Stalag IVA

Stalag Commander

Assistant

Arbeitseinsatz

German Doctor

Accompanying Officer from

the German High Command

British Chief Man of Confidence

: Oberst Kratz

: Oberstlt. Menzel

: Hptm. Kurz

: Stabsarzt Dr. Kühn

: Rittmeister Dr. Klinghardt

: Sgt. R. Smith (15734)

The following Company-District Men of Confidence were present at the conference with the Delegate of the Protecting Power:

With regard to the general description we refer to previous reports on this Stalag. No change in the base-camp itself.

On the day of the visit 29 British prisoners of war were at the camp of whom four act as assistants to the Chief Man of Confidence. The others are in transit, waiting for trials or for other reasons. The total strength of all the British prisoners of war has increased to about 3500 men of whom 2300 are from Italian captivity. The number of work-commandos depending to Stalag IV A amounts to 44.

The Delegate was pleased to find in the person of Sgt. Smith a new Chief Man of Confidence who discharges his duties very tactfully and efficiently. B.Q.M.S. W. Adams has retired and is now in charge of one of the districts.

General conditions in this Stalag area were reported to be fairly satisfactory with regard to accommodations, food and cooking.

The clothing position, especially for the newcomers from Italy is unsatisfactory. Most of these men wear old and worn out uniforms. Applications for clothing and shoes have been made to the I.R.C.C. at Geneva.

The Delegate has a good impression of this Stalag. Oberst Kratz, the Stalag-Commandant, is interested in the well-being of the prisoners of war under his care.

No change in the general outlook of the hospital, except for new and very satisfactory air-raid shelters between the barracks.

The number of British patients amounts to 71 of whom 9 Indians and 7 Cypriots. The British medical staff includes the above named M.O., 12 sanitators, 1 orderly and one Cypriot interpreter. 8 British patients classed 2 B for repatriation are waiting at the hospital to go home. About 10 men are here to be presented to the Mixed Medical Commission, some more are expected to arrive.

No change. The German doctor gave permission to have all the British patients, except for the contagious and infectious cases, assembled in barrack No.10 which is one of the best. This arrangement will prove very satisfactory as the patients will be under better control of the British doctor and his orderlies. Specially adequate diet-dishes will be more easily provided. The delegate is pleased to have his wish met by the German doctor as it means really a great improvement.

Food and cooking is said to have deteriorated lately. Cooking is done by 6 German women.

Capt. Annan reports that he has full control over all his patients except for the eye cases. He does the light surgery and the medical side. The orderlies look after their own men, but the barrack-leader is usually of other nationality. This will change now, as the British will have a barrack of their own. Medical supply is fairly good.

Satisfactory. The men have 3 blankets in the wooden barracks and two in the stone buildings. Bed-linen is changed regularly every fortnight, if necessary more often.

The hospital laundry is done by German women. Personal laundry by Russian prisoners of war.

There is a little chapel within the hospital's enclosure and Capt. Annan holds service every Sunday with his men. Besides that Padre Capt. Frazer from Res.Laz. Elsterhorst visits this camp regularly.

There is a basket-ball ground within the barbed wire. Walks for the medical personnel were some weeks stopped, but are allowed again now.

Very poor. The film apparatus is broken and therefore no cinema performances are available.

No serious complaints. The delegate asked to have a German speaking British officer acting as interpreter, the German doctor promised to apply for such an officer. A trained cook was also granted by the Stabsarzt.

Res. Laz. Königswartha has kept its good reputation and the delegate found in the person of Stabsarzt Dr. Fritz a reasonable man who is always willing to improve conditions at his lazaret.

Res.Lazaret Elsterhorst has not changed since our last visit except that the long-applied for shade shelters have after all been built.

All the patients are tubercular cases of whom a large number will be repatriated on the next opportunity.

Lt. Col. LeSouef, the Senior British Medical Officer informed the Delegate of the following points to be discussed at the conference with the German Oberstabsarzt or to be taken up with higher quarters.

(1) Repatriation of civilians or civil marines from this lazaret: These men were not considered when the last repatriation took place in October 1943. The Oberstabsarzt could not give any reason whey these men were not repatriated and the question will be taken up with the German High Command.

(2) On the last repatriation none of the medical staff was included, a situation which created some depression amongst the sanitators who are working at this lazaret under dangerous circumstances and for considerable time. On the next repatriation an adequate number of these medical orderlies may enjoy the benefit of repatriation.

A number of minor questions were successfully dealt with at the conference with Oberstabsarzt Dr. Zemmin.

Amongst the patients with whom the Delegate spoke, was Lt. Col. J.M. Saegert (35503). He was a member of the unfortunate Bergamo train and is now under treatment at this lazaret. He has to pass the Mixed Medical Commission once more and may eventually be repatriated.

The Senior British Medical Officer, Lt.Col. LeSouef, is a great character and an outstanding personality. He has the well-being of his comrades, the British prisoners, at heart and defends their interests with great tact and uncompromising consequence.

Res.Lazaret Elsterhorst may be considered a good lazaret. The German Oberstabsarzt has steadily improved conditions. The personal contact between the German Oberstabsarzt and the Senior British Medical Officer is fairly good considering that both the officers are very strong characters.

On the day of the visit 43 British patients of whom 7 Indian prisoners of war were treated here. Two British Medical Officers are in charge, as well as four sanitators and six orderlies.

Res. Laz. Schmorkau is chiefly a mental and nerve hospital. Twenty of the British patients are such cases. Amongst them is Flight/Lt. D. Thom RAF reported to suffer from schizophrenia. Because of attempting to escape in his earlier prisoner-life, an order was given on his admittance that his cell must be locked from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. In the opinion of the Serbian nerve specialist, Dr. Rajic, and the Senior British Medical Officer, this respection is incompatible with his condition. Flight/Lt. Thom was presented to the Mixed Medical Commission in October 1943 but was rejected. German physicians accuse him of simulation. Flight/Lt. Thom will again be presented to the Mixed Medical Commission.

General conditions in this Lazaret such as bathing- washing- and toilet facilities, food and cooking, clothing, laundry, etc, are reported to be satisfactory. The mental-bloc of the lazaret is slightly overcrowded due to the fact that prisoners of war of other nationalities have not been repatriated for some time. The tendency is to have all the British patients assembled in one building as far as the state of health of the individual allows it. Bad mental cases are in solitary cells.

The Senior British Medical Officer, Capt. Fergusson-Wright had no specific complaints and Res. Lazaret Schmorkau can be considered as a fair place. The Oberstabsarzt Dr. Haering is a very reasonable man and does not much interfere with orders given by the British doctors.

I. No change. The concert hall mentioned in our last report has been finished and proves to be very useful. Two more of the concrete barracks have been taken over.

II. On the day of the visit, 321 British prisoners of war and one Medical Officer.

VI. Food is reported to be the "usual soup". It is clean and well cooked but cannot find the men's approval any more as they have seen too much of it. Red Cross parcel issue in order.

VII. Capt. Burns is resident British doctor at the camp and visits also the surrounding work-detachments. The Delegate is well pleased to know a British Medical Officer on this position as a result of his request on the occasion of his last visit in October 1943. There is no doubt that the presence of this British doctor may contribute to the general state of health of all British prisoners engaged in the nearby coal mines.

VIII. The clothing position is not too good owing to the newcomers from Italian captivity. Shoe repairing material is very much needed.

X. Correct. The men are engaged in surface work at the surface coal mine of Grube Erika. Working hours 9-10 per day. One day free within three weeks.

XIII. Football is played again, a recreation - and a theatre and concert-hall is at the men's disposal.

XV. Cinema performances are arranged once a fortnight but the men do not appreciate the German films.

XVII. Grube Erika is a fair work-camp. The German Kommandoführer is a very reasonable Non Commissioned Officer and looks well after his men.

Sgt. Edgar came to Grube Erika to confer with the Delegate, representing the Man of Confidence Cpl. F. Eustace who is ill.

Our camp has increased by 50 British prisoners of war from Italian captivity and holds now 150 men. A former Russian barrack was given to the newcomers who for a considerable time had no washing facilities, no Red Cross food preparation arrangements and very bad lavatories. These insufficiencies have now been straightened out and the men do gradually settle down. Their clothing is very poor, they wear all sorts of uniforms and have as a rule very bad shoes or clogs. The Man of Confidence has made applications to Stalag for proper British uniforms and they are expected in the near future. Boots have also been applied for.

These men are now put on a civilian wage system and earn now from 40 - 60 RM. per month. They have asked if the money exceeding the usual 70 Rpfg. per day will also be exchanged after the war at the rate of 15 RM. to the L.

Sgt. Edgar reports good physical and excellent moral health from the men at this Kommando.

Pte. Fourie came to Arbeitskommando Grube Erika to confer with the Delegate of the Protecting Power.

I. This work-camp had been opened on the 22nd of December 1943. There is one very good barrack at the men's disposal, divided into one sleeping room, a day-room, a kitchen and a washroom. The open-air space round the barrack is said to be adequate.

III. Double-tier beds of the wooden type, palliasses and 2 blankets. Sufficient sitting accommodations and tables in the day-room. Good stoves and electric light.

IV. The washroom is furnished with a boiler for hot water, two wooden tubs for hot baths and 12 washbasins. The water must be fetched from a pump in the camp's yard. Showers will be installed.

VI. The cooking is done by one of the men and is said to be good. Ration scale is provided and observed. There is a three weeks Red Cross parcel supply in camp.

VII. The prisoners of war have four times a week sick parade with a German civilian doctor who lives 6 km. away. For emergency cases the doctor will come to the camp. Medical supply is reported to be very scarce. Stalag will be asked to provided these men with some medicaments and dressings.

VIII. The clothing and boot situation is acute at this camp. Stalag is informed.

X. The men receive 70 Rpfg. a day and are doing forestry work. They work 7 hours a day and have their Sunday free.

I. This camp was opened 3 weeks ago and is situated near the above named village amidst the woods and is very pleasant. There is a large barrack with 5 sleeping-rooms each holding 24 beds, a very good kitchen-barrack and the guards-barrack which also contains the washing- and bathing-facilities. The small sleeping barrack will be demolished and a standard size sleeping barrack will be erected on its place. Between the kitchen barrack and the guards barrack is a brick-built recreation-hall under construction. Within the barbed wire is also the latrine house and another little shed for storing purposes, as well as plenty of open-air space.

II. 143 British prisoners of war of whom 130 are South-Africans and 13 Englishmen, all from Italian captivity.

III. The rooms are furnished with double-tier wooden beds, good stoves, electric light, small shelves and one large wardrobe per room for the greatcoats. There are palliasses but only one blanket. The Delegate objected to that but was told that applications for a second had been made and that they are expected to arrive the next days. In the meantime the coal supply is increased.

IV. 40 taps and 10 showers are at the men's disposal. The water is heated in a boiler in the washroom.

VI. Two of the men do the cooking assisted by the camp-workers. Ration scale is provided and observed. The kitchen is very well equipped with two large electric kettles and a stove. There is an 11 weeks Red Cross parcel supply in camp.

VII. A German civilian doctor visits the camp twice a week. There is a recognized sanitator in camp and some medicaments and dressings.

VIII. The clothing position is not satisfactory. The men wear all sorts of uniforms. No second uniform is provided. Boots are very much needed too.

X. No pay so far. The men are engaged in road-construction and think it a very easy work. These men, too, have only one day free within three weeks.

XI. Canteen is very poor. Some little things are available on the local village market.

XIII. A recreation-hall is under construction, football will be played as soon as a sportsground is available.

XVI. Besides the already mentioned insufficiencies no serious complaint was brought to the knowledge of the Delegate. Some minor points were straightened out on the spot.

XVII. Arbeitskommando 1225 is already a good camp and it will, with the accomplishment of the buildings under construction, still improve. The men show signs of good physical and moral health.

VI. In order. Two men do the cooking. 7 weeks supply of Red Cross parcels in camp.

VII. Twice a week sick parade with a German doctor. There is a sanitator in camp as well as some medical supply.

X. Correct. Working hours are from 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with half an hour's break for lunch. Every third week one day free. The men are engaged in surface work at the mine of Grube Ostfeld.

XIII. Football can unofficially be played. Numerous musical instruments are in camp.

XVI. The only serious complaint was about the working hours. This point will be taken up again with higher quarters. A few minor wishes were settled at the conference with the Local Authorities.

XVII. Grube Ostfeld may be considered a fairly good camp. The men enjoy good physical and moral health.