Stalag IVC

Stalag Commandant

Assistant Commandant

Staff Physician

Accompanying Officer OKW

British Chief Man of Confidence

Man of Confidence for Cypriots

British Medical Officers

British Chaplains

: Oberst Lorenz

: Oberstlt. Heine

: Stabsarzt Dr. Stelzig

: Major Bösenberg

: L/Cpl F. Hindle

: Sgt. J. Hadjonnon

: Capt. N.C. Neale N.Z.M.C. Komotau

Capt. A. Michellides R.A.M.C. Reichenberg

Capt. M. Mayrhofer A.A.M.C. Kolumbus Lager

Capt. J.E. Readman R.A.M.C. Camp 22, Brux

Capt. A.F. Murray R.A.M.C. (S.B.M.O.) "

Capt. Walter Milburn R.A.M.C. Tschausch III

Capt. H.A. Barker R.A.M.C. Aussig-Pekau

: Capt. Rev. E.A. Brown, F.C. Camp 22, Brux

Capt. Rev. N.T. Dunlop F.C. Kolumbus Lager

On the occasion of this journey the Delegate visited the following districts: Komotau, Brux, Dux, Tetschen, Bodenbach, Bilin and Teplitz. Well attended meetings took place in all these districts, where British Men of Confidence reported on the conditions on their respective detachments.

On September 16, 1944, the final conference with Stalag Commandant and his staff officers took place at headquarters in Wistritz.

1. Conditions of camps and living accommodation satisfactory in general, with the exception of the work-detachments No.22a in Brux, strength 2158, and Kolumbus 51 near Brux, strength 1700. In these two detachments are concentrated more than half of the Stalag British complement.

Work-detachment 22a: Barracks are now overcrowded and living accommodation uncongenial owing to four barracks being taken over by German troops, necessitating prisoners to occupy the theatre and magazine and the remainder billeted twenty-four in a hut. Entertainments are now impossible owing to the congested condition of the camp. The washing facilities have remained to be satisfactory and there are sufficient latrines, but owing to irregular visits of the automobile for emptying same, some of these frequently have to be closed.

Work-detachment Kolumbus 51: On July 23rd, 1944, camp 28A was evacuated to this camp, causing a sudden increase of about 500 men and very considerable overcrowding. The cooking equipment is insufficient to meet the new situation. The beds supplied to the 500 newcomers are bug-ridden and have infested the whole camp. The present overcrowding has curtailed entertainments and cause a general discomfort. Stalag Commandant explained that these measures were of an entirely emergency nature, taken in a state of distress following the Allied air attack on July 21st 1944. It may be temporary. An immediate disinfestation for camp Kolumbus 51 was assured.

2. Danger Area. In his last report No. 487 dated June 3rd, 1944, the undersigned Delegate considered work-detachments 22a, Brux and Kolumbus 51 as situated within a danger area of the first rate and requested the withdrawal of the British prisoners. Since last visit British prisoners in the area suffered the following casualties:

3. Air-Raid Precautions. In the absence of adequate air-raid shelters at Lager 22a Brux, Stalag Commandant has permitted prisoners the immediate evacuation in any case of air alarm. In this event all security measures immediately cease and all prisoners are at liberty to leave the area and taken shelter in nearby forests, trenches or place of safety. In full appreciation of this permission, the Delegate considers it inadequate/ It is a further point to underline the request of complete withdrawal of the prisoners from the area.

It is a matter of interest to note that so far no British prisoner used - or misused - this permission for an escape.

4. Searches. Cases are occurring whereby barracks are searched with no British representative being present.

Stalag Commandant explained that, by order, following every air-raid a search is carried out. He accused prisoners for passing on false ration cards, dropped by planes, to civilians. He agreed that such searches shall in future be carried out in the presence of prisoners' representatives.

5. Labour. Conditions have remained the same. Under the pretext that prisoners are to be treated equal to civilians, working hours here and there excessive and Art. 30, last phrase, of the Convention is disregarded.

However, Stalag Commandant firmly assured the Delegate that he should not tolerate any further increase in tasks or working time. This officer, being a prominent and Standortältester of the area, the Delegate hopes that he may be successful in this respect.

6. Health. There is still a dispute regarding judgements whether a man is capable for work or not, is the Stabsarzt too hard or the British Medical Officers too soft? The Stabsarzt exerts a certain pressure on the British Medical Officers to lower the percentage on the sick lists, however, the general tune has eased and become more congenial. Stabsarzt considers his British colleagues as youngsters with little or no practical experience. Only one case was submitted to the Delegate: A patient whose hands suffered from burns, received in a bombing raid, was ordered back to the factory. Stabsarzt contended that the burns were completely healed and that a "work-therapy" to the preferable to a massage in the infirmary. He emphatically assured the Delegate that all his actions shall be directed from a purely medical point of view.

This Lazaret is under the command of Stabsarzt Dr. Preiss, an able surgeon who, with four Yugo-Slav physicians, (Vienna, Swiss and English graduates) does fine work for prisoners of various nationalities. At the date of visit there were 24 British prisoners under treatment. There are 60 beds reserved for British prisoners. On his last visit, the Delegate proposed the appointment of a British Medical Officer in succession to Lt.Col. BILL. Dr. Preiss thinks this is not necessary since one of the Yugo-Slav physicians commands the English language and the average strength of British prisoners numbers to 12-15 only.

There are eight British Medical Orderlies in charge and the high qualifications of the Australians amongst them is greatly appreciated. A good lazaret.

8. Repatriations. Capt. Murray pre-examined 15 men proposed to be presented to the Mixed Medical Commission in October. Out of these 15 cases he considers only 3 as bona fide, on the other hand he presented the Delegate a list with 6 more recommendable candidates. The Delegate suggested to withdraw, subject to their consent, the 12 men from the list and to substitute the 6 candidates recommended by Capt. Murray. Stabsarzt agreed.

9. Clothing. Prisoners have been asked to surrender clothing, including shirts for deposits. Reason is not known.

There is a conflicting opinion with regard to Art.6 (1) of the Convention. Some German Authorities appear to consider uniforms as military equipments and consequently clothing worn at the time of capture as booty or "wehrmachtseigen". Evidently this is not the case, clothing falls under personal effects and articles in personal use and shall remain in the possession of prisoners of war. The Delegate advised prisoners accordingly.

10. Personal documents. Orders have been published for all POWs to hand in for safe custody such private papers as marriage certificates, birth certificates, pay books, etc.

Stalag Commandant explained that this measure should protect prisoners from loss in the event of bombardments, fire or theft.

11. Religious Activities. As a result of repeated requests, two British Protestant Army Chaplains are now detailed to the Stalag. They are stationed in the two largest detachments, namely No.22a, Brux and Kolumbus 51, and they are permitted to visit regularly other detachments.

With regard to Roman Catholics, Stalag Commandant agreed to permit a Dutch priest to minister to British prisoners of catholic faith.

12. Killing of British prisoners by Detaining Power's armed forces. The Delegate reports, with regret, the death of three British prisoners, shot by guards.

a. Trp. Jack BROWN, killed on July 8th, 1944, at working detachment Krochwitz 162a.

The following is the statement of an eye-witness, Pte. G.W. Jones, whom the Delegate interrogated:

"On the night of July 8th, 1944 at 10.45 p.m. work at the Reichsbahn Ausbesserungs-Werk at Bodenbach having temporarily ceased, three of my comrades and I decided on a short walk outside the factory, leaving working place in the direction of the railway. We had proceeded about 150 yards, when we were fired upon without warning. The first shot killed BROWN instantly, the second wounded me in the leg, the third and last shot passed over our heads, close to the grounds where we had thrown ourselves, after BROWN was hit. After shouting for help, a guard eventually came and the body of BROWN was carried to the factory."

On the day of visit, Sept.15, 1944, the guard who fired the shots was still on duty. The Delegate requested his immediate removal, subsequently he left the very same day.

b) John Robert HANKONSON (Rgt.No. 4452639), Durham Light Infantry, shot at Renschling, work-detachment Tschausch III on August 5th 1944.

The deceased was working on an engine driver. He was always known for his temper. His various complaints were always couched in violent language, and on occasions, with demonstrative acts against the persons concerned. On several of these occasions he was held back by fellow comrades from performing acts of violent assaults. There were four occasions in which he came to gripe with sentries or civilians employed as foremen.

There is no exact evidence with regard to Hankonson's cause of death. It is reported that a struggle between him and a German armed guard took place. In the course of this struggle a second guard came to the scene and fired two shots on the prisoner. He was then carried away by Russian prisoners into a nearby shed. He was still alive. Later a German Non-Commissioned Officer entered the shed and almost immediately afterwards a shot was heard. He was seen coming out, closing the door with one hand and replacing his revolver in its holster with the other. Examinations on the body clearly disclose the fact that Hankonson was hit by three bullets.

c. Pte. L. Francis, Essex Regt., shot at work-detachment 22a, Brux, about middle of July, 1944.

Evidently, casualties are liable to occur wherever prisoners of war are under the orders of armed forces. However, the question whether or not a casualty may be justified arises in any instance.

In the case of BROWN, no warning was given, three shots were fired and the place where the men stood was well lighted by overhead lamps placed at frequent intervals.

HANKONSON was hit by three shots, the first apparently without previous challenge at the point of rifle, and it is not understood that the second and third were inevitable.

At the final conference, the Delegate reviewed the situation in firm and unmistakable terms, pointing out that Stalag IV C by far leads the roll in the Wehrkreis IV, and asking for rigorous punishments in any case of deliberate killings.

Stalag Commandant showed the Delegate his latest instruction directed to prevent the unnecessary use of arms. He emphatically assured the Delegate to severely prosecute any case of deliberate killing. Such prosecutions, however, can only be done on the strength of the "Gerichtsoffizier's" findings.

13. Prisoners serving disciplinary punishment in a civilian jail. In the absence of a suitable locality, a prisoner in the Teschen area had to serve a disciplinary sentence in the civilian jail. Orders have now been issued to prevent this in future.

14. Prisoners' Representatives. A regular weekly meeting has been fixed where the British and Cypriot Men of Confidence can confer with Assistant Stalag Commandant, Oberstlt. Heine. This is a straight forward and broadminded officer and it is hoped that this personal contact may contribute to the prisoners' general well-being.