Stalag IVD

Stalag Commander

Arbeitseinsatz

German Doctor

Accompanying Officer from

German High Command

British Chief Man of Confidence

: Oberst Bier

: Hptm. Fehlrich

: Oberstabsarzt Dr. Otto

: Hptm. Keller

: RSM C.A. Parslow (223820)

At the end of the inspection tour on May 23rd 1944, a meeting took place with the Stalag Commander and his staff. In the course of the conference, the following questions were discussed:

Medical: The Oberstabsarzt agreed to station a British Medical Officer in the infirmary of the Halle area. This Medical Officer is to visit regularly the British Prisoners within the Bitterfeld area. This meets the request of the British prisoners in both the Halle and Bitterfeld districts and is a welcome solution. Furthermore the Oberstabsarzt agreed to detail a recognized British medical orderly to every detachment with a complement of 50 and more men. Capt. C.W. Law, S.A.A.M.C. has been posted to the Eisleben area.

Religious activities: So far there are no British Chaplains, Protestant or Roman Catholic, attending to the prisoners in the Stalag area. Prisoners have no opportunity to attend church services. Stalag Commander promised to apply again for a Protestant and Roman Catholic chaplain, although there is little hope to see this wish fulfilled. An unsatisfactory state of affairs.

Postal: Commander agreed to detail two British prisoners to the postal parcels department to receive and distribute British next-of-kin parcels to the various detachments, complying with the British Chief Man of Confidence's request.

Information: The Delegate regrets to report the death of Pte. GOLD, Lester, South African Expeditionary Forces, on February 19, 1944.

Place and date of burial: February 23, 1944, at Lauchhammer Churchyard, grave No.7.

In this camp there are 24 Indian prisoners of war well accommodated. They are engaged in the manufacture of margarine. Food and cooking is said to be good, and there were no complaints, nor requests. Satisfactory camp.

24 Indian prisoners of war form the complement of this Work-Detachment. The Man of Confidence had no complaints nor requests.

The Delegate inspected the accommodation and found it in good order. Men are engaged in surface work. Good camp.

Two large barracks of the RAD type. Ten to twelve men in one large cubicle, no overcrowding. Limited space for outdoor exercise.

127 Indian Prisoners of War form the detachment's strength. Interior arrangements are simple but adequate. Double-tier beds, one large table, chairs and benches, one locker between two men. There are three prayer rooms, one for the Mohammedans, one for Hindus and one for Christians. Hot showers are available in the factory every day. Latrines adequate. Cooking is done by Indian cooks, no complaints. An Indian medical orderly cares for the sick, a Polish physician visits the camp every Tuesday. Serious cases are attended in the nearby lazaret by Polish and Russian doctors.

Prisoners are well supplied with clothing and shoes, laundry is done by the men in a special wash-house where hot water can be boiled. Regular soap issue.

No work on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Regular Sunday walks are being organized.

Prisoners are engaged for the "Westfälisch-Anhaltische Sprengstoff Atkien-Gesellschaft", which is a specified war industry. However, the Indian prisoners perform chiefly surface work such as digging trenches, garden work etc. I have requested the local company-commander, Hptm. Wohlrab, to ascertain that no Indian prisoners is to be engaged in the factory itself or in any direct connection with its manufacturing.

The camp's strength is formed by 149 Indian prisoners of war. Three barracks of the RAD type. Four sleeping- and living-rooms to one barrack. Ten to sixteen men to one room. Double-tier beds, one locker between two men. Tables, forms and stools; no overcrowding. Barracks are in good conditions. Sufficient place for physical exercises outside the barracks. In the sparetime prisoners do vegetable and flower gardening.

Bathing and washing facilities in good order. Hot showers once a week. Latrines adequate.

German supplies of food-rations are insufficient as elsewhere. Cooking is done by two Indian prisoner cooks.

Three sick parades a week with Polish and Russian physicians. Indian medical orderly states that he has no complaints to make with regard to the medical attendance.

For nine months there has been no supply of clothing. Some clothing is worn our and in bad repair. Boots are in good order. Laundry is done by the men themselves. Regular soap issue from the Detaining Power.

There are two prayer-rooms, one for Hindus and one for Mohammedans. No restrictions with regard to religious activities.

The Swiss Legation is to request the YMCA to supply some equipments for both outdoor and indoor sports as well as some musical instruments.

The prisoners are engaged for an aluminium work. The Man of Confidence was in doubt whether this nature of work falls under Article 31, "prohibited work". The said article forbids the employ of prisoners in the manufacture of arms and ammunition. Aluminium, as a metal, does not fall under the meaning of arms or ammunition. The prisoners work outside the factory on various surface work. Under this condition, the Delegate's representation could impossibly meet with success.

One large concrete barrack. Wooden fence. 33 Indian prisoners of war. Double-tier beds. Two prisoners share one locker. One table with chairs and stools. One oven.

Bathing and washing facilities are adequate. Latrines are in order. Three seats outside the barrack which can also be used at night time.

The cooking is done by an Indian prisoner cook. No complaints with regard to food and cooking.

There is an Indian medical orderly in charge of the camp. A French doctor can be seen at any time. Urgent cases are moved to the hospital of Annaburg which stands under an Indian A.M.O.

Clothing and shoes are in order. The laundry is done in the factories' wash-houses.

Money and pay are correct. The prisoners have been informed that any savings accrued from earnings will be converted into Indian currency at the end of the war. The rate of exchange so far unknown is 15.- RM to the English pound.

There is a prayer-room. Opportunity for praying is also given during working hours. Unlimited religious activities.

A sports-ground is at the disposal of the prisoners, and regular Sunday walks are being arranged.

The men are engaged in loading and unloading trucks. No complaints nor requests. Satisfactory camp.

A meeting took place where the following Man of Confidence, representing the area, were assembled:

With the exception of bad ventilation during night time, when shutters must be closed as a security measure, no serious complaints were made with regard to the living accommodation. The local Kontrolloffizier promised to have this deficiency corrected.

Some other minor wishes and complaints were amicably discussed and settled with the Kontrolloffizier Hptm. Benedict.

Requests: Medical attendance is done by a Polish and Russian physician. On the occasion of my last visit to Stalag IV D I have requested a British medical officer to be stationed in the area. Unfortunately this request has not been met with because the strength of the British prisoners is less than one thousand. I shall repeat the request.

Kontroll-Offizier, however, agreed to detail two British medical orderlies to the infirmary.

The question of dental and eye treatment will also be subject to be dealt with the Stabsarzt at Stalag.

The air-raid shelters on two work-detachments are still uncompleted, the building material is on the spot and the Kontroll Offizier promised to expedite the work.

A meeting with British Men of Confidence took place. The following were present:

No complaints nor requests with regard to accommodation, cooking arrangements and treatment. Substantial improvements since last visit. Physical exercises and outdoor sports in order.

Medical attendance is given by a French doctor in the infirmary. The local Kontroll Offizier agreed to detail two British Medical Orderlies to the infirmary.

The prisoners are engaged in coalmining, brick and surface work, loading and unloading wagons and other odd jobs.

The Delegate inspected this camp and found it in good conditions. Prisoners are engaged in the manufacture of water pumps.

The men are housed in a well constructed and fine barrack near the town's stadion. They can use the stadion's sport grounds and equipments for their physical exercises as well as the bathing and washing facilities.

The men are engaged for the township authorities for building air-raid shelters. Reasonable working hours. A very satisfactory camp.

Accommodation, cooking arrangements and treatment in order. The men are engaged in unloading wagons for the glass factory. No complaints. Satisfactory camp.

Prisoners are accommodated in one large barrack; triple tier beds, one locker per man. Dining-room with tables and chairs.

The football ground in the neighbourhood can be used once a week. No complaints. Satisfactory camp.

Report on Stalag IV D and detachments states no British chaplains. Stalag Commander promised apply again though little hope success.

Detachment Milka Pratau, 24 Indians, margarine manufacture, satisfactory. H.Schwarz Pisteritz, 24 Indians, no comforts. Wasag, living conditions satisfactory, prisoners working explosives factory, trench digging, garden work. Wolfen 149, Indians working aluminium factory, satisfactory. 1/B 12, 33 Indians loading work, no complaints.

Swiss representative met men of confidence nine detachments Bitterfeld area, no serious complaints except bad night ventilation.

Men of confidence Halle area made no complaints, substantial improvement since last visit.

Rei 95, 47 prisoners manufacturing waterpumps satisfactory. Rei 93 and 102, 60 prisoners constructing air raid shelters, satisfactory.

Torgau area T2 20 prisoners unloading work, no complaints. T3 64 prisoners, satisfactory.

Report from man of confidence Stalag IVD dated 17th March states 196019 Gold P.O.W. 224913 detachment L 25 was shot 19th February whilst attacking German Oberfeldwebel. Efforts had been made to effect his removal from camp owing mental trouble.

Man of Confidence states this is third fatal incident since his arrival (see my despatch No.2202) none of which necessitated drastic action taken by Germans.