CONFIDENTIAL

STALAG IV C

BRITISH

BELGIAN

June 25, 1941.

(last report dated May 1941).

Major Stossier, Commander

Hauptmann Weissner, accompanied inspector to dependent camps.

        The base camp administration still gives a good impression, and it appears that this Stalag and its dependencies are well organized.

        The Pay Master supplied the following information about wages paid prisoners of war on work details.

        The great majority of the prisoners earn RM 0.70 daily, (the employer paying RM 0.80, of which RM 0.10 is deducted for clothing and the Lagermittel), or RM 4.20 for the six day working week. Special pay is given for special skills in certain kinds of work, which is paid for on an piece-rate basis, and special pay is also given for overtime work, so that prisoners have been known to earn as high as RM 80. a month. Such cases are however certainly rare.

        The men are paid every 4 weeks, and are said to be paid punctually, i.e. within a few days of the termination of the working period. They receive the entire amount in Lagergeld, and these Belgians, for example, who wish to remit part of their earnings to their families, need only send the Lagergeld into the Stalag Administration, and this is taken care of for them.

        Another visit was paid to the Work Camp at Schwaz, where the only British soldiers employer in Wehrkreis IV are located, and also to the Reserve Lazarett at Bilin, which is probably the most important hospital for prisoners in this Stalag district.

Work Camp Schwaz.

        The only change in the layout of this work camp since the last visit had been the completion of the new toilet and washing facilities for the British. They now have their own facilities, adjoining their barrack. The toilets consist of 8 wooden seat privies and 4 trough urinals in a wooden building, outside of which have been set up wash basins fed from overhead taps. This arrangement appears quite adequate for summer use, although it would certainly be too cold and exposed for winter use. The British expressed their satisfaction with having their own facilities apart from those which they formerly shared with the French who are detained in the same work camp.

        There are now 109 British soldiers at this work detail, or slightly less than at the time of the last visit. The Man of Confidence is Sergeant Wilby.

        Sergeant Wilby stated that the clothing situation is now "quite good", and that needed articles have been issued without delay or difficulty. He also stated that the canteen system for purchasing is working satisfactorily.

        It was stated, in reply to an inquiry by the inspector, that most of the men at this camp are members of the Church of England, and that they would like to have services if and when possible. (This will be borne in mind by the Embassy, which is endeavouring to arrange for such services for those British soldiers in Stalags and work camps who desire them).

        The men have now read all the English books sent them from the Stalag headquarters, and it was therefore suggested that they send these books back, so that a new set may be forwarded to them. Hauptmann Weissner promised to look after this matter. In recent weeks 10 mouth organs have been purchased and Sergeant Wilby is now trying to buy a piano accordion. The men have however no games at all, and would appreciate anything that could be sent them, including playing cards, chess, etc. (This matter has already been drawn to the attention of the Y.M.C.A. in Berlin).

        Outgoing mail has now been satisfactorily adjusted, so that each man may write 3 letters and 3 cards monthly. All the men at this camp have now heard from their homes. In the last 5 weeks 5 collective parcels have been received, and the usual reports are being sent to the Embassy regarding their receipt.

        Working hours amount at present, with the long days and good weather, to 10 hours work six days a week, on each of which the men are away from the camp about 12 hours, i.e. including the time required to walk to and from their place of work, and the time for meals and other pauses.

        The "free day" question has not yet been solved to the satisfaction of the British, due to the practice, noted before, of keeping them in the camp if a rainy day comes during the week, and then work on Sunday. Sergeant Wilby claimed that when this occurred, only 2 or 3 civilian workers would turn up for work on Sunday, presumably just to enable the employer to say that the prisoners were being treated the same as the civilians. Wilby also stated that as far as he could observe, the British soldiers would prefer to have a regular free day each week, and if possible Sunday. The German authorities stated that the kind of work the men are engaged upon, digging and surface mining, is practically impossible to carry on with in rainy weather, and that the civilians engaged on the same work usually make up their hours by working later on fine weekdays, if they lose working time due to rain. The Embassy's representative, after discussing the matter further with Sergeant Wilby, suggested that in the future the prisoners be given the same treatment as the civilians, i.e. Sunday free regardless of the weather during the week, and if working time is lost during the week through bad weather, the prisoners should, like the civilians, be asked to work late on other work days. It is believed that this solution will be satisfactory to all parties concerned, and that it will be carried out.

        Apart from these questions, a few others were raised by the Man of Confidence.

        He stated that in some cases extra time had been worked without the extra pay having been received as yet. The German non-commissioned officer in charge of the camp stated that this was being attended to, but on account of administrative red tape this always took a little time.

        It was also stated that the British would like to get lighter clothing for their summer work, in place of the heavy British army trousers they are now wearing. Hauptmann Weissner said he would do his best to take care of this request.

        Finally, Sergeant Wilby pointed out that as he does not himself work, he has no opportunity to get outside of the confines of the work camp. The German in charge promised to see to it that he could get outside from time to time, as for example, when he and the other German soldiers took the prisoners to and from their places of work.

        A copy of the English text of the Geneva Convention was left with Hauptmann Weissner to be given to the British Man of Confidence, in accordance with the desire expressed by him at the time of the last visit.

Reserve Lazarett BILIN (last visited December 4, 1940)

        Oberarzt Dr. Preiss in charge.

        The layout and equipment of this hospital has not changed much since the time of the inspection in December, although with summer weather it presents a much more attractive appearance. The situation deserves the adjective "beautiful", as it commands a grand view of the Bohemian mountains, and has a pleasant little garden, in which the patients may enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

        At the time of the visit, 148 patients were on hand, with 52 empty beds, so that it is less crowded than at the time of the former visit. The patients included 7 British, who had been there for periods of 5 weeks or less, and all of whom had come from the work camp at Schwaz. Their ailments were: rheumatism; infected thumb (from cut suffered while at work); ampataigne (nearly cured); convalescing from a broken leg (suffered at work); and one without teeth. The latter had lost his teeth while in Norway, and was therefore unable to eat the regular food. The German doctor in charge stated that steps were being taken to fit him out with a new set, so that he could go back to the work camp at Schwaz.

        The inspector talked to each of the British and found them in pretty good spirits. They all said that they were being treated well, and that medical service at this hospital seemed good.

        Sanitary personnel consists of: 2 German doctors; 3 French doctors; 9 other French sanitary personnel; 13 other German sanitary personnel; and 1 Belgian sanitary man. The latter was away for the day and could not be interviewed. His presence at this hospital is justified by the fact that Belgian patients are brought to Bilin from time to time from nearby work camps.

        All the British at Bilin have heard from their families, and they said that the mail seems to be functioning reasonably well. Four collective parcels have arrived in the last 2 months. New books are desired, as well as games, and Hauptmann Weissner said he would send a new selection of English books from Stalag headquarters. So far the British at Bilin have only been allowed to write 2 letters and 2 cards monthly, just like the French and Belgians. This matter was brought to Hauptmann Weissner's attention, who said that the necessary orders would be issued, in accordance with the regulations of the German High Command, which prescribe 2 letters and 4 cards monthly for British soldiers.

        Each patient at this hospital receives spending money of RM 0.40 daily, from the Lagermittel, a sort of "communal fund" obtained from deductions from the wages paid the Stalag administration by the various employers of its prisoners. The Lazarett Canteen was inspected and seemed to be running well. Prices and stocks seemed reasonably good. Toilet articles, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, cost from RM 0.50 to RM 1.50, mouth organs about RM 2.00, a chess set RM 2.50, beer RM 0.30.

        The kitchen appeared clean as before, and it was stated that special supplementary diets are issued from certain patients, in addition to the standard diet, which supplies probably 2000 to 2400 calories daily per person.

        Beds were supplied with sheets and blankets, and the patients clad in the usual German hospital attire.

        No complaints were registered by the British, apart from the desire for more books, referred to above.

        All in all, this Lazarett makes a fairly good impression, apart from the fact that it still appears to contain too many beds, as noted at the time of the former visit. With fine warm summer weather however, this is not so serious, as many of the inmates can spend time out of doors.

Brewster H. Morris.