CONFIDENTIAL
STALAG III D
BRITISH
NEW ZEALAND
October 3, 1941
Camp Commander: Generalmajor v. Enkevort
Adjutant: Hauptmann Kolshern
Accompanying Officer: Rittmeister Heimpel
This camp was last visited September 13, 1941, on which occasion, however, only two of the four work camps with British prisoners of war were visited. The other two, Genshagen and Dabendorf-Sued were visited this time. There have been no changes in the base camp which is still just an administration office.
WORK CAMP GENSHAGEN
British Physician: Captain George Gorry, prisoner of war No. 192
Man of Confidence: Rgt. Sergeant Major Joseph Seward, prisoner of war No. 11218.
I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This work camp is situated about 35 kilometers outside Berlin a very sandy and flat district. The camp is surrounded by nice pine tree woods. The camp itself consists of three big living barracks and one similar barrack for wash room and bath. Outside the barbed wire fence is a special barrack for the kitchen. On the camp courtyard, which is big enough for walks and other exercise a few trees have been planted but because of the sandy ground very little will grow here. Because the water lies just below this ground surface it has not been possible to dig any air raid shelters here and the accompanying German officer stated that he had not been able to find a solution to this problem.
II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL
In the camp were at the time of the visit 275 prisoners of war all English. In addition to 14 non-commissioned officers all the men are working. Most of them work in a sand pit digging and loading sand. It was stated that they work nine and a half hours daily and have Sundays free. The work was stated to be rather hard and the British doctor complained that his recommendation of several men for lighter work for medical reasons had been ignored. The matter was immediately discussed with the accompanying officer who promised to arrange it with the employer.
III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS
The living barracks of wood are divided into smaller rooms with about 25 men in each. The rooms are light and airy and not unduly overcrowded. The rooms were well heated and it was stated that the supply of coal is sufficient. There is electric light. About four men have to share a locker. The beds are of the usual double-tier type and are provided with two blankets. In the entrance to each barrack there is a fire-extinguisher.
IV.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES
In a special small barrack there is a wash room with troughs and running cold water. There is also a shower room and a special room for a laundry with cooking facilities. Warm showers are provided once a week but it was stated that as the barrack has to be heated each day during the winter because of the danger of freezing, warm showers can be had whenever wanted. Outside the barrack is a small court with rope-lines for drying the laundry.
V.) TOILET FACILITIES
The latrines are also in a special building and are of the pit type. Chlorine lime is added daily. There were complaints that the latrines are pumped out too seldom but orders were given immediately that this should be done more frequently.
VI.) FOOD AND COOKING
The kitchen is very modernly equipped and the store rooms are good including an electric refrigerator. The food is prepared by some of the prisoners and it was stated that they could have the food prepared the way they are used to it. All the men working receive the ration for heavy workers which includes: 400 grams of sausage and 400 grams of meat, 250 grams of margarine and 75 grams of fat, all weekly, and 500 grams of bread, 1500 grams of potatoes, 500 grams of fresh or dried vegetables, 100 grams of farines daily. There were no complaints about the food and the British doctor stated that this was the best food he had received during his 18 months as a prisoner of war.
VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS
The infirmary contains a small living room for the doctor, an examination room and two rooms with together 11 beds. The equipment was stated to be sufficient. There were at the time of the visit 11 patients. Three of these had catarrhal jaundice, three influenza and four small septic wounds. There was one case of oedema which had been treated in a hospital but had been brought back without improvement. It was stated by the British doctor that there was no renal injury and that it probably is some kind of deficiency disease. The case was discussed with the German camp physician who promised to have the case investigated once more. All the other patients were taken good care of and it was stated that the stock of drugs was sufficient except for vitamins more of which however were promised to be sent from the base camp.
VIII.) CLOTHING
The clothing conditions in the camp were stated to be rather bad. Several of the men had just one rather worn French uniform. All had, however, just received a good coat for winter use. Only one pair of pants has been issued but each has two undervests. There are no socks but just foot cloths. The men work in clogs and have another pair of slipper clogs for indoor use. The rather bad state of the clothes was immediately pointed out to the accompanying officer and will also be brought to the attention of the German High Command.
IX.) LAUNDRY
The prisoners do the laundry themselves. It was stated that they had almost no soap and were very anxious to receive some from home as soon as possible. They had received the usual quantity from the base camp about three weeks ago and it was stated that as soon as the canteen is opened there will be some kind of wash powder to buy.
X.) MONEY AND PAY
The men had been working for five weeks but had not yet received any pay. The accompanying officer stated that pay is only distributed after a full calendar month's work and that the paying lists were expected any day now and that the money would then be paid out immediately. The doctor has received his pay regularly all the time.
XI.) CANTEEN
There is no canteen as yet but steps have been taken to open one as soon as the men have received some money.
XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
So far the only religious activity has been that the doctor reads a sermon now and again. The camp authorities have, however, taken steps to have an English priest sent here if possible.
XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE
Very little has been done in the camp for recreation so far. There is a foot ball but although the camp is big enough for sport it is too sandy. Just outside the camp is a small sport ground used by the German guard. The accompanying officer promised to let the prisoners use this as well under ground [guard?]. There are no special recreation rooms in the camp and with the present number of prisoners no one can be arranged. It was stated by the German officers that the camp authorities had been trying to have a recreation barrack but that they so far had had no success. There were no books or games. Some were promised to be sent from the base camp. The Embassy has also sent some books and the matter has been brought to the attention of the International Y.M.C.A. in Berlin.
XIV.) MAIL
No mail has started to come in for these prisoners yet. They have so far only been allowed to write two letters and two post cards monthly but orders had just come in to allow the British prisoners in this camp two letters and four post cards monthly as is the rule in other British camps. The British doctor would also be allowed the usual number for British medical officers.
XV.) WELFARE WORK
There had been no welfare work so far.
XVI.) COMPLAINTS
The complaints made have been dealt with under the different points above. There were no really serious complaints and the Man of Confidence and the British doctor stated that the conditions in the camp would certainly be quite satisfactory as soon as parcels start to come in.
XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSIONS
The general impression of this camp is rather favourable. The camp authorities seem to be aware of the still existing defects and to be trying to do what they can to improve them. The spirit among the prisoners seemed to be good.
WORK CAMP DABENDORF-SUED
British Physician: Captain H.C. Neale N.Z.M.C. prisoner of war No. 12586
British Man of Confidence: Sergeant Major G. Carnes, prisoner of war No. 10846
I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This work camp is also situated about fifty kilometers outside Berlin. It has the same surroundings and the same sandy ground as the work camp Genshagen. There are no air raid shelters.
II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL
In the camp were at the time of the visit 647 British prisoners. Most of them are employed at a new automobile highway. They work for nine hours a day and are free from Saturday noon until Monday morning. The work was stated to be rather hard. To this camp some prisoners have been transferred from the rather overcrowded work camp Dabendorf-Nord.
III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS
The living barracks are of the same kind as in all work camps depending on this base camp. In each room about 25 men are living. The rooms are not overcrowded and are light and airy. It was specially noted that after the complaints at the visit to the first two work camps on September 13, 1941, about the painted windows, these had been cleaned in all work camps. The beds are of the usual type and each man had two blankets. There are no lockers but shelves for personal things have been put up on the walls. The rooms are well heated and the electric light is sufficient.
IV.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES
The washing and bathing facilities are very satisfactory. Warm showers are provided once a week.
V.) TOILET FACILITIES
There are good latrines of the flush type. For some reason these had, however, been closed by day and only used as night latrines, the prisoners having to use a more primitive latrine of pit type by day. The matter was immediately arranged by the accompanying German officer. Here as in nearly all camps there were complaints about the lack of toilet paper.
VI.) FOOD AND COOKING
The kitchen is situated in a special barrack outside the enclosure. The men working in the kitchen complained that they had to work for about twelve hours a day and have only half the Sunday free. The accompanying officer gave orders that it must be arranged somehow that each man has 24 consecutive hours free in the week. About the long working-hours the men involved agreed with the German kitchen master that it is very hard to arrange this matter but it was stated that it should be tried if the men could not be free a little longer in the middle of the day.
The kitchen has the usual modern equipment and there are good store rooms. The ration is the same as that one mentioned for work camp Genshagen but it was stated by the Man of Confidence that they had received no sugar for the last three weeks. This report was found to be correct and the accompanying officer promised an immediate investigation. There were also requests for more salt which were granted at once. In general the food was stated to be all right.
VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS
Including the medical officer, there were stated to be 32 men belonging to the medical personnel. The examination of the pay books was not yet settled but the German officer in charge of this stated that quite a few of them would certainly not be acknowledged because of lack of proper signature or stamp on their documents. This matter will be checked on the next visit to the camp.
In infirmary has a good examination room with good equipment and a big light room for the patients. There were at the time of the visit twenty patients. There were a few septic skin diseases, some cases of catarrhal jaundice, some oedema of apparently the same kind as those mentioned at the former work camp. There had also been several cases of diphtheria, fifteen in all, but there had been no new cases for the last seven days so the doctor hoped the epidemic was over. All the cases were stated to have been light and without complications.
VIII.) CLOTHING
The clothing conditions here are better than in the former work camp. Each man has one quite good uniform, two pairs of underwear, two pairs of foot cloths and two pairs of clogs. There were complaints that some of the men working with cement had got wounds on their feet from the cement coming into the clogs. The matter was discussed with the German physician who promised to have real shoes issued for the men who have to do this work.
IX.) LAUNDRY
The men do their laundry themselves. A small hut with a cauldron has been built on the court and there are also rope lines for drying the clothes.
X.) MONEY AND PAY
The money condition is exactly the same as in the work camp Genshagen and has been discussed above in this report.
XI.) CANTEEN
For canteen see above on Work Camp Genshagen.
XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
There is no religious activity in this camp. The camp authorities have taken steps to have an English priest transferred over here.
XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE
Nothing has been done for recreation so far. Some books and games are to be sent from the base camp. The Embassy has also sent some books and the matter has been brought to the attention of the International Y.M.C.A. in Berlin. The German paper for British prisoners of war "The Camp" has been sent.
XIV.) MAIL
The mail conditions are the same as in work camp Genshagen.
XV,) WELFARE WORK
There has been no welfare work.
XVI.) COMPLAINTS
There were no real complaints.
XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSIONS
Apart from the defects found in all new camps this work camp makes a good impression. The relations between the prisoners of war and the German camp authorities seemed to be good.
All matters subject to complaint in this report have been discussed with the local camp authorities. Defects which the local camp authorities refuse to correct or state they are unable to correct have been taken up with the German High Command in Berlin in a latter dated October 14, 1941.
Dr. Folke Malmquist.
