CONFIDENTIAL

Wehrkreis IV

May 5, 1941

BRITISH

BELGIAN

Reserve Lazarett Schmeckwitz

Commandant: Oberstabsarzt Rindfleisch

Man of Confidence: Sergeant Turner.

1,) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        For a general description of this Lazarett see previous reports. There has been no change. The Lazarett is housed in what was formerly a "Kur Hotel". The building is entirely modern including central heating, electric lighting and a modern plumbing system. A kitchen and laundry unit are also included. The laundry unit is not in operation, however, at the present time.

        This hotel specialized in "mud baths" and "sulphur baths". The water contains a high percentage of free sulphur, coloring the water yellow. The water tastes well and is also used for drinking purposes.

2.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        Officers:

                English       none

                Belgian       none

                French        4

                Poles        13

        Men:

                English      21

                Belgian       7

                French      49

                Poles        49

        There are three French physicians here. There are no English physicians, but there are three other men of the English sanitary personnel. The head doctor who is German, speaks and understands English. The seven Belgian prisoner patients were about to be transported to Belgium. There would then be no Belgian prisoners left in this Lazarett.

        The sick prisoners had the privilege of braiding strands of rope for which they were paid. Some could thus earn as much as RM 4.50 per day. The average earning was around RM 3.--. The braiding of the rope could be accomplished in bed and was a very satisfactory form of occupational therapy for tuberculous, bed ridden patients. The patients spent most of their time in bed, only those without fever being allowed up and around.  The "open" cases of tuberculosis were separated from the "closed" cases.

3.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        These have been described in previous reports. The rooms were neat and clean. There was no overcrowding. The beds were single and were well spaced. The linen was white. The ventilation was adequate. The hospital was situated in a beautiful little wood, and when the sun shines, the prisoners are allowed out on the balconies to enjoy it.

4.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES

        These are all inside and modern. One floor is given over to "tub bathing". The patients receive at least one hot bath a week. The hospital has in the basement a small but complete delousing plant. Steam under pressure is employed. Each patients entering the hospital receives a preliminary delousing whether it is necessary or not.

5.) TOILET FACILITIES

        Each floor of the four story structure has its own toilet facilities. There are on each floor three modern flush toilets which are kept open by day and by night. The patients have free access to these toilets. They were clean and sanitary.

6.) FOOD AND COOKING

        There were no complaints from the prisoners regarding the quantity or quality of the food. The kitchen is situated on the ground floor and was in charge of civilian personnel. The kitchen was clean and well equipped.

        A menu for a weekly period is enclosed with this report. Additional food in the form of milk, butter, bread and cheese was available on prescription.

        The calorie content was high averaging around 2500 to 3000 per man per day. The food was inspected for the midday meal and tasted especially appetizing. Many of the patients had gained weight on the hospital food alone. The bed patients ate in bed. The ambulatory were taken to a central dining room. The officers had separate mess quarters from the men. The sanitary personnel also had their own quarters for eating.

7.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        This was a tuberculosis hospital. The chief German physician was a specialist in chest diseases. The hospital was equipped to do special sputum examinations for the tubercle bacillus. Twenty eight cases had received treatment by means of pneumothorax. Of these twenty eight, many cases were improved.

        The death rate at this hospital was fairly high because many of the cases were fulminating and severe in character.

        The names of four English prisoners who had died here in the last two months with all identifying data is enclosed with this report. These men and the others who had died were buried in a beautiful little cemetery in a church yard not far from the hospital. They were buried with full military honor. Each grave was decorated with two wreaths, which were inscribed in the English language "One who died for England".

        The hospital equipment was entirely adequate and sufficient. A large well stocked drug room was visited. The medical personnel was also adequate.

8.) CLOTHING

        There were no complaints regarding the clothing.

9.) LAUNDRY

        The clothes were first disinfected with chloramine then they were sent to a nearby laundry for washing. A large vat containing chloramine was also present for the disinfecting of sputum cups.

10.) MONEY AND PAY

        The prisoners had three sources of income. The Wehrkreis commander ruled that sick prisoners who were in the hospital for some period of time were to receive 25 Rpf a day from the so-called "Lagermittel". Secondly the officers were receiving their Wehrsold and thirdly the patients were paid for making rope and could earn as much as RM 4.50 per day by this method. Also a British carpenter was present who received RM 4.50 per week doing repair work around the hospital.

11.) CANTEEN

        A canteen was present in the mess hall. It was rather small. The usual articles of supply were available. One half a litre of beer could be had for 35 Rpf.

12.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        An English speaking clergyman came to the hospital to hold services once a week. The four prisoner patients who had died were buried with complete church services conducted in English by this German pastor. Likewise, a local Catholic priest held services in French for the Belgians.

13.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        Ambulatory patients were allowed frequent walks outside the compound with a guard escort as the weather permitted. Games and books in English were rather plentiful. The Y.M.C.A. of Berlin had sent to this camp 20 books in English Tauchnetz editions. Also the camp had a piano and three violins. There was one professional violin player and two amateurs who furnished the patients with some very good music.

14.) MAIL

        The mail was arriving fairly regularly. One man had received during his period of capture thirty letters from England. Another had received twenty. The English man of confidence stated that every man here had had at least one letter from England.

        Parcels were arriving slowly; 14 had been received during the past month, however.

        One of the few grounds for criticism at this Lazarett at the time of the first inspection was the organization of the post, depending on some 42 different Stalag and Oflag administrations. Plans have now been practically completed to place this hospital under the jurisdiction of the nearby Stalag IV A, for handling its mail.

15.) WELFARE WORK

        The Y.M.C.A. of Berlin was supplying books in English as noted above.

16.) COMPLAINTS

        There were none except it was hoped that repatriation could be soon effected.

17.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        This hospital made a very good impression as regards administration, accommodation, food and treatment. The commandant seemed to be a very human man and very capable. He was interested in having the patients satisfied.

George G. Van Dyke

Brewster H. Morris

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Wehrkreis IV

Reserve Lazarett: Schmeckwitz