats Lighting heating satisfactory. No vermin. Kitchen well arranged. Food of mediocre quality prepared by three prisoners under control of German N.C.O. Facilities for cookery private food supplies Orderly prepares diets for patients thanks British Red Cross. Clothing not very satisfactory only one battledress. Underclothing good Shoes in bad condition Repair shops lack material Soap for laundry work issued. Canteen sells only beer. 8 well installed showerbaths running hot and cold water. Hygienic latrines. Infirmary Consultation room iron bedsteads excellent bedding. At present time 4 patients rheumatism glycaemia stomach troubles infrequent visits by civilian doctor Dental attention inadequate drugs in meagre supply 12 unfit for service 1 death perforated stomach and pneumonia. 2 lunatics in lazaret. Leisure well organised Pay regular Work levelling Correspondence slow Consignments collective parcels come to Stalag III D but are often incomplete Discipline good.

Sonderkommando 517 depending on Stalag III D visited 15th February Camp Leader Sergeant Fred Blewitt Strength 201 British of whom 17 are N.C.Os. Huts wooden housing 15 men each Beds wooden two-tier bunks palliasses 3 woolen blankets Heating lighting adequate Food prepared by prisoners under control of German soldier. Camp Leader checks rations. Facilities for cooking individual dishes. Clothing satisfactory. Canteen sells beer Generally two showerbaths bi-weekly Sanitary installations excellent medical care good beds for patients iron bedsteads complete sets of bedding 2 slightly ill patients on day of visit. Sufficient drugs & instruments Leisure well organised Correspondence slow Consignments of collective parcels arrive irregularly Pay regular Discipline good Anti-air-raid precautions good. Impression good.

Reservelazarett 104 depending on Stalag III D visited 13th February Camp Leader for Americans Corporal Paul Bushler 2081 III B. 175 patients of whom 7 are Americans 12 medical orderlies of whom 2 are Americans. Housing Accommodation not very satisfactory Food quantity adequate quality defective Diets can be prepared Camp Leader checks rations. Clothing inadequate Canteen sells beer. Hot showerbath weekly. Hygiene good. American suffering 1 from glycaemia 2 from heart trouble 1 from a stomach ulcer all stated to be eligible for repatriation Attention good Leisure well organised Correspondence slow Collective parcels distributed by American Camp Leader of Stalag III B. Discipline good.

I.R.C.C. have sent an enquiry to Geneva as to whether these Lazarets are both dependent on Stalag III B or III D. The reply will be distributed when received.

Labour Detachment 428 Stalag III D visited 15th February Strength 156 English of whom 3 are N.C.O's and 4 medical orderlies Camp Leader Major Michael Molony 11738 2 large huts as living accommodation huts for toilet purposes Canteen Workshop Barber Latrines. Each hut contains 5 or 6 rooms housing 18 men each Beds wooden two-tier bunks with palliasses 2 woollen blankets Lighting excellent Heating inadequate Camp Leader has a small office. Food well prepared by one German cook and three British No complaints. Facilities for individual cookery parcels continue. Trousers shabby shoes in bad condition Lack of leather Underclothing good condition washed once a fortnight in German laundry. Canteen sells only beer. Kitchen provides daily hot water for toiler purposes. Prisoners' latrines primitive. Infirmary comprises consultation room not heated Wards for patients heated Enough drugs and instruments Beds with mattresses 2 sheets 1 pillow 2 woollen blankets Civilian doctor visits patients 4 times a week At present 17 slightly ill patents present Gilbert Jones 11152 in Hospital at Neukoelln for serious fracture of leg, condition satisfactory No deaths Medical care slow ("lents") Leisure well organised Orchestra Books Sports. Prisoners work for Railways. Laying rails. Work arduous Pay regularly handed out. Correspondence very slow Camp Leader controls collective parcels. Each prisoner receives 1 Red Cross parcel weekly as well as 50 cigarettes. All thank British Red Cross for Christmas parcels. Discipline excellent. Anti-air-raid precautions excellent Detachment satisfactory.

Reservelazarett Thuine visited 8th February Lazaret divided into three parts of which Teil Lazaret for Prisoners takes surgical cases. Strength 81 patients of whom 1 is English. Installations perfect Food prepared by German women Quality good but quantity inadequate. Thanks to Red Cross parcels and German supplementary items bread milk doctors can order diets. Clothing inadequate lack of reserve store of clothing. Sanitary installations good. Baths at will Sheets underclothing changed at regular intervals. Radiological installation magnificent. Excellent medical attention Parcels arrives regularly Correspondence regulation. Good impression.