CONFIDENTIAL

STALAG IV B

BELGIAN

AUSTRALIAN.

Camp Commander: Oberst. Lt. Sperl.

Adjutant: Korvettenkapitaen Lang.

June 26, 1941.

(last visit April 1941)

        This Stalag continues to be the main Sammellager (transit camp) in Wehrkreis IV, and at present contains chiefly French soldiers, awaiting repatriation, and Serbs, on their way to other camps, chiefly Arbeitskommandos, in the Wehrkreis. This camp has no dependent work camps itself.

        At the time of the inspection the Stalag held 63 Belgians and 1 Australian prisoner of war.

        The latter, Robert Young, of 129 Bellavue Avenue, Undercliff, Sydney, New South Wales, has since June the 4th been in the Stalag Lazarette, suffering from congestion of the lungs. He was captured in Greece 10 weeks ago, and arrived at Stalag IV B at the beginning of June together with 18 British comrades, mostly Australians, all of whom were sent on to another camp in Wehrkreis IV apparently Stalag IV A. Young alone was kept at the Stalag in view of his physical condition. He seemed in fairly good spirits, and it was stated that his condition has improved considerably since his arrival and he should soon be able to join his comrades again. It was however ascertained that he had not yet been permitted to send his family a "Capture Card", apparently because he had never asked for one. The local German authorities were requested to attend to this at once. He had no particular complaints or wishes.

        The Belgians include both non-commissioned officers, as noted in the last report on this camp, and soldiers. 45 out of the 63 Belgians are in the Stalag on account of their health, though only one is in the Lazarette. None of the cases are serious, being chiefly the result of minor industrial accidents, bad colds, etc. The other Belgians consist mainly of the group of non-commissioned officers who refuse to work in Arbeitskommandos.

        The Belgian Men of Confidence were interviewed and said they had no real complaints to register. They would like to get hold of some Flemish books, and also a football to supplement those belonging to their French colleagues.

        Food was described by the Belgian Man of Confidence as sufficient rather than abundant. Clothing seemed to be in fair condition, but rather worn garments were noted. It was stated that French army priests held regular Mass, which the Belgians may attend. They also go to the "University Courses" described in previous reports. Parcels are said to be arriving satisfactorily, including some from the Red Cross at Geneva. Mail to and from Belgium takes 2 to 3 weeks for transit and each man is permitted to write 2 cards and 2 letters monthly.

        This camp still gives a pretty satisfactory impression to the inspector. The new adjutant, an officer of the old Austrian-Hungarian Navy, is a good type of man, and although the Commander is not as young as some other camp commanders, he seems interested in his work and responsibility. The feeling between the Germans and Belgians seems to be better, perhaps because the Germans have now more or less given up trying to make the Belgian non-commissioned officers work.

Brewster H. Morris.