CONFIDENTIAL.

No.343.

BRITISH/INDIAN.

STALAG IV B MUEHLBERG.

Date of visit: January 6, 1944.

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

        With regard to the general description of the camp see previous reports. 18 of the barracks are at present occupied by British or Indian prisoners of war. One barrack is housing the Revier.

II. CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL:

        The total strength of British and Indian prisoners of war amounts to 5925 men, of whom are:-

                      4 British Medical Officers.

                    26 British medical orderlies.

                2360 British Non Commissioned Officers of the Army.

                1863 British Non Commissioned Officers of the Air Force.

                1605 British other ranks who are on transit for work-camps.

                  167 Indian Non-Commissioned Officers who were sent to this camp for punishment because they refused to do camp work at Annaburg.

        The air-force men are supposed to leave this camp within a short time to a proper camp for the Air Force.

III. INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS:

        The triple-tier beds are all occupied and the rooms overcrowded. Electric light with rather weak globes. A special room for reading and writing is still under promise. In every half-section of the barracks are two large brick ovens for heating and cooking the Red Cross food. Some of these ovens need repair, others are said to be replaced by proper stoves. Some of the roofs are leaking and will be tarred within short. No cupboards or wardrobes are provided. Sitting accommodations are inadequate in number.

IV. BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES:

        Between each half section of the barracks is a washroom with 20 taps with running cold water. There is also a boiler room where hot water is available. Unfortunately the water supply is insufficient with result that in every second barrack the water supply is put off from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enlargement of the water supply system has been promised by the Commandant and it is hoped that this work may commence soon. Hot showers are provided once every fortnight.

V. TOILET FACILITIES:

        The latrines are in order. No issue of toilet paper.

VI. FOOD AND COOKING:

        The cooking is done in a large central kitchen for prisoners of war of all nationalities. 21 British cooks work in the kitchen. Food is reported to be fairly good. British prisoners yield up some of their food to Russian comrades. There is a large stock of Red Cross food parcels available. Eating utensils such as spoons, forks and knives are badly lacking. Only wooden spoons were issued. The Man of Confidence is anxious to know if the British Red Cross could supply them with forks and knives as these things are not available in Germany.

VII. MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS:

        There are 3 British Medical Officers and one dentist in the camp. 26 Medical Orderlies from the medical staff. The revier barrack is inadequate and the Delegate was informed that a new and very good barrack will be built within 10 days, the material is already on the spot. Dental treatment, fillings and extractions are done in camp where a good dental station is running. General state of health is reported by the Senior British Medical Officer to be not too good, as most of these men came from Italian captivity.

VIII. CLOTHING:

        The clothing position is fairly satisfactory. Up to the day of visit each man had one complete uniform. A large clothing consignment had just arrived and a second uniform will be issued. Overcoats are needed as none have been supplied by the Detaining Power. The Man of Confidence reports two cases where the "attached flying-boots" had been confiscated and clogs issued instead. This point was discussed at the conference with the Camp Authorities and the Commandant promised that it will not happen anymore. Shoe-repairing material is much needed. Each man has three blankets but very thin and small ones.

IX. LAUNDRY:

        Done by the men themselves. They have an issue of one tablet of soap per month. Hot water is available from the boiler or must be boiled on the stoves. No facilities for drying.

X. MONEY AND PAY:

        No pay for Non Commissioned Officers. The working detachments are correctly paid. They had an amount of 1000 RM. sent to them from an Oflag and this money is used for general camp purposes. The camp-vouchers from Italian captivity are not recognized for exchange.

XI. CANTEEN:

        No canteen. A limited supply is available from the Russian canteen.

XII. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES:

        There are three Ministers of religion in camp, one Church of England, one Roman-Catholic and one Free Church. A room for religious services is at the men's disposal.

XIII. RECREATION AND EXERCISE:

        A football ground is in camp as well as sufficient sports-gear and indoor-games. There is also a room for theatricals, shows, lectures and concerts.

XIV. MAIL:

        Two weeks ago the first mail had arrived. Some letters from England and South Africa took about one month. Outgoing mail in order.

XV. WELFARE WORK:

        An entertainment and welfare committee is in action. Plays, shows and concerts are arranged. Two camp newspapers are regularly edited and issued.

        INDIAN SECTION:

        In the presence of a German witness, the Delegate received the Indian Man of Confidence, Sgt. Karam Singh Gill, who represents:

                17 Mohammedans

                48 Sikhs

                64 Hindus

                38 Mahrattas

              167 Indian Non Commissioned Officers.

        Formerly interned at the Zweiglager Annaburg D/Z these Non Commissioned Officers referring to Article 27 (3) of the Geneva Convention refused to unload and store Red Cross parcels for their own camp. As a punishment for this act of disobedience, they were transferred to Stalag IV B. The Delegate thinks that this purely Red Cross work which is directed to the men's own benefit should not be refused, elsewhere British Officers and Non Commissioned Officers volunteer for this nature of work. The Man of Confidence was advised accordingly. He agreed and had only one wish to return with his men to Annaburg.

XVI. COMPLAINTS:

        As the lighting in the barracks is exceedingly poor, several Air Force men robbed some installation material and installed an additional lighting system in their quarters. Camp Authorities take a serious view on this incident and a charge of sabotage and act against the security of the whole camp community is brought against the several Air Force men before court martial. The Delegate requested to consider the case a minor offence. The Commandant agreed and promised to withdraw the case from judicial proceedings and to inflict a disciplinary punishment on these men.

        Great anger is caused by the unfortunate saluting order. British Non Commissioned Officers fail to understand why they should salute German Non Commissioned Officers on inferior rank. In accordance with the Convention, prisoners of war shall be required to salute all Officers of the Detaining Power. Nothing is stated in this Convention with regard to the saluting of Non Commissioned Officers or officers of inferior rank. It is a fact that in the GERMAN Army an inferior has to salute any superior Officer or Non-Commissioned Officer. German High Command accompanying officer Major Römer, who may be the editor of this saluting order, explained that any German Officer or Non Commissioned Officer in the execution of his duties is superior to a Prisoner of War, and consequently must be saluted. A German Officer or Non Commissioned Officer is considered on duty whenever he appears in a camp. He concluded that it would be impossible to provide every prisoner with an officer or Non Commissioned Officer superior or equal in rank and commented that in this case it would become imperative to put a Field-Marshal in command of a camp where a General is interned. The Delegate disagreed and stated that in his opinion a camp's discipline would in no way suffer if the conventional provisions and obligations laid upon the Detaining Power in this matter be respected.

        With regard to disquieting reports concerning work-detachments depending on Stalag IV B, namely Jakobstal and Leithain, the Commandant stated that the first mentioned had already been dissolved and Leithain was to be dissolved within a fortnight.

XVII. GENERAL IMPRESSION:

        This camp holds all deficiencies of a mass-concentration and place of transit, prisoners suffer under occasional overcrowding and consequently of shortage of water, electric current and other inconveniences.

        Information: The Delegate received the following information confidentially:

                Pte. Cecil CASEY, Army No. 213804 2nd Division S.A. Army. Shot and killed, believed November 13, 1943 at Brottewitz, Stalag IV D Torgau.

        The Protecting Power will request the Ausärtige Amt for a speedy report and the undersigned Delegate will look into this matter on his forthcoming visit to Stalag IV D second part of February 1944.

RUDOLPH E. DENZLER.

0103/4443 (P.W.2.)

F.O.Ref.K.W.2/4.

(EN CLAIR)

DEPARTMENTAL NO.1

FROM BERNE TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Mr. Norton.

No. 795.

23rd February, 1944.

D. 8.45 p.m. 23rd Feby, 1944.

R. 1.00 p.m. 24th Feby, 1944.

        My despatch 6828.

        In report on Stalag IVB Muehlberg visited 6th January containing 5925 British and Indians it is stated prisoners suffer from overcrowding, shortage of water, and poor lighting. British Medical Officer reported health not too good as majority prisoners come from Italy. 213804 Private Cecil Casey 2nd S.A. division shot dead at Brottowitz