CONFIDENTIAL
No.220.
STALAG IV C
Date of visit: July 19th, 1943.
Camp Commander: Oberst Lorenz.
Adjutant: Hpt. Mueller.
Acting Man of Confidence: Conductor Sgt.-Major R.A. Hilton.
Man of Confidence for Cypriots: Sgt. Hadyioannov.
On the day of visit there were 33 Kommandos in the area of Stalag IV A with together 1607 British prisoners of war; in the Stalag itself there are 16 British prisoners doing administrative work. The detailed figures are as follows:
550 Englishmen
25 Australians
2 South-Africans
1030 Cypriots
In the small revier of the Stalag there were 2 British patients, but neither of them serious cases.
Upon arriving at the Stalag the Delegate of the Protecting Power was informed by the Camp Commander of the former Man of Confidence, Sgt. Parsons, having been relieved of his duties as he no longer possessed the undivided confidence of the camp authorities. Sgt Parsons was stated to have been transferred to another camp.
The Camp Commander further explained that a new Man of Confidence was at present touring the camps and that he, the Camp Commander, hoped for this new man to be elected by the camps concerned, at any rate, the camp authorities would welcome his being chosen.
In the meantime Sgt.-Major R.A. Hilton is carrying on as acting Man of Confidence. The British opinion on the removal of Sgt. Parsons is that he would have nothing to do with the propaganda which is now gently forced on the prisoners. Should the new Man of Confidence be elected it remains to be seen whether he will accept the position once he knows what is expected of him, i.e. take a favourable view of the propaganda-drive of the Germans. To the Delegate of the Protecting Power the proposed new Man of Confidence is well known as an excellent camp leader and it is very much doubted whether he will accept the position in the Stalag. (The man in question is Sgt. Battle).
Information given to the Delegate of the Protecting Power shows that the spreading of propaganda by the Germans in prisoners of war camps is increasing.
Copies of the Geneva Convention are still wanted in many camps and the camp Commander stated that he had done the utmost in procuring them but without much success. The Delegate of the Protecting Power will therefore request the German High Command to take the matter in hand.
The Man of Confidence complained about the accommodation which was given to the British prisoners of war in a working party in Brüx; sleeping quarters were said to be very poor and the washing facilities extremely unsatisfactory. When discussing this matter with the Camp Commander he promised to investigate and improve matters in that camp, which will be visited at the next occasion.
The Delegate of the Protecting Power was informed by the Camp Commander that a new dental station was going to be opened this week in the Stalag itself. It will be in charge of a French dentist. All dentures will in future be made here.
The Man of Confidence asked whether he could not be given a key to the Red Cross store-room as up to now only the Germans possessed one. This was granted. The food position in Stalag IV A, in as far as Red Cross supplies are concerned, is satisfactory, there being a stock of 4 weeks at present. For clothing the situation is fairly good; every man has 2 uniforms.
According to the Man of Confidence there are still 12 medical orderlies in this Stalag waiting for recognition. Their names have already been sent to the British authorities.
There is no British Chaplain in this Stalag and the German High Command will be asked to sent a Church of England Padre in order to visit the Working Parties.
RESERVE-LAZARET BILIN
Date of visit: July 19th, 1943.
German Chief Physician: Stabsarzt Dr. Preiss.
British Senior Medical Officer: Lt.Col. Bull, N.Z.M.C.
British Man of Confidence: Cpl. Nicolas Dracoupolos, pow No. 94159 (Cypriot)
There is now a British Medical Officer in this Lazaret, Lt.Col. Bull, transferred from Oflag IV C following our last visit there, and it is a great advantage for the British patients.
At the time of the visit there were in the lazaret:
1 British Medical Officer,
1 British sanitator
17 British patients (7 English and 10 Cypriots)
the rest of the staff and patients being chiefly French and Serbs.
No change except for some improvements in the washing facilities. Every prisoner can have a hot bath once a week.
The S.B.M.O. stated that the medical attention is as good as can be expected and that the collaboration with the German Chefarzt is as easy as possible, the latter doing everything in his power for the prisoners; as a matter of fact he makes an excellent impression; he has improved the medical conditions and for instance there is now a new operating room and equipment.
The British Man of Confidence had no complaint either and certainly this small lazaret can be considered as good.
The Legation's representative took the opportunity of his visit to Bilin to discuss with the Chefarzt, who is an interim at the same time Chefarzt of Stalag IV C, the dental situation in this Stalag. He was told that the main dental station had just been transferred from Dux to the main camp in Wistritz; it is foreseen, however, to restart the station in Dux as soon as enough equipment has been obtained and to open later on a third station in Reichenberg for the working parties of that area.
These three stations will be equipped for making dentures and from the time being all dentures for the Stalag are made in the Wistritz station which is of course insufficient.
Working Detachment -
Arbeits-Kommando R 421 - WARNSDORF
Date of visit: July 20th, 1943.
Man of Confidence: Cpl. Norman Maitment, POW No. 96182.
There are 36 British prisoners of war in this camp; 34 of them are Cypriots and the remaining two English. The men work in a brick yard with the exception of nine prisoners who are employed in a tin-factory. As an average the duration of work is from 9 to 9 1/2 hours daily; the men are on contract work and are free every Sunday. They are paid RM 16 a month.
Accommodation is provided on the first floor of a stone building belonging to the factory-premises. There are three sleeping rooms and a day room with tables and benches. Heating and lighting are adequate.
There is a washroom in a separate shed containing a hot water boiler. There are facilities for showers in the factory itself and the men can make use of them whenever they like.
The latrines are of the pit-type. It was stated that not enough chloride of lime was always available and that the latrines should be emptied more often. This was assured by the Accompanying Officer who left orders with the Kommandofuehrer.
Food is cooked by civilians for the whole of the factory. There was no special complaint or praise about it. As to Red Cross parcels, the camp has a stock for 3 weeks.
Medical and dental attention are stated to be satisfactory. The men go to a German civilian doctor or a civilian dentist. Dentures, however, are supplied by Stalag. There is no recognized sanitator in this camp but first aid is given by the two English prisoners. They have a stock of Red Cross medicines and also some German supplies.
The clothing situation is satisfactory in that every man has two uniforms and overalls for work. As to boots the situation is less happy; most boots badly need repairing, but the repair material lately was only sufficient for ten pairs. For working wooden clogs are given out but the prisoners say that they can't get used to them.
Laundry is done by the men themselves.
There is no canteen, but the Man of Confidence is allowed to go shopping. Beer is provided every Saturday.
There are plenty of indoor games and musical instruments in the camp; there are also two footballs but both of them are now broken and the camp possesses no means of mending them.
Mail was stated to arrive every Thursday and Friday and to be fairly regular now.
Conditions in this camp seem to be fairly satisfactory. The Man of Confidence stated that it was not always easy to manage the Cypriots.
Arbeits-Kommando R 419 - WARNSDORF
Date of visit: July 20th, 1943.
Man of Confidence: Cpl. John Bowen, POW No. 5263.
There are 24 British prisoners of war in this camp, namely 13 Englishmen and 11 Cypriots. They work in a large silk-stocking factory 10 hours daily and are free on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Pay is 70 Pfgs. a day. The Man of Confidence stated that the work was easy and that they were very well treated.
The camp is well situated outside the small town. The men are accommodated in what appears a former concert or dance hall of an adjoining country-inn. There is a very large and pleasant sleeping room with double-tier wooden beds; a day-room with tables, benches and shelves and the Red Cross parcels store-room. A well equipped tea kitchen where the men can prepare their private food is also at their disposal.
There is a good washroom in the camp. The men have baths or hot showers as often as they like at the factory, where they also bring their laundry as the necessary machines are at their disposal there.
Food is taken at the factory and was stated to be good. There is a stock of Red Cross parcels for one week only, and the Man of Confidence said that parcels had arrived very irregularly lately and that some of them have been tampered with while on transport from Stalag to this camp. He has already made a complaint about it and the Delegate of the Protecting Power requested the Accompanying Officer to investigate the matter further.
The camp has no sanitator, but one of the men renders first aid. In case of need at the factory, prisoners are attended by a woman-sanitator. Medical and dental attention are satisfactory; if necessary the men are sent to a revier at Schoenlinde.
The clothing is very satisfactory too, each man being in possession of two service suits and excellent overalls for their work.
This is an excellent Kommando and the Man of Confidence stated that he had, apart from the above mentioned irregular arrival of Red Cross parcels and their being tampered with, no complaints whatsoever.
Arbeits-Kommando R 257 - NEUSORGE
Date of visit: July 20th, 1943.
Man of Confidence: Cpl. Andreas Sawa, POW No.94448.
23 British prisoners of war (all Cypriots).
The prisoners are employed by the German State Railway and paid RM 18 per month. The Man of Confidence states that the work is rather heavy and that often on Sundays a few men have to go to work; in that case, however, these men are given the corresponding time off during the week. As a rule Saturday afternoons and Sundays are free.
The prisoners are accommodated in a private house, a large sleeping room, a smaller day-room and a tea-kitchen being at their disposal.
There is a small washroom; the men are allowed a hot bath every week at the railway station of Deutsch-Gabel.
Food was said to have deteriorated lately and the men complain about the lack of fresh vegetables. The Kommando-fuehrer stated that the Reichsbahn in Reichenberg sends the prisoners food in thermos containers to their working place and that there is perhaps not very much change from day to day in the menu. But, as from Monday next food will be cooked at the camp itself by one of the Cypriots.
There is a stock of Red Cross parcels for one week. The Man of Confidence complains that the parcels arrive most irregularly and that in many of them such things as margarine, cocoa or chocolate are missing. The Delegate of the Protecting Power discussed this with the Accompanying Officer who promised to investigate the matter in the Stalag as well as in the district-distributing center of Schoenlinde.
Medical and dental treatment by civilian doctors in Deutsch-Gabel was stated to be satisfactory.
The camp is rather badly off for clothing and boots, furthermore the Reichsbahn has not provided any working overalls and the men are going to be in a difficult situation if something cannot be done for them. When discussing this point with the Accompanying Officer, he stated that the Reichsbahn does not supply any working overalls but that the men shall be given protective aprons and leather-shoes with wooden soles to work in.
Laundry is sent out for washing as there is no room in the camp for the men to do it themselves.
There is no canteen in this camp but the guards often do some shopping for the prisoners. The men ask urgently for some shoe-polish and for razor-blades. They would also be very grateful for English grammars as many of them wish to learn or continue their studies of the English language.
Mail was stated to be spasmodic but taking as an average 6 weeks from Cyprus.
Several small complaints which were put forward by the Man of Confidence were settled on the spot by the Delegate of the Protecting Power who does not think this a bad camp at all but realizes the somewhat unsteady and changeable nature of the Cypriot prisoners being responsible for periodically spasm of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
Arbeits-Kommando R 198 - CHRISTOFSGRUND
Visited: July 20, 43.
Man of Confidence: Cpl. Gibson, POW No. 95342.
There are 25 British prisoners of war doing railway work. Their pay is Rm 17.60 a month. On the average they work 10 hours a day and are free on Saturday afternoon and Sundays.
The prisoners are in this camp since May 24th, 1943. They are accommodated on the first floor of a stone building in a very large room which is being used as sleeping-room, a day-room and a kitchen as well.
Washing facilities are adequate but the men are still waiting for two bath-tubs to be installed. The Delegate of the Protecting Power requested that this should be done as quickly as possible and the Kommandofuehrer was ordered by the Accompanying Officer to see the employer about it.
Toilet facilities are adequate.
Food is cooked by the men themselves and there was no complaint about it. There is a stock of Red Cross parcels for five weeks, but the men complain that during two weeks they received no parcels at all and that those back ones have not been given to them since.
For medical attention the men must go to Reichenberg to a military doctor. At the camp there is no recognized sanitator.
Dental treatment was stated to be satisfactory, the Kommandofuehrer often stopping a man from going to the dentist as he did not consider it necessary. The matter was discussed with the accompanying officer who ordered that every man shall be allowed to go to the dentist if he needs to.
For clothing the men are pretty well off, almost every man having two uniforms. For work no overalls are given out. Some of the prisoners need new boots: the Man of Confidence was told to make yet another application to the Stalag. For working overalls the Kommandofuehrer was ordered to insist again with the employer to have some given out.
As to football, the prisoners would very much like to play other Kommandos in the area. The Delegate of the Protecting Power told the Accompanying Officer of this wish and the latter stated that there was no objection to it, and he ordered the Kommandofuehrer to arrange for such meetings. For playing football the ground around the camp is rather unsuitable, being very hilly so that the men are almost forced to go somewhere else to play.
There were no serious complaints regarding the material conditions in the camp but rather about the treatment the men received sometimes by the Kommandofuehrer who was said to threaten often the men with collective punishment on account of one man's small offence, be it by holding back Red Cross food or other petty restrictions. The Delegate of the Protecting Power objected strongly to such actions on the part of the Kommandofuehrer and requested the accompanying Officer to see that such incidents would not occur again. The Accompanying Officer fully agreed with the Delegate of the Protecting Power and instructed the Kommandofuehrer accordingly.
It may be mentioned that in this camp too some kind of propaganda drive has started in that corresponding books have been supplied to the prisoners; the matter of course, cannot be dealt with on the spot but will be brought up for discussion with the German High Command,
Arbeits-Kommando R 164 - Doerfel
Date of visit: July 20th, 1943.
Man of Confidence: Corp. J.N. Hadjiyiannis, POW No.94157.
70 Cypriot prisoners of war.
The prisoners do different sorts of work, most of them working for the town (tramcars, gaswork, pick and shovelwork on the streets); only 13 are working for a private garage. They all work 9 to 9 1/2 hours daily and all are free on Sunday except the 10 men working for the Gaswork who are free only one Sunday out of two. Minimum pay 70 rpfg. a day.
Accommodation in two large rooms on the first and second floors of a large brick building which used to be a factory in the outskirts of the town of Reichenberg. The prisoners are sleeping in double-tier beds and each one has two blankets. The accommodation is ample.
On the ground-floor are the kitchen and two recreation and day rooms.
Washing and toilet facilities are sufficient and the prisoners have a hot shower bath every week.
There was no complaint about the food which is cooked by the prisoners; the Man of Confidence has a control over the rations issued.
4 weeks issues of Red Cross parcels in stock.
The Man of Confidence is at the same time in charge of the issuing of Red Cross stuff for the working detachments of this area; however, as there were complaints in different detachments visited about delays in the sending of parcels due to the Man of Confidence being overworked, the Legation's representative asked the Accompanying Officer to appoint a special British Man of Confidence for the control of parcels in this area, which was granted.
There is no recognised sanitator in this party which is inadmissible for a party of that strength and the accompanying officer agreed to take at once the necessary steps to have one sent to the detachment. An application will also be made to the German High Command.
Medical treatment by a military German Doctor in Reichenberg.
Dental treatment by German civilian dentist in town for extractions and fillings; dentures are made by the dentist in the Stalag.
Clothing condition not too bad generally; every prisoner has two suits but some of them only are provided with working overalls.
Boots in fairly good condition.
The Man of Confidence complained that he has no control over the issuing of Red Cross clothing and that as far as he knows prisoners of other nationalities are issued British clothing (sometimes old British stuff from prisoners of war which has been repaired) while some of his men are provided with French trousers. The matter was discussed at length with the Accompanying Officer who promised to report the matter to the Command[er] of the Stalag and to have a serious enquiry made, the distribution being up to now in the hands of the guard company of this area. (It might be that the British uniforms issued to prisoners of war of other nationalities are booty stuff).
The laundry is washed for all the prisoners by one of them who does no other work and is paid by the town.
There is no canteen but the Man of Confidence is allowed to buy a few things in town; beer is on sale.
Sport and game facilities sufficient; every Sunday the prisoners are allowed to go out and play on a town sport-field.
The mail was said to take about 4 to 6 weeks from Cyprus; for the last 6 months no personal parcels at all have arrived from Cyprus.
There were no serious complaints about the material conditions in this camp; but the Man of Confidence complained about the treatment by the German Kommando-fuehrer Feldwebel Reissaus who seems to be ill treating and every sometimes beating the men; collective punishment was given sometimes too. The Inspector took a very serious view of the case and asked at once that an inquiry be made; he asked too for the removal of the German under officer and the Accompanying Officer promised to recommend such a step to the Stalag Commander should the inquiry prove the facts to be true; anyhow he blamed at once the feldwebel and gave him the strictest orders to have to stop these practices.
This working detachment will be visited again at the next occasion.
Working Detachm. R 178 - Georgenthal
Date of visit: July 21st 1943.
Man of Confidence: Gunner W. Beecham.
26 British prisoners of war.
The prisoners are working in a wooden factory and their work chiefly consists in loading and unloading trunks; they are working 10 hours daily and as a rule have Saturday afternoon and Sunday free; occasionally they have to work a few hours on these days but receive then compensation during the week. Pay 70 pfng. a day.
The factory is situated in a village in a small valley in the mountains and the camp is a few hundred yards away in a sunny and healthy place; it consists of a modern wooden barrack with one sleeping and one day-room, the kitchen and a washroom, all of them well installed and very clean.
Baths at the factory.
No complaint about the food which is cooked by one of the prisoners. 4 weeks' Red Cross parcels in stock.
There is no recognized sanitator in this camp; excellent medical attention by the civilian doctor of the village; dental treatment at the civilian dentist in Reichenberg was said to be satisfactory.
Clothing in bad condition, no protecting clothes being issued by the firm; the Accompanying Officer was asked to take up the matter with the manager of the firm who could not be seen on the day of the visit.
Boots' condition fairly good, some repairing material having been received.
The laundry is done by the men.
Sport facilities are difficult in this camp owing to the lack of a suitable place; the Accompanying Officer was asked to arrange for the men of this detachment to go and play other detachments in the neighbourhood; he promised to do it although he pointed out that it is not very easy, the next British working detachment being far away.
The prisoners asked for an accordion and this wish will be communicated to the Y.M.C.A.
Like in most other camps the mail was said to have been very bad in June but was said to be better since a fortnight. Personal parcels very bad for the last two months.
There was one complaint that 4 times in the last 9 months some of the prisoners had to load cases which they believed to contain tripods for machine guns, made in a special part of the factory where the prisoners have no access.
The Accompanying Officer promised that an enquiry will be made and that he will see to it that it won't happen again in the future.
Except for that last complaint this can be considered as an excellent detachment.
Working Detachment E 78 - Christiansau
Visited:
Man of Confidence: Corp. John Parrett, pow No. 96165.
The prisoners are working as stone breakers in a stone quarry. 9 1/2 work a day; Saturday afternoon and Sunday free. Pay 70 pfng. a day.
The accommodation is in the first floor of a stone-farm building in the village; one very large room as sleeping quarters and day room accommodation ample; double-tier beds with two blankets for each prisoner; heating, lighting and ventilation satisfactory.
Washing in basins, the water being drawn from a pump; there were not enough basins provided and the Accompanying Officer gave an order to the Kommandofuehrer to take the necessary steps in order to have some more provided.
Hot shower-baths every fortnight at the hospital of the next town, Friedland; the prisoners are brought there by train.
Latrines of the put type; satisfactory.
The food is cooked for the prisoners by the farmer's wife and was said to be very good.
Four weeks' issues of Red Cross parcels on stock. The Man of Confidence complained that very often some parcels arrived with some articles missing, chiefly chocolate and margarine; he showed some of them to the Inspector; they were generally opened in one corner only, the opening being only just large enough to take out one or two items. When interviewed the Man of Confidence of the district declared that he receives them already in that state. The Accompanying Officer is going to make a special report about it to investigate if they arrive already pilfered in the Stalag.
There is no recognised sanitator in this camp; the medical attention by a civilian Doctor in Friedland was said to be good; dental treatment by a civilian dentist in Friedland seems insufficient, the dentist being probably overworked as it is now the case nearly everywhere in Germany; the Accompanying Officer was asked to take the matter in hand at once and he promised to take the necessary steps in order to have the dental treatment improved.
There seemed to be in this camp some uncertainty about the application of the general order reported before that men who did not work because of sickness without the Doctor declaring them unfit were to pay one mark a day for the first three days; the Accompanying Officer explained that this money had to be paid only if the prisoners either before or afterwards were not declared unfit by the Doctor and that in any case they should never pay it in cases of working accidents. The matter was so cleared up and it is hoped that there will be in the future no more doubt about that question.
Clothing and specially the working trousers are in a bad condition as the prisoners are not provided with overalls from the firm; the Accompanying Officer was asked to take the matter in hand and to compel the employer to issue some sort of protecting clothes.
Laundry is given out in the village; satisfactory.
Very difficult to obtain something to buy in the village; the question of toothbrushes and bootpolish is very acute.
Sport facilities as well as games and books satisfactory.
Mail was said to be normal except for the incoming personnel parcels which were very rare in the last two months.
There was only one complaint in this camp and it is that the barrack where the prisoners take their lunch at the quarry is in bad condition and the roof seriously leaking; it seems that it is planned to build another one but as it might well take many months the inspector insisted that in the meantime the present barrack be repaired.
The camp can be considered as a good one.
Working Detachment R 22 - Ruppersdorf
Date of visit: July 21st 1943.
Man of Confidence: Corp. John Whaley, No.95850.
12 English prisoners of war.
The Man of Confidence complained that the civilians except the foreman were working only 48 hours weekly; as the manager was not there this question could not be cleared up at once but the accompanying officer promised to discuss it and have it put right if necessary.
The material conditions in this camp have been described in previous reports; the ventilation in the sleeping quarters are insufficient, the shutters being closed at night; the inspector asked for opening to be made in each shutter and that suggestion was accepted at once. Each prisoner has two blankets but some of them are in bad condition after having been used for two years; the Kommandofuehrer when asked about it declared that new ones had been ordered long ago by the employer and had just arrived; they will be issued to the men in a few days.
Washing conditions rather primitive as the water has to be carried for about 150 yards; the inspector found that the prisoners had not enough wash basins at their disposal but some more will now be provided; up to now there were no proper bath facilities but it has been organized that from now on the prisoners will have every week a hot bath at a factory in Katarinenberg which it as about 20 minutes walk.
Toilet facilities sufficient.
There was no complaint about the food which is cooked by a civilian woman.
Four weeks issues of Red Cross parcels in stock.
There is no sanitator; good medical treatment at the civil doctor in Ruppersdorf; dental treatment at the civil dentist in Reichenberg.
Every prisoner has two uniforms; but the working trousers are in bad condition as here again no working overalls are issued. They receive from the firm special shoes in wooden sole for the work so that each man has a good pair of boots besides.
The laundry is done by the men themselves.
The sport facilities are very limited here as first there are not enough men in the party to play football and secondly as it is impossible in this mountainous country to find a suitable field. But it was organized that the prisoners will every Sunday be taken out for walks.
The Man of Confidence asked for a saxophone or an accordion and this wish will be communicated to the YMCA.
The incoming mail was said to be rather irregular; no personal parcels had arrived for the last two months.
There are no serious complaints in this detachment which can be considered as good; the prisoners are well treated by the Kommandofuehrer and the Man of Confidence makes an excellent impression.
Gabriel Naville
