Stalag IIID

Translation by the London Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross

The Camp Leaders, both very laconic, had no particular comment to make as regards the accommodation, food, medical attention, intellectual and spiritual needs or discipline of the camp. They limited their remarks to the discussion of the question of collective consignments for British prisoners at Stalag III D.

Collective consignments sent to working parties 428 and 961 "Damm I" (the only working parties attached to the camp now that the "Ferienlager" is independent) arrive in trucks from Geneva to the care of the Kommandantur at Stalag III D, and are placed in the cellars of the building occupied by the latter. No British P.O.W. are present when the trucks arrive from Geneva and the Camp Leader can only arrive at the Kommandantur a few hours later as his working party is situated about 80 kilometers from the town. The unloading of the trucks is carried out by German N.C.O. and French P.O.W. and the parcels placed in store. When this work is accomplished the principal Camp Leader is advised of the arrival of the consignments.

During his final interview with the German authorities, the Delegate protected against this proceeding and pointed out that the International Committee of the Red Cross stipulates for the Camp Leader British or P.O.W. to be present when consignments arrive. Further he also protested against the storing of British parcels in the centre of the town. The British P.O.W. can exercise no control, their nearest camp being more than 80 kilometers away, they have no say.

The German authorities state that the Kommandantur cellars are quite safe and are guarded night and day by French or by German soldiers. For practical reasons, it would not be possible to advise the principal camp leader in time for him to be present at the arrival and the unloading of the trucks; further, it would not be possible to leave two British P.O.W. alone on the premises of the Kommandantur of Stalag III D.

Seward explained that he experienced great difficulty in finding the necessary means of transporting parcels from the Kommandantur to Working Camp No.428. Further, he stated that he has sufficient room to keep 'two months' reserve in the camp itself.

As the Camp authorities appear in no way disposed to alter the present method of handling collective consignments for British P.O.W., the Delegate has decided to place the matter before the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and will make the following proposals:-

1. Storage on the premises of the Kommandantur of Stalag III D to be suppressed.

B. Working Party No.961 (the latter could easily be supplied at the same time as the neighbouring Camp, Oflag VIII )

On January 18th. 1944 the figures given by Seward for reserve stores at Stalag III D were the following -

On June 20th., 868 Standard Parcels and 10 Tobacco Parcels arrived, whereas 1200 Standard and 18 Tobacco Parcels had been advised. Further, there were 60 Individual Diet Supplements, 4 Surgical Parcels and one parcel of coffee.

There have been sent to Geneva, but not yet to hand, 2500 Standard Parcels and 36 Tobacco Parcels, which left on July 8th. 1944. Thus, since the beginning of the year, there have only been three collective consignments. Seward never received a consignment composed of 2800 Standard Parcels and 8 Tobacco Parcels of which he at once advised Geneva.

Seward states that he has not been able to issue the Standard Weekly Parcel to men at Working Party No.428, on account of the irregularity of collective consignments from Geneva.

Generally speaking, he is satisfied as regards clothing and only requires for all the camp about one hundred pairs of boots, small sizes.

The Delegate is under the impression that the whole problem of collective Red Cross consignments could be satisfactorily solved if the two working parties from Stalag III D could be supplied direct from Geneva and if the camp leaders could exercise proper control over consignments and the reserves stored in the two respective camps. In this manner, Seward would only have to act as Camp Leader for his own camp and all criticism concerning him would probably cease as he would then be acting as Camp Leader of Working Party No.428, where he is now to be found.

The Delegate did not visit the Working Party and simply had an interview with the Camp Leader who was at Holiday Camp No.517, where the latter had been in contact with other British prisoners for the first time since Stalag III D was opened in 1940. The Irish in the Working Party make strong complaints regarding their isolation since they were captured and greatly desire to be in contact with other British P.O.W.

Accommodation - The camp is situated in a small pine wood about fifty metres away from Oflag 8. The situation is pleasant and there are no factories in the neighbourhood. The camp is well equipped and the prisoners have no complaints to make under this heading, except regarding bugs in several rooms which remain in spite of disinfection.

The prisoners have some trouble to wash as there is no water in the camp itself; water can only be procured at a place outside the barbed wire boundaries and may only be fetched four times a day at stated hours. During the final interview, the Delegate referred this complaint to the Camp Commander who stated that this arrangement had been made to prevent escapes; nevertheless, he said he was prepared to discuss the matter again with the Camp Leader.

Food - Food is prepared by the prisoners in a well equipped kitchen. Rations are normal and can be controlled by the Camp Leader but would not be sufficient if the prisoners had to work. The prisoners complain of the total lack of fresh vegetables; the German authorities state that it would be impossible at the present time to obtain any in the region. The Delegate does not agree as he has seen several camps of the "Wehrkreis III" where, spite of the season, prisoners have fresh vegetables every day. His opinion was further confirmed a few days later when, on visiting prisoners of another nationality (Zweiglager Damm II) not more than 50 metres away from the Irish camp, the Camp Commander showed him a large kitchen garden next to the camp containing a good stock of fresh vegetables; he even stated there were too many vegetables and that the surplus which could not be used by the prisoners was used to fatten cattle.

Clothing - The prisoners are relatively well clad. Their stock of clothing is poor and only includes 19 tunics; they are greatly in need of trousers.

Medical attention - A German civilian doctor visits the camp infirmary once a fortnight. Six medical personnel are attached to the infirmary which is well equipped with 8 beds, with sheets.

Only minor cases are treated at the infirmary; serious cases are sent to Beeliz or to Potsdam hospitals. The prisoners' general state of health is good but a large proportion suffer from mental disorders in increasing numbers. The Camp Leader esteems that this tendency to mental deficiency is caused by the complete isolation in which the prisoners have been maintained up to the present.

The prisoners would very much like to be visited at least once by a British doctor, the Camp Leader esteems this would greatly improve the men's morale. The German authorities could not comply with request on the grounds that the nearest British doctors (Neuköln Hospital) are too busy to leave their work, even for a day.

The Camp has never been visited by the Mixed Medical Commission and none of the prisoners have been repatriated.

Dental attention is given by a civilian dentist with whom the prisoners are not satisfied. It is to be hoped that a dental surgery may be opened at the "Zweiglager Dam II" where a dentist P.O.W. is awaiting equipment and supplied to attend to the prisoners in the region.

Recreation, intellectual and spiritual needs - Protestant and Catholic services are held once a month by a priest and a clergyman of German nationality. There is no theatre in the camp which has, however, a camp orchestra. Prisoners can play football and deck tennis and bathe twice a week during the season.

The library only contains about a hundred books which are exchanged from time to time at the Main Camp.

Work - Privates work on digging canals and ground levelling. The work lasts 7 hours daily, between 7.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The pay is normal.

Mail - For the last six months, prisoners have been allowed 2 letters and 4 cards per month. As for the other P.O.W. in the Main Camp, mail is very rare and some men have received nothing from home for many months.

Collective consignments - The camp depends on Stalag III D for consignments from Geneva. The Camp Leader is not at all satisfied by the division of collective consignments and the irregular distribution. Parcels arriving from Geneva are stored on the premises of the Kommandantur of Stalag III B. No British prisoners are present when wagons arrive from Geneva and contents apparently handled by the Germans. The Camp Leader has no idea as to what proportion should be sent to his camp; he only signs receipts for the parcels sent to him. The principal Camp Leader, SEWARD, has always refused to show him letters received from Geneva. Once or twice a month he sends men to the store where parcels are handed over by the Germans. In view of actual transport difficulties, it takes sometimes over a week for parcels to arrive in camp. More than once, on account of this irregularity, prisoners have had to remain without parcels and without cigarettes for several weeks. There being no reserves in the camp, the Camp Leader cannot deliver a regular weekly parcel.

The figures for consignments sent to the camp from January to July 1944 are as follows:-

January

February

March

April

May )

June )

July

225 parcels

[606?] "

[286?] "

[180?] "

Only 90 cases

of bulk food

[38X?] parcels

12,000 cigarettes

18,000 "

29.010 cigarettes

24 tobacco parcels

36 " "

52 " "

In view of increasing transport difficulties, the lack of British control over reserves at Stalag III D and complaints concerning the principal Camp Leader at Stalag III D, the Delegate suggests that the Irish camp should be made independent of the Main Camp by the sending of collective consignments direct. Another factor in favour of this solution is the immediate vicinity of Zweiglader Damm II where the prisoners receive direct issues from Geneva. It would apparently be quite simple to send supplies simultaneously from Geneva to these two camps.

Discipline - Discipline has always been very strict in this camp and the numerous restrictive measures taken to prevent escapes make the prisoners' life rather hard.

Conclusion - The Delegate was unfortunately not able to visit the camp itself and has thus seen none of the prisoners except the Camp Leader; nevertheless, the latter was able to give him full details on the men's existence. He laid particular stress on the bad morale and on the numerous mental cases due to the moral isolation suffered by the men for the last four years. His second important complaint concerns the irregularity of collective consignments and his ignorance of the proportion due to his camp as the principal Camp Leader gives him no information. He further complains that the principal Camp Leader has apparently never the time to study individual cases and that he will never do anything to help British interests. These complaints were also made by the men at Camp 517.

The German authorities at Stalag III D do not seem particularly well disposed regarding the prisoners of this camp. While admitting that the morale is bad, they have so far done nothing to help this state of affairs. The Delegate suggested that the men should as for their comrades in other camps in Germany, be sent for a few weeks to the Ferienlager 517 where they could relax and meet other prisoners. The German authorities have noted this proposal to which, on principle, they are not opposed.

Three Detachments dependent Stalag III D visited 24th July Special Company No.517 known as Ferienlager Camp Leader unchanged Strength 259 English passing period of detention will be replaced in August by South-Africans in September by Australians. Good installations unchanged but water supply deranged. Medical service, clothing, arriving of parcels ? satisfactory. Numerous facilities for Sport and other distractions. Mail slowed up - takes 6 months Thirty prisoners without news for six months.

Work Detachment No. 961 Camp Leader Warrant Officer McIntyre Strength 121 mostly Irish Food can be checked. Lack of fresh vegetables. Clothing suitable. Infirmary satisfactory but fresh outbreak of mental troubles caused by isolation. Visit by British Doctor improved moral. No repatriations up to now. Two deaths since opening of camp. Monthly religious Services. Arrival of parcels badly organised. Camp parcels reserves non-existent. Problem being studied by Geneva. Discipline strict. Morale poor. Possibility of stay at Ferienlager under consideration.

Work Detachment No. 428. Camp Leader unchanged. Strength 149 British. Food, health service, leisure occupations, discipline all normal. Irregular arrival parcels, control of stocks, and storage of parcels present various difficulties which are being studied by Geneva.