Stalag IIID

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

This Lazaret is situated in the annexe of a large home for patients suffering from nervous diseases. Its original purpose was to be a school for the re-education of epileptics. A large park surrounds the Lazaret. Barbed wire has been fixed pretty near the building and in consequence the possibilities of walks and sports are restricted: on the other hand, the view towards the park is magnificent. This is a stone building of two floors. On the ground floor is an aseptic Operating Theatre and several wards for the patients, each containing 10 to 20 beds, all for surgical cases. The kitchens are also there as well as accommodation for 18 patients from the Medical Section, and all declared unfit for service. (Of these two are British). They will soon be leaving the Lazaret, the British will go to the Lazaret at Königswartha. On the first floor there are an examination room for patients, a laboratory and a treatment room, as well as several wards, each containing 20 to 40 beds. Three wards are unoccupied. Several of the wards mentioned above are fitted with double-tiered bunks, but elsewhere the beds are a single structure and made of iron. All beds have sheets, two blankets and palliasses. The lighting is done by electricity. Lights out for patients is at 8.0.p.m.; later for the Doctors. The wards are already heated on account of the particularly cold and damp weather this year. The ventilation is good.

The kitchen is managed by German civilians. The Camp Leaders cannot check the rations which the patients receive but these are said to be regulation ones. The patients receive one loaf of bread weighing 1500 grs. for 5 men, twice a week and for 6 men five times a week. The most is always put into the soup and, as at Lazaret 119, the prisoners would prefer sometimes a more substantial piece of meat. We have spoken regarding this matter to the Chief Doctor who answered that it will be difficult to improve the position. The daily ration of margarine is 30 gr. Each prisoner receives one teaspoonful of sugar every two days, sometimes more. Vegetables mostly consist of cabbage. Daily ration of potatoes is 4 potatoes of average size per [?] certain patients, such as tubercular cases, receive in addition 1/2 litre of milk and three eggs weekly.

The prisoners can cook food from their collective parcels on two gas stoves in a small room. The use of gas is unrestricted.

Those patients coming from the Detachments in the town mostly have their clothing in good condition, or at least fairly good. Those coming from agricultural Detachments - particularly from farms, having their clothing in a bad condition.

It has been difficult for them to exchange these lately. Upon arrival the clothing is disinfected and the prisoners are lent for a certain time, one shirt, one pair of pants one pair of trousers and a cellular vest, belonging to the lazaret. These cellular vests are becoming more and more scarce. The British deplore having to wear uniforms of other nationalities than their own. They would like to possess at least one battle-dress. The Head doctor, to whom we reported this matter, will pass the information on to the command at Stalag III D.

Repairs are done partly at the Lazaret and partly at the Stalag. The laundry is handled by civilians (such things as sheets and hospital material). On the other hand the patients wash their own personal effects themselves. For this purpose they receive 30 gr. of soap monthly.

As there is none, the Camp Leader is allowed to obtain a few things which are asked for, from the Canteen of the Stalag.

(a) Disinfection The Lazaret has a disinfecting apparatus worked by hot air; It serves its purpose. No vermin are reported here.

(b) Showers There are eight showerbaths; it is possible to have one or two hot showerbaths weekly.

The medical service is provided by 5 doctors, 3 medical students and 22 medical orderlies (6 of whom are British).

Opthalmoligical and Dermatological cases are sent, when possible, to Lazaret 119.

There are about 100 patients in this section. Operations are performed by prisoner surgeons in well equipped Operation theatres. Sufficient dressings, and materials for sterilising and anestheticising are available.

In the section there are about 100 patients. The doctors dealing with these cases have permission to prescribe treatments as they think fit and they are not submitted to too severe a control by the Chief Doctor. The drugs they use are mostly of German origin.

We have pointed out to them that they have the right to send to Geneva each month a list of the drugs they would like to have.

Until now tubercular cases have been treated at the Lazaret but it appears that in future they will be sent to Lazaret 119.

The number of infectious patients at the moment is small (one case of Malaria). Vaccination against typhus is practised here and we have asked the oldest of the doctors to give us a list of the doctors practising at the Hospital, as well as the number of the medical corps personnel, in order to make it possible for us to discover how much vaccine will be required in order to do the repeat vaccinations.

A specialist directs the work in this section which contains only 10 patients. Oto-rhino-laryngological operations of an ordinary kind only are performed. Special cases are operated upon at the German military lazaret.

The lazaret also possesses a treatment room containing Infrared and Ultraviolet ray appartuses. Since the month of July there have only been two deaths. Burials take place at Spandau under regulation conditions, each grave carries the statutorily agreed inscription.

There is no dental surgery at the Lazaret; dental treatment is available at Lazaret 119.

In the Lazaret library there are some English books. All the prisoners receive the usual newspapers.

On account of the small space between the building and the barbed wire barricade the facility for sports is restricted. Nevertheless the British play cricket and box.

The staff of doctors and medical personnel has, in the past, sufficed for the amount of work necessary to be done. The surgeons, however, are a little over-worked on account of the increased number of operations necessary.

Doctors and members of the medical personnel enjoy the usual outings, but they would like to be able to get out unaccompanied by a guard. We have reported this desire to the Chief doctor who told us in reply that such a request would have to be considered by the security officer ("Abwehr") before he could give any answer thereto.

The doctors and the members of the medical personnel receive pay according to their various ranks. They are allowed to send to their families not more than 50 RM monthly (medical orderlies) whilst the doctors can send 150 RM.

The British write two letters and 4 cards a month (members of the medical staff double this number). For about a month now practically no incoming mail has been received.

Personal and collective parcels arrive regularly from the Stalag. They are put into cupboards, of which the Camp Leaders held one of the two keys. There are no complaints as to the control and the distribution of these parcels.

This continues to be very strict. The relations between the prisoners and the Germans have nevertheless improved since the departure of a non-commissioned officer who was too strict. Although there is still friction at times the Camp Leaders have no precise complaints to put forward.

Each member of the medical staff and each patient who is British should have a uniform of his own nationality, as, at the moment, many of them are dressed in French uniforms. The prisoners are waiting to have a report on the measure which interferes with their reception of all their incoming mail. Three patients ought to go before the Mixed Medical Commission.

As the preceding report of the delegates indicated, the equipment at this lazaret is good. We are happy to find that the relationship between guards and prisoners has to some small extent improved.

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

Senior Officer of the Camp Major FOSBROOKE John Malcolm, No. 23910 (Stalag VIII B) Doctor.

On the 21st of October 1942 there were 32 British patients (4 Cypriots and 2 New Zealanders) out of a total of 243 patients.

As far as quarters are concerned there is no change to report. Several wards are unoccupied at the moment and in the other wards the beds are not overcrowded. The Lazaret can hold 400 beds: 316 are occupied. Each bed has two sheets which are changed once every month, as well as two blankets. The palliasses are good. The electric light is switched off at 8.0.p.m. Heating has already started. About four doctors share the same room. The room of the British Doctors is on the small side. The members of the British Medical Corps who, at our last visit complained that they were too crowded in the dormitories, have now a second dormitory at their disposal. Finally, we would like to state that these rooms are perfectly hygienic.

As in the month of July 1942, the food is prepared by a staff of German civilians. Following our intervention the Camp Leaders now have the right to go to the kitchens and check up on the food rations.

Bread

Meat

Margarine

Potatoes

Sugar

Vegetables

Substitute tea

Marmalade

Dietetic preparations

Cheese

250 gr. weekly

300 gr. weekly (including bones and sausages)

206 gr. weekly (including butter)

6 to 700 grs. daily

175 gr. weekly

1200 gr. weekly

54 gr. weekly

175 gr. weekly

160 gr. weekly

125 gr. weekly

Would it not be possible for the prisoners to obtain once or twice a week, a larger helping of meat instead of the small daily quantities of meat in their soup? We have submitted this request to the Head Doctor and to the Quarter-Master and they have promised us to give the system a trial for a little while; however, they have warned us that the soup and the vegetables would become less tasty in consequence.

The prisoners can cook the food they receive in their personal and collective parcels, for themselves. For this purpose there are two gas burners in a little office called the "Theekucher" (Tea cooking room).

Since our last visit the diet for tubercular patients has rather improved. Each patient afflicted by this disease receives one litre of skimmed milk daily and 5 to 7 eggs weekly. Patients suffering from digestive troubles can obtain oatmeal soup and nephritic patients can get a chalk-free diet.

The organisation regarding control and distribution of collective consignments is still the same. The parcels are stored in a cupboard and one of the two keys belongs to the "Zahlmeister" (Paymaster), while the other key is in the safe custody of the Camp Leaders (for each nationality). No complaints have been put forward in this respect.

The state of the clothing of the prisoners is the same as before. The Management of the Lazaret continues to issue one pair of pyjamas, one shirt and one towel to each new arrival. The laundry is done by German civilians; repairs are effected either by a tailor at the Lazaret or at the Stalag III D. The clothing of the Members of the Medical corps is good, but not all have received the work suit asked for in July 1942. Stocks of clothing coming from the Red Cross are not available yet; exchanges take place at Stalag III D.

This is managed by a priest. He does not make the purchases personally, but he goes to Stalag III D for the things which are wanted. At the moment letter paper (in small quantities), matches, and, from time to time, beer (2 to 3 bottles weekly for each member of the medical corps) are available. In addition, each man has the right to obtain 100 Russian cigarettes, (half of which consist of cardboard mouthpieces) and 30 "Gauloises" monthly, at the usual prices. During the summer is was possible to buy sometimes vegetables, such as salads.

a) Disinfection: The installation, worked by cyano-hydric gas, which we mentioned in July 1942 continues to function well. No vermin has been reported.

b) Showerbaths Each floor has a small installation consisting of 4 showers and a bath. Hot showers are taken once weekly.

c) Washbasins There are two washbasins with two taps, for each floor, except the fourth floor where there are only two taps.

This is always under the direction of 13 Doctor and 43 members of the medical corps. The various sections described in our report on our last visit have not been altered.

a) Medicine This service is always under the direction of a prisoner doctor. At the moment there are about 60 patients there. Among them, as ever, there are cases of digestive and heart trouble, some nephritics and a few nerve cases. The drugs supplied by the Germans are generally sufficient; in addition the British receive a good number of drugs and dressings from the British Red Cross and no complaints have been reported on this subject.

b) Surgery We will not revert to the description of the Operating Theatre of the Lazaret. This is well equipped. Two surgeons (of whom one is British) continue to do the current surgical operations (appendectomy, hernia etc.) Urgent cases, coming from the Labour Detachments of Stalag III D arrive in good time at the Lazaret.

c) Infectious Diseases On the day of our visit there were only a few patients in this section which is separated from the rest. There is no X-ray apparatus available yet at the Lazaret and Collapsotherapy cannot be practised. Laboratory tests take place regularly. The question of injections for immunisation against Exanthematic Typhus is under consideration and the Doctor will soon receive his instructions on this point.

d) Oto-rhino-laryngology Patients affected by diseases in this category are sent to Lazaret 128.

e) Opthalmology The spectacles asked for from Geneva arrive about two months after they have been ordered. The patients mostly get them after they have returned to their Labour Detachments.

g) Dental Care The dentist has sufficient material to treat the prisoners of the various Labour Detachments in the neighbourhood but he has not sufficient time to cope with the total needs.

The British library is well stocked with books which are renewed (irregularly to say the truth) from Stalag III D.

The prisoners have a fairly large hall for performances: but the prisoners do not give many of these as actors are scarce. The patients do not remain long at the Lazaret. No orchestra has been organised.

Sets of playing cards are now getting somewhat incomplete and consignments would be most welcome. The British have the use of a ping-pong table. Also the prisoners can see German films at the Lazaret.

This is good and there is nothing further to report regarding the treatment of the prisoners.

The Doctors and the members of the medical corps are available in sufficient numbers. They have one afternoon off weekly and are accompanied during their regulation outings by an escort.

Doctors and members of the medical corps receive the pay appropriate to their status. The patients receive 10 pfennigs daily (from the Stalag).

The British cannot write more than two letters and two postcards monthly. They have received no letters and no postcards for the last month.

Would it not be possible to cancel the restrictions regarding the correspondence of the Medical corps personnel?

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

Strength 296 British (all English or Scottish with the exception of 2 New Zealanders).

This Labour Detachment is situated far from all civilian habitations, in the middle of sandy fields, dotted with trees. It consists of a "Vorlager" (Advance Post) where the German troops of the guard are lodged, and of the Camp which consists of 6 wooden huts of which three are tenanted. The three others enclose the kitchens, the canteen, the Common- and Sports-Room, as well as the store for collective parcels.

The living huts are fairly large; they comprise ten rooms furnished with 10 two-tier bunks each benches, and chairs in adequate quantities. Each man has a palliasse more or less filled with shredded paper and furnished with two blankets supplied by the employers.

Each room has two large windows which have to be kept closed during the night. There is, however, sufficient ventilation as there are ventilating grills and many panes of glass are broken. Light is supplied by two electric light bulbs in each room. In some of the rooms the heating has already been laid on. Each room has a stove and the Camp Leader states that the reserves of wood and coal in hand appear to be enough to last through the winter.

All the prisoners get the heavy-workers' rations ("Schwerarbeiter"). The cooking is done in the Camp in large modern, well-kept rooms. The rations are posted up on the wall. They are according to the regulations. Since heating is re-established it has been possible to cook the food stuffs from the weekly food parcels separately. The prisoners do not complain of the food in general, but they appreciate the collective parcels. These are checked on arrival by the Camp Leader and put into a store, or, to be more exact, into a cupboard with two locks one set of keys of which was kept by the German Commander of the Detachment and the other by the Camp Leader. The organisation is excellent.

Most of the men have as uniform nothing but a "battle-dress", although in most of the Detachments the British have two. Besides this 20 prisoners have no regulation trousers and would like to receive these. The underclothes are decent each man has two sets. Clothes are mended in the Stalag; the washing is done in the Detachments quarters with soap which the prisoners receive in their parcels. Their shoes are in good condition except for three men's, and these men are going to try to get them exchanged at the Stalag.

The prisoners find some difficulty in exchanging their trousers since these wear out much more quickly than the vests.

The Labour Detachment has a small canteen where razor blades, tooth paste letter paper and shoe polish can be obtained. The price of these things is not disproportionately high.

Each building has a showerbath room which contains 12 showerbaths, washhouses (3 sets of 12 taps) and a washing tub. The men can have at least one showerbath a week.

The latrines are in a little building specially built for the purpose at some little distance from the other huts. There are enough of them and they are well kept. (The system is of wooden seats over a trench) There is no disinfectant plant at the Detachment but disinfection can be done if it is necessary. No vermin have been reported.

This is attended to by doctor-captain Stevenson Wright (a New Zealander) and three recognised members of the medical corps who are British. Doctors and recognised members of the medical corps receive pay, can write twice as many letters and cards as their comrades and are allowed each week to take the regulation number of walks. The Infirmary of the Detachment is simply a First Aid Post where there are only 7 beds. Nevertheless it suffices for the 5 patients who are actually there. On the day of our visit 30 prisoners released from their usual work for health reasons were cleaning the Camp. The doctor has enough drugs at his disposal. These come partly from the German drug store at the Stalag and partly from the British Red Cross parcels. The doctor informed us that inoculation against typhus and paratyphus has not been carried out. Only the doctor has been inoculated against exanthematic typhus.

Dental treatment is given by a German civilian; this consists of extractions and stoppings and of making of artificial dentures. These are paid for in part from the Camp funds (Lagergeld) and in part by the prisoner himself. The doctor asked that he might, if possible, be sent an opthalmoscope and an otoscope.

The Detachment has quite a large Common Room where the prisoners can take exercise. It is also here that the Anglican priest (who is a New Zealander) celebrates Mass every 8 or 15 days. He lives in the Detachment No. 404.

The Detachment has a little theatrical group and an orchestra, which give performances from time to time. They have enough musical instruments.

There are enough games of cards and sets of chess, but the football is no longer in usable condition and the prisoners would very much like to receive another. The other sports in which they indulge are volleyball, boxing and simple gymnastics and the lesser kinds of athletics generally.

This is, in general, good. Occasionally a prisoner may be sent to the detention cells of the Stalag but never for more than 15 days.

The prisoners work on the metalled way. They are engaged in terracing ground, in loading and unloading trucks which is very arduous work to which the prisoners become accustomed little by little. The working day varies from 8 to 10 hours. Sunday is the most usual rest day. Hardship is caused by the fact that the prisoners' place of work is 7 kilometres distant from the Camp. This increases the fatigue for prisoners very considerably. The pay is 70 pfennigs a day.

Prisoners can only write two letters and two cards a month. Many of them have had no news of their families for five weeks.

The Camp Leader states that the treatment of prisoners has not changed during the past weeks. His only request was that battle-dresses should be sent out and that correspondence with prisoners' families should be made easier.

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

This Detachment is accommodated in a wooden hut of which the south side gives onto a courtyard surrounded by strands of barbed wire.

The factory which employs the prisoners is in the immediate vicinity of the cantonment.

The building is divided into three rooms; the two first which are used as dormitories, hold respectively, 36 to 40 beds; the third constitutes a small kitchen where the prisoners cook the food stuffs which they receive from the Red Cross; but they can do this only on Sundays. The rations served on working weekdays are prepared by German civilians outside the Camp. The two dormitories are of adequate size; the sleeping accommodation consists of two-tier bunks and these are arranged in groups of four to leave a larger space between them. There are enough tables and benches; the heating system, which is in the form of two stoves in each room is more than adequate for the temperature at the time of year.

Each room is lighted by two electric lamps. It is difficult to ensure adequate ventilation during the night, as, although there are plenty of windows the black-out regulations have to be strictly observed. A better system of ventilation is being studied at the Stalag.

The palliasses are stuffed with shredded paper; they are infested with fleas in spite of the ceaseless daily war waged against them by the prisoners.

The meals, as we have already stated, are prepared outside the Camp by German civilians. The prisoners' rations are the same as those of civilian workmen of all other nationalities who work in the same factory. The Camp Leader does not know the exact amount of the rations; he cannot check these as the cooking is done outside the Detachment quarters. There are, however, no complaints except as to the difference between the food received at the different factories. The second one of these issues soup which is far less concentrated than that served in the first. We passed on these comments to the officer of the Stalag who came with us; he replied that there were many ways of accessing the relative quality of food supplied by different undertakings and that it was very difficult to be objective, nevertheless he will investigate the quality of the soup in the second factory on the spot. As previously mentioned, the prisoners are able to cook the food stuffs which come to them in Red Cross parcels or personal parcels in a little kitchen - but only on Sundays. The Camp Leader has control of all the parcels from the time of their arrival at the Detachment. He puts the preserved goods and other food stuffs that will not deteriorate if kept in a cupboard of which he holds the key and gives them out on demand. Perishable goods are distributed at once.

Each prisoners has, as a general rule, but one uniform, but it is decent. Body linen, on the contrary, is often in a defective condition, or lacking. Socks are in a very bad state, and shoes will only last for a few more months.

Clothing is repaired by the prisoners themselves, who have been able to obtain thread, needles and stuff, though it is true that this is of a colour which differs from that of their uniforms.

They also wash their own clothes; and they receive a packet of soap flakes and a small cake of soap each per month for this purpose.

There is no canteen for this Detachment. The prisoners can obtain certain toilet articles at the canteen of the factory where they are employed, or they can have a glass of lemonade to drink at midday and with their evening meal, and, occasionally, a glass of beer. Certain things can also be bought at the canteen attached to Detachment No. 500.

(a) Disinfection The hut needs general disinfection on account of the numerous fleas with which the palliasses are infested. There is no disinfectant plant at this Detachment but there is one at a larger Detachment which is not very far away.

(d) Latrines There are four perfectly hygienic W.C's. (with waterflushing system).

There are no members of the medical corps in the Detachment itself. In case of accident first aid is rendered by a German civilian male nurse at the factory. Sick patients are sent to military hospital where, according to the Camp Leader, they are not always well received. We communicated this complaint to the responsible officer who replied that this fact is quite understandable a officially the prisoners should be sent to Reservelazarett 119 or 128 and that they are only sent to the military hospital because it is nearer.

Religious Services The Camp Leader is a catholic priest. He celebrates Mass each day that is possible, and, in all cases every Sunday.

Theatre and Concerts The Detachment has not a theatrical group of its own but the prisoners sometimes take part in performances given by artists in neighbouring Camps.

Study courses The Camp Leader, with the help of another prisoner who is a professor of history and geography, has organised courses preparatory for gaining certificates in these subjects.

Games The prisoners have no card games. A consignment of cards, or chess sets and of books for amusement would be most welcome.

All the prisoners in this Detachment are specialists and can execute all branches of printing work. This work is not physically strenuous but it is not a healthy occupation and is even, in the case of certain special operations, poisonous. Prisoners engaged in these operations receive some skimmed milk as a prophylactic measure.

The prisoners are free on Sundays except when there is very urgent work to be done. The working day is 8 hours. In order to get a little fresh air the prisoners go and play games on the athletic stadium.

We are dealing here, with specialists and their pay is not 70 pfennigs per day but from 1.20 RM to 1.30 per day.

This has not been bad lately. Men who are to be punished for any reason, are sent to the "Sonderkommando" of Detachment No.500.

The prisoners are experiencing at the moment a feeling of some discontent which is due to the return, as Head of the Detachment of a non-commissioned officer at whose hands they had for several months endured a good deal of irritation, and who had left the Detachment.

Prisoners have the right to write 2 letters and two cards a month and they receive two "correspondence tickets". The non-commissioned officers who volunteer for work (and there are plenty of these in this Detachment) are allowed one card and one letter more than the other prisoners each month. We have not been able to enquire into the condition of correspondence which operate for the British prisoner but we heard that he receives his weekly parcel quite regularly.

May we mention here, that tobacco and chocolate is very often missing from personal parcels when they arrive.

There have been no complaints except those regarding the discipline in Detachment 500 (where prisoners are sent for punishment), the ventilation of the dormitories and the disappearance of cigarettes and chocolate from personal parcels.

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

72 British (English, Scottish and Welsh) of whom 2 are members of the medical corps.

The British only occupy one of the five buildings and not the whole even of this. As a matter of fact, three rooms and altogether empty. The others are large, well-lighted, and furnished with wooden two-tier bunks' these bunks have palliasses stuffed with shredded paper which comes in the Red Cross parcels. The prisoners prefer this stuffing to that of wood-shavings as it does not harbour vermin nearly so much.

A stove in each room provides warmth and there is sufficient store of coal for the coming weeks. Each room is lighted by two electric lamps. Lights-out is at 10.0 p.m.

As in the case in the other two Labour Detachments previously reported upon, the ventilation of the rooms is a problem, as from the hour of 7.0.p.m. or 8.0.p.m. onwards the windows have to be hermetically closed. (on account of black-out regulations).

The cooking is done by 2 German cooks and one Serbian prisoner who is not a member of the Detachment. The meals are the same as those of 100 civilian workmen who are of different nationalities. For the past 15 days only 20 men get the normal ration; all the rest getting the heavy workers' rations ("Schwerarbeiter) In fact, since a request being made by the Camp Leader all the prisoners get the heavy workers' ration.

The prisoners cook the food stuffs from the Red Cross parcels on a stove which has been built in a little room next to the furnace room. (The room which provides the heating for the shower-baths).

The Camp Leader checks and distributes the weekly parcels. Here, the control of the storage system is slightly different, as the Camp Leader has no key to the store and does not know yet whether he is to be granted one. We ascertained however, that no one has any complaints to make and a distribution of goods is made whenever this is asked for.

All that all the prisoners have as a uniform is a pair of trousers and a battle dress. They have greatcoats, but many of them complain that they have to wear French and Belgian caps. On the day before our visit a consignment of clothes (more particularly underwear) had arrived; this will form a reserve stock, which before this was practically non-existent. Each prisoner has a pair of decent shoes. But the Camp Leader asks that some more pairs of shoes be sent, socks being generally in very bad condition. Each man has 2 pairs of pants and 2 shirts.

Repairs to clothing are done at the Stalag; clothes washed outside the Camp by civilians.

This has not, up to the present, been installed. Besides, the prisoners have not yet received their pay for the past month and so would be unable to purchase goods anyhow. The officer who accompanied us on our visit promised to remedy this state of affairs, as soon as possible.

(a) Disinfection This Detachment is naturally too small to have a disinfectant plant of its own. There are some fleas in the Camp and the prisoners get some insecticide powder.

(b) Showerbaths Each prisoner can take a hot showerbath at least once a week. The showerbath rooms situated in the building are more than adequate.

(d) Latrines Prisoners use the 6 W.C.'s (which are supplied with waterflushers). They do not use the more primitive ones, which are installed near the huts.

The Camp Leader is a Sergeant, and a member of the medical corps. The Infirmary of the Detachment was designed for the accommodation of a strength of 500 men, which accounts for its having 30 beds. The room is spacious, well lighted and adequately heated. It contained only two patients who were slightly sick. The consulting room is stocked with a comparatively large amount of the necessary material and has moreover a dentist's chair in it. Dental treatment is not undertaken here, the patients are obliged to go to the Labour Detachment No. 714. Prisoners who report sick can consult a British doctor who comes twice a week to visit the Detachment. This is the Doctor of Detachment No. 520.

(a) Religious Services There is no priest with this Detachment, and the prisoners have not, as yet attended any religious celebration throughout the whole time they have been here. This is to be seen to shortly.

(b) Library The Detachment has not yet received anything from the Stalag. Representatives of the Y.M.C.A. have promised to send a consignment of books.

(c) Theatre and Orchestra The prisoners have a very large Common Room but the Detachment is too small to have take the trouble to form a theatrical company. With regard to an orchestra the Camp Leader states that the prisoners have no instruments.

(d) Games Indoor games are scarce; the men are able to indulge in outdoor sports outside the barbed wire enclosure at certain stated times.

In this Detachment the prisoners are engaged in levelling ground alongside the metalled way. This work does not give rise to any special complaints. The prisoners live on good terms with the civilians. They have one free Sunday in two.

As already stated in the paragraph headed "Canteen" the prisoners have not yet received any pay for last month. This applies to those who have exchanged from other Detachments. The daily rate of pay up to the present is 70 pfennigs. Overtime is paid for. The two members of the medical corps receive their regulation pay.

Prisoners are allowed to write 2 letters and 4 cards a week; members of the medical corps twice this number. During the past two months there has been no regular correspondence.

The question of pay will be considered and finally settled. British uniforms should be sent out, particularly trousers and greatcoats. The rooms ought to be ventilated in some better way. Outside these three points there is no particular complaint to be made.

Apart from the points referred to in the course of this report as unsatisfactory, this Detachment may be considered a good one.

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

The situation of Labour Detachment 520 is similar to that of Detachment No. 517.

The Detachment is lodged in four large wooden buildings identical with those of Detachment 517, each one comprising 12 rooms containing 14 two-tier bunks; these are made of wood and are furnished with palliasses filled with wood shavings, they are sufficiently well-spaced and each is supplied with two blankets given by the mens' employers. During the day the ventilation is adequate. But this is not the case at night, as all the windows, of which there are two to each room, have to be hermetically closed in conformity with the black-out regulations which are very strict. A special method of artificial ventilation is under consideration. Since the last 8 days, a stove in each room has ensured its warmth. Each room is suitably furnished with tables and benches.

In a well arranged kitchen meals are prepared by six cooks (5 British and one German). The Camp Leader has only a vague knowledge of the rations issued, but the German cook showed us the list of the rations for the preceding week and we were able to satisfy ourselves that these were the same as those issued to men on heavy work ("Schwerarbeiter"). Prisoners are able to cook for themselves the food stuffs which arrive in collective parcels on a stove specially installed for this purpose in the furnace room of each building. The Camp Leader checks the parcels on arrival and puts them in a cupboard of which he holds one of the two keys. There have been no complaints on this subject. The organisation is good.

Each man has a uniform and a battle-dress, but many prisoners have no caps, and are dressed in French greatcoats, which they would very much like to have changed for regulation greatcoats. All prisoners have two sets of underwear which are, in most cases, in good condition. Each man has several pairs of socks and a decent pair of shoes. Clothing is repaired in the Detachment by a British tailor who is specially allocated to this work.

Two cobblers also work at the Detachment, and have enough materials for their purposes.

Clothes are washed by the prisoners with soap which comes in the collective parcels.

(a) Disinfection There is no disinfectant apparatus at the Detachment; a portable apparatus is used whenever it is necessary. No vermin are reported in this Camp.

Medical attention is in the hands of 6 recognised members of the medical corps and a doctor, all of whom are British. The Detachment has a small Infirmary containing 8 individual beds made of iron and furnished with sheets and blankets. This room is light and well-arranged. The doctor and the Camp Leader use the same room; the members of the medical corps are in with the other prisoners. The doctor has a little consulting room containing such apparatus as is indispensable and a dispensary provided with the usual drugs most often needed. On the day of our visit there were 24 patients in the Infirmary, but 20 of these were but slightly sick (released from hard work for this reason).

Dental attention was previously given by a dentist who was living in the Detachment. He at present lives in another Detachment and only comes to this one from time to time. Treatments consist of stoppings. It is not possible to make artificial dentures, and it is the doctor who does extractions.

This Detachment has a large Common Room, in which the prisoners organise concerts and present plays.

The library is supplied, as are those of the other Detachments, from the Stalag.

The sports ground is outside the ring of barbed wire which encircles the camp, and the prisoners can use this at certain hours of the day. The principal sports in which the prisoners indulge are football, volleyball and boxing.

The prisoners of this Detachment are engaged, like those of Detachment 517 in work on the metalled way, doing levelling. The working day is 8 or 10 hours. Every second Sunday is a rest day.

The doctor and the members of the medical corps receive the pay appropriate to their several ranks. Other prisoners get 70 pfennigs a day. Overtime is paid for.

This has been reduced to 2 letters and 2 cards a month. Some prisoners have received replies at lately as during the past weeks just elapsed.

The prisoners can get the usual articles from the canteen, such as shoe laces, letter-paper etc. (and occasional razor-blades and tooth powder).

Our interview dealt with the various points touched upon already in this report. The doctor reports that 5 men request to go before the Mixed Medical Commission. The cases are as follows: one of osteomyelitis of the fore-arm (chronic), one of facial paralysis as the result of spinal fracture, and the two others are chronic cases of less serious diseases, which cannot therefore be categorised as very grave cases.

DT 510 III D VISITED 29.10.42 OUT OF 69 PRISONERS ONE BRITISH BURRIDGE ROBERT 213 XX B EXCEPT FOR VERMIN GENERAL CONDITIONS LIFE SATISFACTORY 8 HOURS WORK PRINTING PRESS RECEIVES ONE PACKET WEEKLY FULL STOP

DR 517 III D IDEM REPRESENTATIVE SEAWARD JOSEPH STOP DOCTOR CAPTAIN NEW ZEALANDER STEVENSON WRIGHT 23898 STOP 296 BRITISH TWO BEING NEW ZEALANDERS ACCOMMODATION EXCELLENT RATIONS WORK HARD REPRESENTATIVE CONTROLS PARCELS APPRECIATED STOP ISSUE OF CLOTHES TO BE COMPLETED STOP HYGIENE CARE SATISFACTORY STOP ENGLISH CLERGYMAN OFFICIATES REGULARLY STOP LIBERTY GAMES SPORTS WORK RAILWAY EMBANKMENT STOP 2 CARDS 2 LETTERS MONTHLY FULL STOP

DT 520 III D IDEM REPRESENTATIVE BUTLAND THOMAS 10 90 5 TELEGRAPHIST RN437 BRITISH ACCOMMODATION SUITABLE RATIONS WORK HARD REPRESENTATIVE CONTROLS PARCELS STOP HYGIENE CARE SATISFACTORY 4 PATIENTS IN INFIRMARY 20 MILD CASES EXEMPTED FROM HEAVY WORK STOP RELIGIOUS SERVICES LIBRARY GAMES SPORTS STOP SAME CONDITIONS OF WORK AND CORRESPONDENCE AS DT 517 FULL STOP

DR 426 III D IDEM REPRESENTATIVE P EMERY HARRY SERGEANT RAMC 10752 STRENGTH 72 BRITISH ACCOMMODATION SUITABLE RATIONS WORK HARD REPRESENTATIVE CONTROLS WEEKLY PARCELS BUT NO STOCK HYGIENE CARE SATISFACTORY 2 MILD CASES STOP NO RELIGIOUS SERVICE YET NOR BOOKS FEW GAMES BUT SPORTS STOP WORK CORRESPONDENCE SEE DETACHMENTS ABOVE/RESERVELAZARETT/STALAG VII A VISITED 11.10.42 REPRESENTATIVE MAJOR BRUCE EPC 402 OFLAG VII B STRENGTH 482 INCLUDING 15 % BRITISH 2 BRITISH OUT OF 32 MEDICAL ORDERLIES WELL FITTED UP IN OLD SEMINARY WITHOUT BARBED WIRE RATIONS CORRECT BREAKFAST COFFEE SUBSTITUTE BREAD MIDDAY SOUP VEGETABLES POTATOES EVENING SOUP BREAD POTATOES MARGARINE EXTRA CHEESE STOP DIETS FOR SERIOUS CASES STOP PARCELS REGULARLY RECEIVED RESERVE STOP SOME OFFICERS WOUNDED DIEPPE OUT OF DANGER CARE EXCELLENT IN GENERAL MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT MODERN STOP ONE CASE TUBERCULOSIS AND 4 UNFIT FOR SERVICE BRITISH STOP MORE ENGLISH BOOKS ASKED FOR