CONFIDENTIAL

STALAG IV C

May 6. 1941. [Note: the date could possibly be 16th]

BRITISH

BELGIAN

Camp Commander: Major Stossier.

        This Stalag has under its jurisdiction one British work camp (Arbeitskommando), the only British work camp in Wehrkreis IV, and a small number of Belgian work camps. Conditions at the base camp remain as described in previous reports, and at the time of this inspection, no British or Belgian prisoners were in the base camp itself, except for 2 or 3 Belgians awaiting repatriation. The Embassy's representative therefore proceeded at once to the work camps described below.

Arbeitskommando Schwaz: 117 British prisoners.

        This camp was visited about a month ago and in general conditions have not changed very much since that time. It was stated by one of the two British Men of Confidence, Sergeant McClellan, that none of the men there come from the Dominions or Colonies, and that 5 of the 117 are at present in the Reserve Lazarette at Bilin, undergoing treatment for minor illnesses or injuries received at work. One of them however has a broken leg, resulting from a bad fall at work.

        The British at this work camp still live as described in the basic report, and the only change noted at this time relates to a new combination toilet and washing building, which is being constructed next to the British barrack, so that these men will no longer have to share the facilities used by prisoners of other nationalities detained here.

        The kitchen appears clean and neat, as noted before, and Sergeant McClellan stated that from his observations of the food which the German guards receive, he believes there are no grounds for complaint. A sample menu was obtained from the kitchen and is attached to the end of this report. From this menu it would appear that prisoners are getting an average of 2500 calories daily, which although not large for working men, should be sufficient to maintain their health. These rations are supposed to be equivalent to those of the German civilian workers engaged in "very heavy" work.

        No complaints were registered regarding clothing, and it was stated that each man has one complete change of clothing, including a pair of slippers or wooden shoes for wear around the camp. Clothing appeared to be in a fair state of repair.

        The men are being paid monthly, on the 15th of the month, and pay is running about 2 weeks in arrears, ie. on April 15th they were paid for their March work. This delay of 2 weeks appears small in comparison with that obtaining in most other work camps. Most of the men are getting RM 0.70 per working day, ie. RM 4.20 per week, and receive the entire amount in the form of Lagergeld.

        Since the last visit, arrangements have been made for the men to purchase toilet articles, beer and lemonade through a local store and through the base camp administration. They can buy locally 1 bottle of beer at RM 0.33 and two bottles of lemonade at RM 0.20 each three times weekly. A "canteen list", chiefly for toilet articles and cigarettes, is made of each month and sent to the base camp from which delivery is subsequently made. Tobacco is, as was noted before, issued free in limited quantities by all employers but one to the British prisoners, and in addition to this each prisoner can buy 150 French cigarettes from the Stalag at RM 0.04 apiece.

        Although none of the British have as yet expressed a real desire for church services, the Men of Confidence stated that a few of them would probably appreciate such services if a British chaplain could be found. (An inquiry has already been addressed to the German High Command regarding the possible assignment of British army chaplains now in Germany to various work camps and Stalags).

        Mail conditions seem to be about as described before. In view of the fact that the men at this camp are only permitted to send 2 letters and 2 postcards monthly, in comparison with the 2 letters and 4 cards prescribed by German military regulations for British soldiers, representations were made to the Abwehr and Post officer at Stalag headquarters and also to the Wehrkreis headquarters, and it is believed that this situation will be corrected.

        Some complaints were registered regarding work conditions. The Men of Confidence stated that work is not too dangerous or too severe, and that the only accidents which have so far occurred have been the result of carelessness on the part of the men. However, some of the men are working 10 and a half hours daily, digging a canal. The German authorities replied to this complaint by stating that civilian workers engaged on similar work are working the same number of hours, with warmer weather and longer days now on hand. It was also contended by the British that on several occasions the civilians had stopped working by what amounted to a strike, but that the prisoners had been made to continue. There appears to be no real ground for complaint on this score however. Finally, it was stated that when a rainy day occurs during the week, the men are given the day off and stay in the camp, and are then made to work on the following Sunday, so as to have them work 6 days in the week. It would appear that there is no technical violation of Article 30 of the Geneva Convention, although it is easy to understand that the prisoners do not like having their one free day in the week come on a rainy day.

        Finally a desire was expressed by the Men of Confidence to have a copy of the Convention in English. The Embassy's representative will take them such a copy at the time of his next visit, in as much as there are no copies in English available at the base camp for distribution.

        General impressions of this work camp remain good. The Men of Confidence have already sent in to the Embassy by mail a list of those men who have not yet heard from their families, and this list will be transmitted to London when it is received. The arrears in pay from work performed while in Poland has not yet been adjusted, but it appears that the Stalag is endeavoring to follow up this matter. Relations between the men and the German guards appear satisfactory.

Arbeitskommando T 15: 10 Belgians, all Walloons.

        A visit was also made to the quarters of this small work camp, located in a German army building in the center of the largest city in this district, about 15 minutes drive from Stalag headquarters.

        The men are quartered in 3 rooms on the third floor of the building, which is in good condition and apparently used by the German army for barracks, baths and administrative offices. They sleep in 2 tier wooden bunks, each equipped with 2 blankets and a straw filled mattress covered with burlap. Porcelain stoves provide sufficient heat, the place is lit by electricity and ventilation and light from outside are good. Each man has a new and very well designed wooden locker, with shelves and various compartments for his personal belongings. One of the rooms is used as a living room, and is fitted out with a table and stools. A number of playing cards and books were observed.

        Food is supplied by a restaurant nearby and eaten in the living quarters. Rations are said to be equivalent to those of civilians engaged in "heavy" work.

        None of the men were sick at the time of the visit. Clothing is believed to be satisfactory, judging from the extra garments which were observed. Each man had a suitcase for his things. Laundry is done for the men by 1 local laundry.

        These men are also paid every month and earn RM 0.70 per working day. Canteen arrangements are similar to those in the British camp described above. No religious services are provided.

        The 10 Belgians are working partly in an army bakery nearby and partly outside in a plant which presses straw into bales. They work 9 hours daily, and have Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday free. In their free time they can sit and walk in the small yard inside the building. There have apparently been no disciplinary difficulties in this work detail.

        As none of the men were on hand, and time did not permit to visit them at the scene of their work, it was not possible to see if they had any complaints. Post was stated by the base camp Post officer to be functioning satisfactorily.

        Despite the fact that it was not possible to interview any of the men, impressions of this small work camp may be described as good.

Brewster H. Morris

MENU

STALAG IV C

LABOUR DETACHMENT "SCHWAZ I" STALAG IV C.

Visited May 14th, 1941.

Camp Leader: Sergeant Greville McClellan, No. 10690.

Strength. On learning at Stalag IV C that 112 British prisoners were employed at a Labour Detachment, we visited them as soon as possible. It is situated in an industrial and mining district and the prisoners themselves are employed in a lignite or "Braunkohl" mine which is unroofed. It is not real mining work but nearly all the prisoners are miners by profession.

        All these men were taken prisoner in June 1940 and were soon after transferred to Germany. They all worked first in Poland and then in various parts of the centre of Germany. They have been in this labour detachment since March 1941.

Accommodation. Satisfactory; the prisoners are housed in wooden barracks, with two-tiered iron bunks, 22 in a room. Each man has two blankets. Heating is perfect, light and air sufficient. Nearby there is a hut with showers and basins. Hot water is available daily, taking into account the nature of their work. Everything is perfectly clean and there has never been any vermin.

Food. Sufficient in quantity and the prisoners receive 439 g of black bread per diem. The quality is not always to British taste.

        The men cannot buy anything to eat outside. The British Red Cross parcels are the only means of augmenting the food supplies. Unfortunately, there has only been one dispatch, of 112 parcels in March 1941, thus giving one parcel per head. We promised to send these men a few parcels by the International Red Cross Committee as soon as possible.

Clothing. There are clothes in very sufficient quantity in the camp. Each man has a complete outfit in reserve. Nor are shoes lacking, each man possessing a pair of wooden clogs as well as his working boots.

Canteen. This does not exist but once a month the prisoners make a list of requirements which are furnished by Stalag IV C. They can buy beer at the camp, three bottles costing 23 pfg each as well as six bottles of lemonade per week. They are sold 120 cigarettes per month and 48 of them receive an additional 140 cigarettes per month, given by the firm which employs them. Each has received 120 cigarettes from a dispatch of nine parcels sent by the British Red Cross.

Infirmary. Nine slight cases are being treated. There are no serious cases except for one broken leg, now cured.

Amusements. There are 77 books in the Camp, and "The Camp" is the only paper read by the prisoners.

Divine Service has never been held, as there is no chaplain. Among the prisoners are twenty Catholics and we obtained the Commandant's permission for them to attend Mass which is said every Sunday for the French in a nearby working party. Religious books would be welcomed.

Pay. The prisoners work from nine to ten hours per day in two shifts, one from 3 a.m. to midday, the other from 3 p.m. to midnight. There is no work on Sundays except when it has rained during the week and the prisoners have not been able to go to work. The pay is 70 pfg. per diem.

Post is very bad. Of 112 prisoners, 27 have never received word from home, and they have already been in Germany one year. We are paying immediate attention to this.

        During the last few months about 30 letters a week have been received in the camp but they are nearly all for a small group of prisoners. Four individual parcels have been received up to date as well as the 112 food parcels and the 8 tobacco parcels from the British Red Cross.

        The prisoners may write two letters and two cards per month and we received the permission of the Commandant that they may write four cards instead of two.

Requests. The Camp Leader is Sergeant Greville McClellan, No.10690. He has no copy of the Geneva Convention and we shall send him one. In general, he is quite satisfied with the camp but naturally would like news of his family. We shall also attend immediately to the contacting of the families of these 27 men without news.

        Card games, chess etc, as well as balls are needed.

signed. Dr. Descoeudres.