Stalag IIID

This figure includes 6 protected personnel (medical) and 49 non-commissioned officers who are all working voluntarily.

There are 5 Labour Detachments forming part of Stalag III D with a total of 1,401 officers and men.

Labour Detachment 329 has only been in being for a week and is composed of British prisoners coming from Detachments 517 and 520. As the work of laying rails and making embankments for the German Railways, on which these prisoners had been working, is finished, these two Detachments were amalgamated and transferred to 329, where they are engaged on further construction work for the Reich Railways.

Labour Detachment 329 is housed in the middle of a large pine forest, the climate is very healthy. The Camp Leaders state that when the Camp has been finally fitted out, it will be excellent.

Four large wooden huts form the quarters, each has about 7 rooms with an average of 24 prisoners in each. Each hut houses 150 to 190 men, several of the smaller rooms house 12, 6 or 4 men. The Camp Leader has his own room, as also the two New-Zealand doctors. The hut beds are two-tier, furnished with a straw mattress and two blankets. Owing to the large windows, all the rooms get plenty of day-light. The electric light, installed everywhere, can be used until ten o'clock at night.

In addition, a fifth hut is used as an infirmary, another one is used as a kitchen and canteen. Finally of the two remaining huts, one is used as a wash-house and the other as a store for the Red Cross parcels.

Professional British cooks prepare the meals. The Camp Leaders state that it is good and tastily prepared. The rations are controlled by the Camp Leaders; they correspond to those laid down for ordinary work ("Leichtarbeit"). The two Labour Detachments who are engaged on the same work as formerly get the supplementary rations for heavy work. The Camp still has no stove for the preparation of personal foodstuffs.

Everyone is grateful to receive individual parcels of food-stuffs, as the food supplies officially is not satisfactory in quantity or quality.

All the prisoners in Stalag IIID, have only one "Battle-Dress"; they would like to receive a second as quickly as possible, as the authorities do not supply them with working clothes. Each prisoner has leather shoes and a pair of sabots. They have each two vests and two pairs of trunks. The prisoners do their own washing, and for doing this they have four large stoves in the yard to heat the water. They have so far not been able to wash their underclothes in the German laundry. Two cobblers and two tailors deal with repairs; they get material and thread from the Stalag and leather from England. Socks are needed. The Senior Camp Leader (now living with this Labour Detachment) has at present 796 blouses (translated from the French word "blouse"), 398 "Greatcoats", 265 "Caps", in stock. He asks that the following be sent as soon as possible:

The prisoners have not yet been able to have hot douches, as the douche installation is not working, and the stove is out of order. However, they can have as many cold douches as they like. The wash-basins which are installed in a special hut are excellent, as also the latrines which have water-flushes. Each hut has two night latrines. The presence of vermin was not notified. The infirmary, of [20?] beds, is very well fitted. The beds have metal springs, and have two sheets, one pillow and three blankets.

Three small rooms are kept for the sick. At present, 13 patients are being treated, they are minor working accidents, several cases of furunculosis and one influenza. Any severe cases, are transferred to Neukölln or Biesdorf Lazarets. The quantities of medicaments, instruments and dressing materials are sufficient. Unfortunately, this infirmary has no running water. Up to the present, patients suffering from gastro-intestinal complaints have not been able to have a diet, or white bread. The British doctor states that the general health of the prisoners is excellent. Seven sick men from the former Labour Detachment 520 and Labour Detachment 517 are at present hospitalised in the Neukölln Lazaret. Dental care is assured by a British dentist, living in a neighbouring Labour Detachment. Twenty prisoners can go to see him twice a week. The dentist can also make false teeth. Since the formation of Labour Detachments 520 and 517, two deaths have taken place in Neukölln Lazaret, (one pulmonary tuberculosis and one tubercular meningitis).

The British chaplain of the Labour Detachment celebrates a religious service every Sunday.

The library contains about 1,000 English volumes. The prisoners have formed two jazz orchestras, and two theatre companies.

The prisoners play football and rugby, box and do gymnastics. The sports ground which is behind the Detachment, is surrounded by forests, it is large and well kept.

The prisoners are divided into two shifts, one works from 05.20 to 12.15 and returns to the Camp, the other works from 10.20 to 19.15. The work consists of constructing railway embankments, and laying and transporting rails. The work seems to be heavy.

About forty prisoners have to work partially in water and have not yet received boots for this work.

Usually, the prisoners are free on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday. If it does happen that they have to work on Sunday, they are compensated for this by a free day during the week.

The prisoners write 2 letters and 4 cards; the protected personnel are allowed double this amount. They receive few personnel parcels. It takes one to two months to receive a reply from England whilst the New-Zealand doctors get theirs in 5 to 6 weeks.

Present stocks will last for a month. The prisoners receive one parcel and 50 cigarettes per week. The parcels are distributed three times a week, each man getting a third of a parcel. The Camp Leader effects these distributions. He complains that the tins have to be opened and the contents turned out onto a plate to be checked.

The discipline is excellent. There are no complaints. The senior Camp Leader visits all the Labour Detachments of Stalag III D. He can at any time submit requests from the prisoners to the Commandant of the Stalag.

The Detachment has a sufficient number of trenches, as a shelter from bomb explosions, and when there is an alert, the prisoners (with the exception of the fire-watcher) are obliged to go to the shelter trenches.

Most of the requests made by the prisoners to the delegate of the International Red Cross Committee were able to be granted at once, owing to the presence of the Camp Commandant's representative.

1. The prisoners would like the window shutters to be left open at night, as there is not enough air in the huts. Reply: This will be allowed.

2. Up to the present, the prisoners have not received the supplementary food rations for heavy work which they were given formerly when on the same work. Reply: They will soon be given these.

3. They have no stove or arrangement for preparing their personal foodstuffs. Reply: They will be given what is necessary.

4. The prisoners are obliged to wash their own underclothes, as they have not yet found a laundry. Reply: The necessary steps will be taken to find a laundry to do the prisoners washing.

6. They cannot have hot douches. Reply: The stove will be repaired, so that they will soon be able to have hot douches.

8. The sick do not get any white bread. Reply: A certain amount of white bread will be supplied for them.

9. About forty British prisoners are obliged to work in water and have not yet been given boots. Reply: These boots have been ordered and the prisoners will receive them in a few days' time.

10. Some prisoners are engaged on very dirty work (machines) and have no working clothes. Reply: The Reich Railways Administration will be asked to supply them through the intermediary of the Stalag.

11. The contents of tinned foods have to be turned out on to a plate, and it is difficult to heat them afterwards, as these foods should be heated before the tins are opened. Reply: These tins will be given to the prisoners intact.

12. There is a pig-sty behind these huts; this attracts a good many flies, and the noise is very disagreeable. Reply: The pigs will be taken elsewhere in a few days' time.

This Detachment could become good, it will be a certain time before it is finally fitted out. The Camp Authorities are doing all in their power to grant the prisoners' requests. Their morale is excellent, they seem well fed and are sunburnt.

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

Section

Medical

Surgical

Dermatological )

Urological )

Infectious diseases )

Opthalmic ditto )

British

8 out of a total of

25 " " " " "

4 " " " " "

7 " " " " "

44 " " " " "

108

109

321

47 (The three above the total given above being accounted for by the arrival of three patients on the day of our visit).

This lazaret occupies the whole of a school-building. It can accommodate 400 beds; 324 are at present filled. In the room, the beds are sometimes rather closely packed. They are made of wood and most of them are of the two-tier bunk variety, except in the surgical section. The medical staff is well-housed and no complaints have been made in regard to this accommodation. The bed-linen, which consists of two sheets and a pillow-case is changed once a month. Each prisoner has two German blankets. The palliasses are good. The doctors have metal bedsteads furnished with mattresses. The offices, the kitchen and the dispensary are on the ground floor.

Since the bombardments of the month of March of this year, the fire extinguishers have disappeared. In case of an Air Raid warning the prisoners take shelter in the cellars of the building which are not reinforced.

German civilians, assisted by three French cooks prepare the meals. The Camp Leaders have the right to check the food rations, but they do it but rarely. As in nearly all prison Camps, these rations are insufficient. The prisoners have the use of three gar burners on each floor, for doing their individual cooking. Various diets are possible. Patients suffering from maladies of the intestinal canals receive milk, soup made from flaked oats and some rusks. Tuberculars receive more plentiful nourishment (milk and eggs), which comes - partly from the German kitchen - and partly from Red Cross parcels.

The British medical staff have only one battle dress apiece. This is very shabby, particularly the trousers. The washing, the repair and the exchange of clothing is done in the same way as at the time of the delegates' last visit.

The same articles are to be found here to-day as were mentioned in our last report. The prisoners continually deplore the lack of any toilet articles.

Disinfection is at present effected by means of sulphuric gas, but this is ineffectual against the bugs which are always to be found on all floors of the building.

On each floor there are 4 showerbaths and 2 bathrooms. The patients on the upper floors complain of having an insufficient supply of hot water. The Authorities will see that the distribution of hot water is regulated in such a way that everyone can benefit therefrom; there is sufficient hot water to allow of each man taking a weekly hot showerbath.

The members of the British medical staff share 4 basins with taps with numerous patients; there are inadequate they are far too few and a complaint has been made in regard to this. The German authorities recognising that this complaint is a legitimate one, have decided to remedy the existing state of affairs as soon as is possible.

Fifteen doctors and 40 medical orderlies give medical attention to the patients.

(a) The medical section is in possession of sufficient therapeutical material, which comes from German sources. The consignments of Red Cross drugs for patients of various nationalities are at present much reduced.

(b) The surgical section possesses two well-equipped operating theatres - one septic and one antiseptic - which make it possible for the two surgeons, one of whom is British, to do all the usual operations. At the present time one room contains a group of eight cases of perforated appendices, all of which are well on the road to recovery. The transportation of urgent cases such as these from the various Labour Detachments to the lazaret is done with rapidity.

(c) Infectious illnesses section At the present moment some slight cases of scarletina and of diphtheria are hospitalised. A ward is reserved for patients suffering from tuberculosis (of the dormant variety) and another for those suffering from the active variety.

British tubercular prisoners are sent after 5 or 6 weeks to the Sanatorium Konigswartha.

(d) Dermatological section This contains only some cases of eczema and psoriasis.

(e) Oto-rhino-larynhological section All cases falling within this section are sent to Lazaret 128.

(f) Opthalmic section 2 prisoner doctors are in charge of this section; the numerous patients who are to be found within it come from all over the Wehrkreis (District) III. The usual operations are done (Lachrymal ducts, enucleations etc...). Spectacles are procured - either from Geneva or from German opticians; these latter can easily provide all the lenses except those from weak strength down to dioptrical standards.

(g) Dental attention is provided by a prisoner dentist who has the necessary materials for doing stoppings extractions and general stomatological work. On an average, he attends to about 450 prisoners per month. Prisoners who need artificial dentures are sent to a neighbouring Labour Detachment. The procedure for obtaining artificial dentures is very complex and often entails long months of waiting before the teeth can be supplied.

(i) The analytical laboratory, which is well equipped, renders it possible to effect many examinations, not only of the patients in the Lazaret itself, but also of men who are sick but not confined to their beds, who come from the various Labour Detachments attached to Stalag III D.

(j) There is no radiological section. This is one of the greatest disabilities of the lazaret - which is in other respects a good one. Only patients fit to be moved can be taken to a local lazaret to be radiologically examined. Thus a great number of patients suffering from affections of the lungs do not undergo even the most elementary radiological examination.

The doctors stated that the percentage of deaths is in no way surprising, nor the causes therefore. In 1943 two British prisoners - one of whom was a tubercular and the other a man seriously wounded at the time of a raid, died in this lazaret.

Year

1940

1941

1942

1943

Total

British deaths

At the present time there are 20 British patients who have undergone amputations at the Lazaret - all of them having recently arrived from different Stalags, mostly from Marlag Milag Nord, in order to be examined by the Swiss Orthopoedic Mission during the present month (June 1943).

The prisoners are allowed 2 letters, 2 cards and two letter-coupons monthly: medical personnel double this number.

The British prisoners complain that the largest part of their individual parcels (and particularly those containing cigarettes) never reach them. The parcels take three months to arrive at their destinations, and they are - extremely often - completely emptied of their contents by the time they arrive.

The British have enough books and indoor games. The doctors are able to consult German medical books, but they would very much like to receive some English medical reference books and some medical magazines.

On the whole, this is good. The prisoners, and in particular the doctors, are satisfied with the way in which they are treated. Their relations with the German doctors are quite correct.

The body of a Cypriot who died in March 1943, left the Lazaret wrapped only in paper. An enquiry was very shortly held; the authorities came to the conclusion that this was apparently due to a mistake, made by the body responsible for organising funeral obsequies.

The Cypriots, moreover, of Labour Detachment No 837 which is dependant on Stalag III D, are employed in a factory which makes carburettors for insertion in aeroplanes and tanks. Having regard to Article 31 of the Geneva Convention, these prisoners having refused to continue doing this work, were extremely badly treated by the Germans. We will try to clear up this point with the competent authorities.

Sick: 6 British, of whom 4 from the British Isles and 2 Cypriots, out of 204 prisoners.

Described in detail in our previous report, since our last visit there has been no important change. The huts are fairly full. All the rooms in the Lazaret have been newly painted, and give an agreeable impression. The Lazaret was somewhat damaged in an Air Raid, but without loss of life, everything has now been put in order.

The kitchen is clean and well arranged. Civilian German cooks prepare the meals helped by a prisoner cook. Until recently, the Camp Leader had no check over the food rations, at present, he can check them from time to time. The International Red Cross Committee was also able to check the rations, they are standard. The food has improved since the prisoner cook has been working in the kitchen.

The only diet possible consists of 500 gr. of white bread, half a liter of milk, a liter of milk soup (half a liter of milk) with a little margarine. This diet is prepared to all patients with a temperature and post-operative cases. In a few isolated cases eggs and a small quantity of red wine are given.

Personal foodstuffs can be cooked on a gas-stove. As a rule, gas is not rationed.

On arrival at the Lazaret, the prisoners must give their uniform to be disinfected. Patients receive a pair of trunks, a pair of slippers and hospital dress. However, there are not enough of these clothes, and it is often necessary to return to the prisoners part of their uniform, specially the trousers. The doctors wear white overalls, as also several members of the medical personnel.

The bed-clothes are changed every fortnight, often every week; the same applies to the patients clothes. The washing is done in a laundry in the town.

There is a little room for mending the clothes in the lazaret, but the necessary materials are often lacking.

There is no canteen. The Camp Leader buys the toilet articles locally, when procurable.

The sick and British medical personnel members have only received "Invalid Comfort Parcels" from the Stalag. They complain that they have not received any cigarettes, nor have they received the clothes asked for from the Stalag. It sometimes happens that British airmen, brought down in the district, are brought to the lazaret, they are generally short of clothes.

We will ask the Camp Leader of Stalag III D to supply uniforms and "Food Parcels" to the 6 medical personnel member. They have so far received the following clothes, without having ordered them:

There is a delousing machine in the lazaret. The number of wash-basins is sufficient, the latrines conform to the rules of hygiene. The douche arrangements are excellent, hot douches can be taken daily.

The presence of bed-bugs was, however, reported. Several disinfections have not shown appreciable results.

The accommodation of the lazaret was described in detail in the previous report and has not undergone any notable changes.

There are 100 patients in this category. A doctor prisoner is in charge, and performs all the operations in the hospital. The most usual are as a result of accidents at work, appendicitis and hernias. He performs other operations such as stomach resections and major abdominal operations. Fractures are well cared for, usually by the Bohler system. Results are excellent. In serious cases, the surgeon can ask the opinion of a professor in the neighbouring university.

The patients in this category are suffering from the usual internal complaints (illnesses of the respiratory system, the digestive organs, the kidneys and the heart). The doctor prisoner gives good treatment. Quite large supplies of medical supplies are delivered; it is unnecessary to send any Red Cross medical supply parcels to this lazaret.

All cases of infectious nature are transferred to Lazaret 119, including cases of tuberculosis. This fact seems incomprehensible, as Lazaret 128 seems particularly suited for the treatment of tuberculosis, there is a pneumothorax machine and an X-ray, which is not the case in Lazaret 119.

This section is in charge of a specialist prisoner. Serious cases can be sent for observation to the neighbouring German Lazaret.

The dental surgery, where all treatments are given, is in a Detachment in the district. There is also a laboratory for the making of false teeth in this surgery, but it takes a long time to get delivery. It is quicker to get false teeth made by a civilian dentist, the same applies to prisoners in outlying Detachments.

The Lazaret doctors receive a special form to fill in for patients whose state of health requires dental care. The conditions required to obtain a set of artificial teeth are as follows:

2. It must be proved that the majority of the teeth have been lost during captivity.

Every month, the doctor prisoners bring before the doctor-in-charge, those patients who under the conditions established by the Geneva Convention, should be repatriated.

A list of these patients should be made out by the 1st of the following month, it is then put into the hands of the Medical Corps until the 16th of the month, but they cannot alter it. After this date the men unfit for work are repatriated without delay.

A priest says Mass every day. A clergyman celebrates a religious service every fortnight.

There are numerous English books in the library, but the Camp Leader would like to change them with the Stalag. The German Authorities have promised to arrange this exchange.

It is almost impossible to play out-door games due to lack of space, but the members of the medical personnel will soon be granted permission to use the neighbouring sports ground.

The doctors and members of the medical personnel in this Lazaret are sufficient in number to cope with the work. The surgeon is particularly busy, operations are frequent. The prisoner doctors have a pass. The British members of the medical personnel go out 2 or 3 hours a week accompanied by guards. They are not allowed to go out on Sundays. This order was given by the "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht".

The patients and members of the medical personnel receive the usual number of letter forms. Censorship is relatively quick. Personal parcels generally arrive in good state.

This interview dealt with the principle points raised in this report. There were no complaints. Relations between the doctor prisoners and the German doctor-in-charge seem excellent.

A few minor questions raised by the doctors and Camp Leader were dealt with on the spot.

As a whole, "Reservelazarett" 128 seems excellent. The "Oberstabsarzt" has been acting as doctor-in-charge for a fortnight; he is on very good terms with the prisoners and it is to be hoped that this will continue.

DT 329 Stalag 33 D 28 May, 1943. Camp Leader Stalag 3 D Seward Joseph 11218, Camp Leader DT 329 Sergeant A. Parker 11421, British doctor Stalag 3 D Captain St.C. Neale, 12586, New Zealander, 6 medical orderlies 49 non-commissioned officers voluntarily working. DT 329 inaugurated eight days ago British P/W coming partly from DT 520 partly from DT 517. Site excellent accommodation food satisfactory rations sufficient thanks to collective parcels. Clothing bad condition. Hygiene good. State of health medical attention satisfactory. Leisure well organised. Religious services celebrated Sundays by clergyman. Work arduous. Pay correspondence discipline no remarks DT good.

Reserve Lazaret 128 Stalag 3 D 5th June, 1943. Camp Leader Ronald Bond, 3976, from Stalag IX C. Strength 204 patients of whom four British and 2 Cypriots 26 medical orderlies of whom 4 British 2 Cypriots, accommodation food hygiene collective parcels satisfactory. Sanitary installations and health care excellent. Weekly religious service celebrated by clergyman. Library medical orderlies take walks under escort two or three hours a week. Sunday not a free day. Pay correspondence discipline satisfactory. Lazarett good.