CONFIDENTIAL

No.78.

STALAG IV B - MÜHLBERG

Date of visit: January 26th, 1943.

Camp Commander: Oberstlt. Stossier.

British Man of Confidence: Sgt. Abdul Samad.

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        Mühlberg is a "Sammel" and "Durchgangslager" used for the whole of Wehrkreis IV. It is composed of modern barracks of the wooden type.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        There are 403 Indians in this camp.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        The men are lodged in two barracks, containing each a big dormitory. The beds are two-storied, put together in one part of the room. The other part is used as day-room and refectory. The heating is adequate. Each man has 3 blankets.

IV.) WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES

        Washing facilities adequate.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        Toilet facilities adequate.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        The cooking is done in the central cookhouse of the camp. But a special Indian Sgt. and three orderlies prepare the food.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        There is an Indian Doctor: Lt. I.S. Patankar R.I.M.C. p.o.w. No.28 in this camp and he looks after the Indian patients. His lodgings are near the Revier.

        A French dentist works in this camp.

        The medical supply for the Indians has not yet been organised, as they arrived just lately. The orderlies in the Revier are French and Serbians.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        The clothing question has also to be looked into very seriously. Most of the men come from the camp of Koenigsbruecke where they were under the control of the "Indian League". It happened there that clothes and shoes were taken from the men by their compatriots, without receipts. But as the camp of Koenigsbruecke is about to be dissolved, the German authorities of Stalag IV B did not see the means to recuperate anything.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        Laundry is done by the men themselves.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        No complaint.

XI.) CANTEEN

        There is a canteen in the camp kept by French prisoners of war. The Indians can get some articles there.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        The Mahometans have a prayer-room in one corner of their dormitory.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        There is a football ground in the camp. The Indians would like to get some indoor games. Some books in Hindu or English would be welcome.

XIV.) MAIL

        Not well organised yet, due to the short stay in this camp of these men.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        No complaint.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        (a) The Indian Doctor complains that his luggage has not yet arrived from Oflag IX A/Z, Rothenburg a Fulda. The German camp authorities promised to have this straightened out.

        (b) One Indian NCO, smoking in his bed, was lately hit by a German NCO. The Camp Officer stated that the strictest orders were given not to tough [touch?] the prisoners of war, specially the Indian ones, and that the matter would be investigated.

        (c) The Indian Doctor asks for the control of the British Medical and Invalid parcels in this camp. The demand is granted.

        (d) He also asks for the permission to visit the British patients laid up in Reserve Lazaret Mühlberg. The permission is also granted but only for the Indian prisoners of war.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        The Stalag IV B - Mühlberg is built up and run on very human and practical lines.

RESERVE LAZARET MÜHLBERG

German Physician: Oberstabsarzt Dr. Stelzig.

        The Lazaret lies next to the Stalag IV B, but is absolutely independent from it. Dr. Stelzig, however, has the control of the different reviers at Stalag IV B.

        British prisoners of war are only sent here for examination. The installation for X-rays and the laboratories are very well installed in this camp. After examination the British prisoners of war of Wehrkreis IV are sent either to Res.Laz. Elsterhorst or Res.Laz. Koenigswartha.

Rudolph Burckhardt.

Dr. A. Staehelin.