CONFIDENTIAL
No.10
STALAG IV A
Date of visit: October 28, 1942.
Camp Commander: Oberst Senff (previously at Stalag IV B)
Man of Confidence: Q.M. Sergeant W. Adam, p.o.w. No. 3807/
The central store for mail and parcels is in Possen bei Bad Schandau, only a few miles away from the main camp. There are 7 British in Possen, one of them being at the time of the visit in a Lazaret at Königsheim.
After the last visit paid by the representatives of the Swiss Legation in Berlin to the Stalag, another Man of Confidence was elected in the person of Q.M. Sergeant W. Adam. He went himself, together with Sergeant Miller, to see all the work-camps depending from this Stalag, and he is able to have a fairly good contact with everyone, except that sometimes letters containing complaints do not reach him. The Kommandant was asked to have all letters concerning the Man of Confidence handed over to him at once. He was also requested to have regular contact with the principal Man of Confidence, as the latter is not so far away from the Kommandantur and can easily come to see it.
In Possen, the only complaint was that there were not enough washing and bathing facilities, and Oberst Senff said that the British were to be moved shortly into a new barrack which will have the necessary hygienic installations. To be checked.
Concerning Red Cross parcels, it was said that the oil and malt tins in special or in Invalid Comfort parcels were often arriving in a bad condition and that the contents were spilled. Also that Stalag IV A does not need any more medical parcels and will ask when some more will be necessary. These two questions will be brought when to the attention of the I.R.C.C.
Further conversation with Adam brought to light the following things:
(1) There are 778 British prisoners of war in the whole area of this Stalag, which comprises four mining work-camps, all visited this time, as well as two other small Kommandos in the neighbourhood of Dresden, and which will have to be seen during next visit, and also including the two Lazaretts of Elsterhorst and Königswartha, Gnaschwitz and Schmockau not being considered as British Lazaretts.
(2) The Geneva Convention has been now posted in the different work-camps and Lazaretts.
(3) The question of the Sunday-work is still unchanged.
Kommando Grube Brigitta
Visited: October 29, 1942.
Accompanying Officer: Hauptmann Schaefer.
Man of Confidence: Corporal F. Eustace, p.o.w. No. 95613.
The preceding Man of Confidence, F.C. Fitzpatrick, is back in Stalag because he opposed Sunday-work, but the accompanying Officer says that Fitzpatrick had often asked to go to the Stalag and when he was given a chance he refused, but the order could not be cancelled.
There are actually 102 British prisoners of war in this camp.
There is no change in the interior arrangements of this camp.
The prisoners of war complained that they get less meat than before. As the meat is minced and mixed up with the rest of the food, there is no possibility of controlling the exact amount that is given. The inspectors omitted the wish that meat be given to the prisoners of war under another form.
The Revier was opened two days before this visit. It cannot be considered as satisfactory at all. But only light cases are treated here and if a patient needs more attention, he is taken to Reserve-Lazarett Elsterhorst.
The medical orderly, Joseph Good is not recognised officially as Protected Personnel, therefore although he works in his professional capacity, he is not paid nor given special privileges.
Albert Sadd, mentioned in last report, is a non-recognised Sergeant and he would like to have a certificate of his rank.
The prisoners of war are still bad for boots and are compelled to go to work although they are not properly shod. The inspectors drew the attention of the accompanying officer to the fact that it is the Detaining Power that should give the shoes for the prisoners of war, and that if the firm did not supply them with what they need, they cannot go out to work. The accompanying Officer said that those who had no shoes or at least very bad shoes, will only go out to work when the firm has provided sufficient ones. To be checked.
Hymn-books have arrived in this work-camp and a British clergyman comes here every three weeks and is given all freedom to speak with the men.
Sunday-work is asked every other week, generally the whole morning. The prisoners of war are now given a task to do in the day and they are quite satisfied with this, although not with the fact that they have to work on Sundays.
There is only a very small drying-room, and the prisoners of war have to hang their clothes in the bed-rooms also, which is quite unsatisfactory. The accompanying officer said that he would try and get the material to extend the actual drying-room, the prisoners of war being quite agreeable to do the work themselves.
They also would like to have an extra room where those prisoners of war learning languages or following technical courses can study quietly. The German High Command will be asked if it can provide material for an extra small hut, which the prisoners of war will erect themselves.
Some time ago, one of the prisoners of war was put under arrest because he had knocked down a civilian who had said nasty things about England. The civilian was also punished. The cell where that man underwent his sentence was visited. It is satisfactory but the fact that it was not lighted enough. Electric light is being installed, and the accompanying Officer said that no one would use this cell until it is absolutely according to the prescriptions of the Geneva Convention.
There is a new Lagerfuehrer here who is very comprehensive and the prisoners of war get along very well with him. The inspectors wish to mention that they found a great improvement in the 4 camps visited in this area, specially concerning the treatment the prisoners of war receive from the civilians but more so from the guards who have been changed and very well instructed of their duty by Hauptmann Schäefer.
Kommando Grube Ostfeld
Visited: October 29, 1942.
Accompanying Officer: Hauptmann Schaefer.
Man of Confidence: Corporal Visey.
There are 86 British prisoners of war in this camp.
The interior arrangements are unaltered. Some provisional arrangement had been made for some time about the ventilation, but it proved unsatisfactory. The representative of the firm promised that something would be done now, the German High Command will also be notified that the aeration of this camp is not satisfactory.
Some of the prisoners of war have one Sunday free in three, the others one Sunday in four.
The emptying of lavatories is done more regularly now, and there was no complaint on that subject.
The Man of Confidence has the possibility to control the quantities of food given out now.
The health condition was good. One of the guards interfered when prisoners of war wanted to go and see a doctor and the Lagerfuehrer was told it should not be done any more, and that the prisoners of war were entitled to visit a doctor when they wished to.
The two non-recognised Medical Orderlies have been transferred to Reserve-Lazaret Koenigswartha.
The prisoners of war can go and see a good dentist in Lohsa, but dentures and repairs to dentures can only very seldom be had.
The state of the boots is pretty bad now. The Lagerfuehrer said he had a stock of leather-shoes with wooden soles, but that the prisoners of war preferred their own ones. The canvas gaiters have not yet arrived.
The overalls promised last time have not yet been given. The German High Command will be asked to insist so that the provisions of art. 12 par. 1 of the Geneva Convention are followed in this camp.
The Man of Confidence said that he had not seen any fresh cases of prisoners of war of other nationalities wearing British uniforms, and that he had now a better control on the clothing.
There is a small canteen here now, but very little can be had. The accompanying Officer was asked to inquire if Stalag could not send a small supply.
They have not received any gramophone records yet and the Y.M.C.A. will be asked if it can send some here, and also a gramophone spring for a Decca model. Visey was able to buy two piano-accordions for his comrades. Violin strings and a violin bow would be welcome here and the Y.M.C.A. will be informed of it.
There is no change about the N.C.Os. still working in this camp.
Rutter has left this camp, while Oldfield is still here doing very light work and quite happy about it.
New items are as follows:
(1) There is a need for more great-coats, some of the British prisoners of war in this camp still having French ones.
(2) The prisoners of war have a good football-field at their disposal but it happened once that for some disciplinary reason, the Lagerfuehrer refused to let them use it. It would be advisable that once and for all a decision could be taken about what is a punishment or eventually a restriction in privileges.
Work Camp Grube Erika.
Visited October 30, 1942.
Accompanying Officer Hauptmann Schaefer.
Man of Confidence: Sergeant E. Miller.
There are 210 British prisoners of war now in this camp, of which three were at that time in Reserve-Lazarett Elsterhorst.
There is no recreation-room yet. The firm's representative said that the material to construct one had been promised and that he was expecting to be able to go and fetch it very shortly. The German High Command will again be notified of this.
The Man of Confidence has now full control over the British medicaments. Anyhow, on account of this being a large camp and the doctors being too busy with all the nationalities they have to look after, it would be desirable to have a standing British doctor here, and the German High Command will be approached in this matter.
As regards Sunday-work, the prisoners of war have now one Sunday off in three, one group only works alternate Sundays.
Football is played regularly now.
Miller received a type-writer, but sent it to Adam who needs it more than he does.
New Items:
(1) There are about 10 Roman Catholics, and the accompanying Officer said they could go to Mass together with the French prisoners of war.
(2) Reverend Capt. Frazer, from Res.Laz. Koenigswartha, comes here every three weeks for the Protestant service.
(3) Dental treatment is done by a military dentist in Res.Laz. Elsterhorst who only does conservative work. The prisoners of war can obtain prostheses at the civilian dentist in Erika, but have to pay for it themselves.
(4) The Man of Confidence said that there was a definite change in the treatment of the prisoners of war, and that although the hours of work are the same, there is no difference in what is required from the different parties.
Work Camp Grube Heye III, Wiednitz.
Visited: October 30, 1942.
Accompanying Officer: Hauptmann Schaefer.
Man of Confidence: Sergeant T.R. Voller, p.o.w. No. 95730.
54 British prisoners of war of which 4 were at that time in Res.Laz. Elsterhorst, live in a brick barrack near a brown-coal mine where they work. They have two large rooms with double tier beds, furnished with straw sacks which were momentarily taken away to be disinfected. Each man has 2 blankets which is not sufficient for the winter, and a third one would be needed. The accompanying Officer took note of that. In each room there is a large stone-stove which can also be used to warm private food. Extra stoves will be fixed for the winter. Electric light is everywhere. Between the two bed-rooms, which are used at the same time as day-rooms, there is a wash and shower-room where hot water is available. Sufficient W.Cs. and a latrine are in the court-yard.
In a small building there is a cobbler's room, where one of the British prisoners of war works, and also a Revier with 6 beds, a small recreation room and an office for the Man of Confidence.
Next to that Kommando is a camp for Russians.
The cooking is done by a German woman helped by two British prisoners of war. It is done for the British and for the Russians, but in different boilers.
Most of the prisoners of war work in the mine and a few in a factory. They do heavy work. They work in shifts, 8 hours a day. Extra MR. 2.40 for Sunday-work.
The treatment is alright now and the Man of Confidence had no complaints to make. There are 7 Corporals not yet recognised who are working here. A list of them has been sent to the Protecting Power.
The only wishes are for hair-clippers, a clock, which will be asked from the I.R.C.C. and the Y.M.C.A. and items for a canteen which the Lagerfuehrer will try to get.
The medical attention is done by the doctor of the mine who is anyhow not very effected. This is why the prisoner of war are sent immediately to a Revier in Schwarzkollm or better in Res.Laz. Elsterhorst. Dental treatment is done by a civilian dentist in Barnstorm. He makes no dentures, and repairs to old dentures must be paid by the prisoners of war themselves.
Fred. O. Auckenthaler.
Dr. Andreas Steeling.
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 26
RESERVELAZARETT KOENIGSWARTHA
Date of visit: October 28, 1942.
Hearst: Stabsarzt Dr. Roomer.
S.B.M.O.: Lieut.Col. Le Seoul.
I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Several new barracks of the ordinary army type are being erected in the grounds of this lazier.
II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL
On the day of the visit there were 9 British doctors, 22 British medical orderlies, 2 officer interpreters, 1 clergyman, 3 officer patients, and 178 British patients of other ranks. Including other nationalities, the total number of patients in this lazier is about 330.
III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS
The S.B.M.O. is of the opinion that there is some overcrowding in this lazier, specially as most of the patients here are Tic cases. It is hoped that when the new huts will be finished, some of the patients actually lodged in the different pavilions will be brought there and thus the overcrowding will disappear, at least up to some extent. In the meantime, it was promised that no more patients will come to Koenigswartha before the new wooden barracks are ready, and also that double-tier wooden bunks will not be used, as the S.B.M.O. feared it might be the case.
When the wards are heated, it is forbidden to open the windows. This measure, eventually understandable in normal circumstances so as to save some coal, seems rather drastic in a lazier, and specially in one for Tic, where patients need much fresh air for their cure; the German High Command will be approached on this matter.
IV.) WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES
The actual supply of water is insufficient for the number of inmates of this lazier, and thus the washing and bathing installations must be closed for hours a day. The Hearst said that an extra fountain is to be erected, which will improve the water supply. The patients in station IV must use the same washing facilities as those in station I., which is unsatisfactory and insufficient.
The sanitary personnel must use the same bathing and washing means as the patients, which is unhygienic and against all rules of a Tic hospital. The German High Command will be asked to provide special washing and bathing installations for the personnel as well as special latrines.
V.) TOILET FACILITIES
The latrines in one of the British pavilions do not seem to have proper evacuation, and the smell arising from them was atrocious and infiltrating itself in the walls, to the great inconveniency of the patients. As the Stabsarzt does not seem to be able to remedy this fact, the German High Command will be approached on this matter.
There is very little, if no toilet paper available in this lazier. Considering that this is a special hospital, where hygiene plays a still larger role than in other hospital, the German High Command will also be asked to have an appropriate supply given to this lazier.
VI.) FOOD AND COOKING
Fresh food, such as eggs and compote, were for some time not given any more to the British patients, because they had enough food supply from their Red Cross parcels. The Hearst said that the British patients very often do not eat the usual food given to all prisoners of war, and therefore he did not consider it as necessary to give them extra food; he nevertheless promised to examine this problem again and have a special diet given out to those patients in need of it.
There is only one small stove for the cooking of all Red Cross private food, and the German High Command will be asked if at least one more stove could not be provided for that purpose; and also that enough dishes are given so that private food can be brought to the patients who have to remain in bed.
VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS
At least a second pneumothorax apparatus should be needed in this lazier and the German High Command will be informed of it.
More overalls or protective gowns would be necessary for the staff, so that a clean one could be given to all the personnel each week. The German High Command will also be approached on this subject which is very important, as this is an infectious disease hospital.
In the same respect, it is necessary to have a greater supply of cleaning material, such as brooms, dust-pans, and so on, and the German High Command will be informed of it.
The S.B.M.O. is also of the opinion that in the sanatorium a change of bed-linen once in three weeks is insufficient.
Another point brought forth by the S.B.M.O. is that of rigid wooden beds, which is certainly a type rather unsuitable for the kind of patients in such a lazier.
Very often, Indian patients come here very late and the German High Command will be asked to give orders to the doctors in Indian camps to have Tic cases sent sooner to a special lazier, more so that with patients of that nationality, Tic develops itself as a rule very much quicker than with Europeans.
VIIII.) CLOTHING
Nothing to mention.
IX.) LAUNDRY
No change.
X.) MONEY AND PAY
No change.
XI.) CANTEEN
No change.
XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
An Indian priest has been allowed once or twice to come to burials of Indian prisoners of war, and the German High Command will be asked if this could not be regularly the case.
XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE
Nothing to mention.
XIV.) MAIL
No special complaints.
XV.) WELFARE WORK
No change.
XVI.) COMPLAINTS
Of late, some of the British medical orderlies have been forced, sometimes with bayonet, to work on building the new barracks. They work for a civilian contractor and are given extra pay for that work. This contravention of Art. 9, Par. 1, and Art. 12, Par. 3, of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Conditions of the Sick and Wounded will be brought to the attention of the German High Command, also the fact that during a fortnight the same protected personnel was ordered to go and dig and transport potatoes, thus often having to give up momentarily their nursing. Apart from the diminution of attention thus given to the patients, it means an extra amount of work for the medical orderlies which, in many cases, makes them more liable to contract illnesses themselves.
The Hearst said that he needed some people to do some work in the hospital or for the hospital, and that he will ask to have less medical personnel and instead some ordinary prisoners of war, thus creating here a small work-camp. A diminution of the number of medical orderlies must then, in the opinion of the inspectors, bring at the same time a reorganisation of their work, which actually seems to be rather carelessly distributed. For instance, it would be advisable that nursing orderlies did nursing alone, and that British medical orderlies look more particularly after British patients, and not as it is done now that any medical orderly is to do any kind of work and for any nationality. The German High Command will be asked to look into this question, for the benefit of one and all.
The living quarters for the British doctors are absolutely unsatisfactory; they live in attics and have no proper day-room of their own. The Hearst said that when the new barracks will be ready they will have better quarters, but as it seems that for several months more those barracks will not be ready, the German High Command will be asked to interfere in this matter and improve the lodging quarters of the doctors.
Lieut.Col. Le Seoul, when brought to this lazier, had to wait for a train at Leipzig station and there a German Hauptmann came up to him and wanted to be saluted. The German High Command will be informed of this breach of Art. 18, Par. 3, of the Geneva Convention.
XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION
The Hearst being new in this reserve lazier, the impression of the inspectors will be kept back until the next visit.
Fred. O. Auckenthaler.
Dr. Andreas Steeling.
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 12.
RESERVELAZARETT ELSTERHORST
Date of visit: October 29, 1942.
German Physicians: Stabsarzt Dr. Rahm.
Oberarzt Dr. Schulze.
British Physicians: Captain Randhin Singh Seagal, I.M.C.
Lieut. Sardar Ahmed, I.M.C.
On the day of the visit there were 26 British and 15 Indian patients who were treated here. They are looked after by 2 Indian doctors, 2 British Medical Orderlies and 1 British Orderly.
The patients are suffering mostly from minor diseases or eye troubles.
There were three heart-cases from Grube Erika, a work-camp where more work has been asked from the p.o.w. than elsewhere.
Of the three cases of paraplegia of the legs which were mentioned in the last report, two are better now and the third is to be sent to Dresden for special treatment.
Some more clothing that had been asked for has arrived lately. Only more caps are still needed.
The question of the laundry has been settled satisfactorily in the meantime and the laundry is done in the wash-house. Bed-linen is changed every two weeks now.
Religious activity has been possible lately, a British clergyman coming to this lazier about once a month.
The material for outdoor games that had been requested from the Y.M.C.A. has also arrived in the meantime.
The only complaint was about mail which was said to take very long, due to the delay in censorship.
It was also stated that a letter to the Protecting Power which was dispatched on September 3rd has not reached its destination.
The question of patients to be seen by the Mixed Medical Commission was treated with the German physicians who confirmed that any patient could be seen by the said Commission if he wanted to.
The general impression is not very good. It can only improve if the German and Indian doctors all try to place themselves only on strictly professional grounds.
Fred. O. Auckenthaler
Dr. Andreas Steeling
0103/3966(P.W.2.a.). 11.6.1943.
K.W.2/4 of 9.6.1943.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NR. R 998
BERLIN, W.8
Wilhelmstr. 74-76
MEMORANDUM
With reference to note No.1817 of 26th November 1942 concerning the work detachments belonging to Stalag IV A, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the honour to give the Swiss Legation, Foreign Interests Division, the following information:
Grube Brigitta. The owner is endeavouring to erect the small hut required as soon as possible. It has not hitherto been possible to do so as all the necessary materials have not been available.
Grube Ostfeld. Improvements to the ventilation are being carried out. The owner has applied to the Minister of Economic Affairs for the necessary working kit, which is expected to arrive at any moment.
Grube Erika. The material ordered by the owner for the recreation room has not yet been delivered in spite of urgent requests.
Owing to the shortage of British doctors who are fit to work, doctors can only be appointed to work detachments composed of more than 500 men.
Berlin, 8th February, 43.
The Swiss Legation, Foreign Interests Division, Berlin.
