No.251.

British.

Stalag III D.

Date of visit: September 23rd and 24th, 1943.

        On September 23rd, 1943, the following 3 Arbeits-Kommandos were visited by the Delegate of the P.P. who was accompanied by the Chief m.o.c., namely

                No. 730  Falkensee

                No. 329  Wuhlheide

                No. 837  Deutsche Vergaserwerke (Solex)

        Since our last visit to the first two camps (No.730 and No.329) on June 17th 1943, there have been many improvements so that in neither of them any serious complaint was put forward. There were a few minor requests which the Delegate of the P.P. was able to settle on the spot. It can be said that these two camps are excellently run. The matter causing more trouble than anything else is the lack of new boots and material for repairs. However, the Chief m.o.c. is in touch with Geneva and hopes to receive some supplies very soon.

Arb.-Kdo. No. 837, Deutsche Vergaserwerke SOLEX, Berlin.

British m.o.c. : Chrisotomos Charalamba

        There are now 80 men, all of them Cypriots, in this commando; except those who are on nightshift they all live in commando No.730, Falkensee, where they are well accommodated.

        Camp No.837 forms part of the premises of the Deutsche Vergaserwerke and borders the marshalling yards of one of the big Berlin railway stations.

Arb.-Kdo. No.428, Zernsdorf

Date of visit: September 24th, 1943

British m.o.c. : M. Molony, P.O.W. No.11738

Lagerfuehrer : Sgt. M.J. McTaggart.

        I. GENERAL IMPRESSION:

                No change except that a new barrack has been built. New air-raid shelters are under construction.

        II. CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL:

                157 British p.o.w. : 150 Englishmen

                                                  6 Australians

                                                  1 South African.

        III. INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS:

                The same as shown in our last report. The m.o.c. asked for replacement of 157 palliasses which was immediately granted by the Camp Commander.

        IV. BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES:

                Adequate. The men have a hot shower once a week.

        V. TOILET FACILITIES:

                So far the emptying of the pits has been unsatisfactory but now a new hand-pump has been supplied. The prisoners prefer an electric pump, but it is very doubtful as to whether one can be found to-day. The camp commander stated that the latrines would be transferred to a place further away from the camp very shortly.

        VI. FOOD AND COOKING:

                Food is satisfactory.

        VII. MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS:

                There is no British doctor in this camp. The men are treated by a civilian doctor who calls at the camp daily at 8 p.m. According to the sanitator, the camp is short of medicines.

        VIII. CLOTHING:

                Clothing is satisfactory except for boots. There is an excellent shoe-maker but a very limited stock of material to work with.

        IX. LAUNDRY:

                Laundry is washed outside the camp, satisfactory.

        X. MONEY AND PAY:

                In order.

        XI. CANTEEN:

                The canteen is very badly stocked.

        XII. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY:

                Services for both denominations are held weekly.

        XIII. RECREATION AND EXERCISE:

                The p.o.w. have a piece of ground where they can play football or rugby, but they state that usually they return so late from work that there is no more time for sports. Unfortunately train connections from their working place are bad and there is little hope that anything can be done about that.

        XIV. MAIL:

                Mail from England was stated to be very bad. Since May 1943 there has been a definite decline.

        XV. WELFARE WORK:

                Usual activity.

Arb.-Kdo. No.528, Teltow

Date of visit: September 24th, 1943

British m.o.c. : Sgt. J. Stanway, P.O.W. No.11509

        I. GENERAL IMPRESSION:

                No change.

        II. CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL:

                    1 officer (RAMC)

                    8 sergeants

                    2 p.o.'s

                322 men

        III. INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS:

                No change.

        IV. BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES:

                Satisfactory.

        V. TOILET FACILITIES:

                Satisfactory.

        VI. FOOD AND COOKING:

                Food is cooked by the prisoners themselves. A corporal is in charge of the kitchen.

        VII. MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS:

                Capt. Tate, RAMC is in charge of the medical attention. On the day of the visit there were 3 patients in the revier, where there is accommodation for 5 patients. According to Cpt. Tate, the general state of health in the camp is excellent. There is a sufficient supply of medicines. For dental treatment the men go to Wuhlheide, work camp Np.329, where Capt. Cooper, a British dentist, is in charge.

        VIII. CLOTHING:

                On the whole the clothing position is satisfactory, except for boots.

        IX. LAUNDRY:

                Laundry is sent out. No complaint.

        X. MONEY AND PAY:

                No complaint; the men work for the Reichsbahn.

        XI. CANTEEN:

                Very poorly stocked.

        XII. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY:

                In order. Services for both denominations are held once every two weeks.

        XIII. RECREATION AND EXERCISE:

                The prisoners have the use of a sportsground outside the compound where they play football daily from 3 to 7 p.m.

        XIV. MAIL:

                Mail was said to be bad in general; letters from the British Isles take six weeks.

        XV. WELFARE WORK:

                In order.

        XVI. COMPLAINTS:

                There was no complaint with regard to the camp or the working conditions.

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        The British Medical Officers at the Stalag III D made strong representations with regard to the geographical situation of camps:

                Falkensee,

                Wuhlheide,

                Deutsche Vergaserwerke

                Teltow,

                        all these lie within the township of Berlin, i.e. a danger zone.

        This question had been taken up with the Oberst Breyer, who informed the Delegate that the evacuation to Silesia of all British prisoners is at present under consideration.

        The Cypriots working at the Deutsche Vergaserwerke are engaged in the manufacture of carburettors. The nature of this work has been talked over with Oberst Breyer, who assured the Delegate that this kind of carburettors are destined exclusively for wood gas generators used in lorries.

Rudolph E. Denzler.

21st October, 1943.

DEPARTMENTAL NO. 1.

(CYPHER)

FROM BERNE TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Mr. Norton

No. 4914

15th October, 1943.

7.40 p.m. 15th October, 1943.

5.10 a.m. 16th October, 1943.

        My despatch No. 5113.

        In report on Stalag 3D visited September 23rd and September 24th, Swiss representative states Kommando 837 Deutsche Vergaserwerke bordering on Marshalling Yards of big Berlin railway station. British medical officers made strong representations concerning the situation within Berlin of this and three Kommandos Falkensee, Wuhlheide and Teltow. German Camp Commander stated that the evacuation of men to Silesia is under consideration.