CONFIDENTIAL

No. 196.

Date of visit: 17th June 1943

STALAG III D

Camp Commander: Colonel Breyer.

Adjutant: Major Kolshorn.

Accompanying Officer: Cpt. Mueller.

British Man of Confidence: Sergeant-Major Seward.

After visiting the two Arbeits-Kommandos below (Falkensee, No.730 and Wuhlheide, No.329) the Delegate of the Protecting Power paid a visit to the Commander of Stalag III D who is administering the camp of his command in a wise and just fashion. However, as the inspection of these two camps had been entirely satisfactory no complaint was brought forward.

Arbeits-Kommando Nr.730

17th June 1943.

Man of Confidence: Cpl. R.R.M.T. Morris, POW No.11957.

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        This camp is well situated in flat country outside Berlin. The compound is within the grounds of a large saw-mill where the prisoners are doing light work. There is one large barrack, a fairly large vegetable and flower garden as well as a good-sized sports-ground.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL.

        82 men (4 of them in hospital)

        (out of the 81 men 37 are English and the remaining 44 Cypriots)

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT

        The barrack is divided by a large corridor into two sections, each of these containing three spacious sleeping rooms. There is a well equipped clean kitchen, a good wash-room, a small revier and a small room occupied by the Man of Confidence and next to it the store-room for the Red Cross parcels. There is no overcrowding.

IV.) WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES

        All in order.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        Excellent.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        The food is said to be very good. It is cooked by the prisoners themselves. The head of the kitchen is a Cypriot cook. After the main meal for the prisoners has been prepared, the men can do their own cooking of Red Cross Food on the kitchen stoves.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        Once every week the camp is visited by a British Medical Officer, Cpt. Barker, from Reserve-Lazaret Neukoelln, No.119. In case of emergency the men are taken to hospital by an ambulance. There are three medical orderlies, a sergeant, a corporal and a private. The camp disposes of any amount of medicaments which they receive from the Chief Man of Confidence of Stalag III D.

        Therefore, both medical and dental attention are stated to be very satisfactory.

        The sanitator complains about not getting his walks. When discussing this with the accompanying officer he explained that according to an order of the German High Command sanitators were allowed 7 1/2 hours spread over three days each week. The one in this camp was naturally entitled to this and shall benefit by it in future.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        The Chief Man of Confidence states that the position in clothing is bad, but nothing can be done about it here as, according to information he has received from Geneva the Red Cross, there are waiting for supplies from England.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        Laundry is being sent out for washing.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        In order.

XI.) CANTEEN

        There is a badly stocked canteen; things are bought in Stalag III D, if there is anything on sale.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        A Church of England padre visits this camp every two weeks and a Roman Catholic one says mass once a month.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        Handball is played inside the camp compound but for football the prisoners are taken to a small field nearby.

        There are plenty of indoor games at the camp but the men complain about having no recreation room. The Accompanying Officer explained, if the men insist on a recreation room, it will have to be at the expense of their spacious sleeping quarters as, unfortunately, no special barrack could be built just for a recreation room.

XIV.) MAIL

        The mail was described as being bad, in fact worse than ever before. There have been no cigarette parcels coming through for months. According to the Chief Man of Confidence, the hold-up must be at Lisbon.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        In order.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        The Man of Confidence asks for a cupboard to store games and books. The Accompanying Officer therefore ordered that the mill shall let the prisoners have the necessary raw material and they themselves shall make the desired cupboard.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        Very good camp.

Arbeits-Kommando Nr.329 - Wuhlheide.

Chief Man of Confidence for Stalag III D: Sergeant-Major Seward.

Lager-Offizier: Cpt. Porten.

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        The British prisoners of war moved into this camp about four weeks ago which previously had been occupied by Russian prisoners. It is a large camp well situated amidst pinewoods on the eastern outskirts of Berlin. The compound at present consists of 7 large wooden barracks but two more will be constructed shortly. In one of the barracks there is a large concert hall with a stage; during day-time this hall is being used as a recreation room. Next to it is the large and well equipped kitchen. The wash-house and the toilet facilities are in a separate barrack at the other end of the camp.

        The men do all types of railway-work, their employer being the German State Railways (D.R.B.)

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL.

        745 men,

        4 officers.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT

        There is no overcrowding; the ventilation is excellent and equally so the electric lighting. The Man of Confidence states that he has no complaint whatsoever regarding the interior arrangements of this camp except that barrack No.5 is infested with bugs. However, steps have already been taken to remedy that. The prisoners are allowed to do their own gassing of any barrack in case of need and they received full cooperation from the camp authorities.

IV.) WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES

        Adequate.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        Adequate.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        The food is good. As to the cooking of private food the Man of Confidence points out that at present it has to be done in the camp kitchen and as far as that goes is quite satisfactory though naturally the hours of cooking often collide with those of cooking for the entire camp. Also there is a stove in each sleeping room which can be used for cooking but this is not satisfactory. Therefore, the Man of Confidence has made plans for private kitchens and is now just waiting to put them into effect.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        The medical attention is in the hands of two British doctors, namely Cpt. Neale and Cpt. Stevenson-Wright, the latter of the N.Z.M.C. They are assisted by 18 medical orderlies of whom 16 only are recognized as such. There is a good stock of all kinds of medicaments. Cpl. Stevenson-Wright states that there is nothing to complain about except that there is not enough accommodation in the various rooms used as revier. However, the use of a whole barrack as a hospital has been promised and will be put into effect as soon as possible.

        As to dental treatment a dental station will be opened in the new hospital barrack.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        Only a very small percentage of the men have been supplied with overalls by the D.R.B. so far. As to uniforms none of the men possess two at present. The Man of Confidence explained that nothing could be done about it at this end since not even Geneva was disposing of adequate supplies.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        Laundry is send to a factory for washing.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        In order.

XI.) CANTEEN

        So far no canteen has been established in this camp. The men ask urgently for razor blades. Beer is on sale.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        There are two padres in this camp, Cpt. W.E.W. Hurst and Capt. C. Scraborough.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        Everything in order.

XIV.) MAIL

        Mail is said to be very bad indeed. Some of the men have had no cigarette parcels for months.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        In order.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        There are still 9 men of the Royal Navy in this camp and they repeat their ardent desire to be transferred to Marlag. Whether this will be possible the Delegate of the Protecting Power could not say at the time but he promised to try once again in bringing about their transfer, although, so far all efforts in that direction have been in vain.

        A few minor complaints were discussed immediately with the Lager-Offizier and settled then and there.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        This will be an excellent camp once everything is completed. The understanding between the British prisoners and the Lager-Offizier is excellent. The latter speaks very good English and knows to deal with his prisoners.

        Regarding the other work-camps in Stalag III D the following two were not visited by the Delegate of the Protecting Power as, according to the Chief Man of Confidence, Sergeant-Major Seward, everything is well in hand there:

                Nr. 428 Zernsdorf near Koenigswusterhausen

                Nr. 837 Deutche Vergaserwerke.

        Camp Nr. 520 Grossbeeren and camp Nr. 517 Genshagen have already been dissolved and camp Nr. 528 Teltow is bring dissolved at present, so that no visit was paid to any of them. The prisoners from these camps have mostly been transferred to work-camp Nr. 329, Wuhlheide, which is described above.

Rudolf Burckhardt.