CONFIDENTIAL

British/American

No.685

Date of visit 25th of January 1945

Reserve Lazaret Bilin

German Doctor: Oberstabsarzt Dr. Preiss

British Man of Confidence: Cpl. Nic Dracopoulos, POW No. 94159.

1, General description. There is no change in the general outlook of the lazaret since our last visit.

        So far as the interior arrangements, the washing and bathing facilities are concerned, as well as the cooking, the British Man of Confidence reported very satisfactory conditions throughout the lazaret.

        There are no special air raid precautions, no military target near the camp. In an alarm Pow. go to the cellar of the lazaret.

Strength. On the day of visit there were

                42 British patients, all doing very well, and

                  1 American patient.

        This American patient is in a very bad state, he has broken his vertebra column and there is very little hope for him. His name is:

                Sgt. Edward MINTON, A.A.F., Army No. 39138867

                Next of kin: (wife) Mrs. Olga Minton, 475 Moscow Street San Francisco California U.S.A/

Medical attention. So far as medical attention is concerned the patients of all nationalities in this lazaret get excellent treatment from the German doctor, who is assisted by 2 Serbian physicians. All operations can be carried out in the lazaret. There is also a special room for radiography.

Dental treatment. Patients go to a French dentist in the town of Dux.

Drugs. The supply of drugs from the Germans is very poor, the last consignment from Geneva arrived 3 months ago.

Parcels. On the day of visit the following parcels were in stock in the lazaret (the Man of Confidence has one key)

        Ordinary food parcels   179

        Medical parcels              42

        Dressing parcels               2

        Invalid diet parcels          77

        Tabac units                   265

Staff: The British staff is composed by

        5 British Medical orderlies

        1 Australian orderly and

        1 Man of Confidence (Cypriot)

Complaints: The only request put forward by the Man of Confidence was the appointment of a British Doctor to this lazaret. This point was also discussed with the Stalag authorities. The German Oberstabsarzt considers this request as unnecessary, as long as there are not more British patients here.

Bilin is a very good lazaret.

sig. Fritz Dasen.