Translation by the London Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross,

Germany.

STALAG IV D

Visited by Mr. Eric Mayer on November 29th. 1944.

Camp Leaders - British - Sgt. Major C.A. PARSLOW, No. 223820

                          American - Sgt. D.J. Van DUSSEN, No. 84919

Strength - 48,630 (about) including -

        5,788 British of which 21 in camp

           320 Americans   "      1 "     "

        (These figures were given by the Camp Leaders)

Preliminary remark - Besides visiting the camp and conversing with the principal Camp Leaders, the Delegate had, a few days before, seen several camp leaders at working parties visited by him, particularly in recently bombarded areas.

Accommodation - At the camp are only to be found the Camp Leaders and their assistants and a few prisoners forming the camp staff; the strength is therefore greatly reduced. There is no infirmary so that sick prisoners are not centralized as in other camps but divided amongst the various infirmaries in the district.

        Housing conditions for prisoners in the camp who are crowded into large rooms is not favourable and, to resume, it must be said that no changes have occurred as regards accommodation. Prisoners specially stress the insufficient coal rations issued for camp heating.

Food - Food rations issued throughout the camp are not sufficient for men who have to furnish heavy prolonged effort in labour detachments; in certain detachments the men have to work up to 12 hours a day and the food situation is becoming serious as they received many fewer Red Cross Parcels than formerly.

Clothing - In general, British prisoners' coats are in good condition but they have great need of shirts, socks and towels.

        The Americans have only been in the camp since a few weeks and possess nothing. Their Camp Leader borrowed clothing from the British Camp Leader to meet the most urgent needs; these men are from the Western Front.

Collective consignments - The British have enough parcels for two monthly distributions up to December 15th.

        The British Camp Leader has issued food supplies to the Americans to cover needs up to December 15th.

Hygiene and medical attention - The Oberstabsarzt OTTO is at the head of the medical service and is on good terms with the p.o.w. doctors.

        There is no central infirmary in the camp and the doctors attend to about fifteen infirmaries in the district. There are 16 doctors in the camp (including 4 British) and three dentists. These doctors attend to prisoners of war of all nations in the camp and work under fairly satisfactory conditions. The infirmary installations do not vary much and are usually composed of ordinary camp rooms fortunately provided with single beds some of which have sheets.

        Medical supplies are becoming rare, specially bandaging material of which there is nearly a complete lack.

        The general state of health is not yet bad but if the men are to continue their present work without proper nourishment the situation will become alarming for many. The camp authorities have had a general radiographic examination made of all prisoners.

Recreation, intellectual and spiritual needs - The British chaplain experiences great difficulty in visiting the men.

        Theatrical shows are given in some of the big labour detachments when work permits.

        Sports can be fairly well practised.

Mail - The British receive a few letters.

Discipline - The attitude of the German military authorities towards the prisoners is generally correct.

        On the whole, there are no grave complaints to make concerning this camp except for some working parties mentioned under the heading "Work".

Air raid shelters - Air raid shelters are often quite insufficient for working parties in industrial areas. Shelter trenches do not afford enough protection from bombs when prisoners' quarters are stationed next to a factory.

        In most of the labour detachments the prisoners consider that when concrete bunkers are not available it is preferable for them to scatter into the surrounding country than to use the trenches.

Work - Prisoners are now obliged to work at a maximum. The Delegate visited a fairly large number of working parties where all questions raised could be settled at once. The only important points mentioned below are those referred to the Colonel commanding the camp during the final interview. The Commander promised to make enquiries in the detachments in question and, eventually, to assist the prisoners particularly as regards the important matter of air raid shelter.

British Working Party No. ME 40 E - The Delegate visited this detachment just after the town had been bombarded and conversed with the Camp Leader and a great many of the prisoners, 105 British parachutists captured in Holland. These men are working on air raid shelters in the town; they are housed in one very large room which is crowded, badly lighted and badly heated. No shower baths are available and there are only a few taps containing cold water. During air raids and although they are building air raid shelters, the men have no protection and when the raid occurred just before the Delegate's visit, the only possible refuge was under the beds.

        The Camp Leader of this detachment complained that he had not been able to meet the Principal Camp Leader at Stalag IV D although he had already been on the working party for nearly two months; up to the present, the prisoners have received neither clothing or food from the Main Camp.

        Private James MacDOUGALL, No. 89162 was killed during an air raid. Private Arnold TODD, No. 88395, was killed by a German sentry, an enquiry is pending and the Delegate has submitted the matter to the Protecting Power.

        During the final interview, the Camp Commander promised to visit this detachment to settle the numerous faulty points existing there.

Weinberg-Wittenberg Infirmary - There are about forty sick, including 15 British, under treatment at Weinberg. The installation is satisfactory and the patients are under the care of a British doctor, Captain LAW C.W., No. 3165 (South African).

        The only complaint made by the doctor concerned the coal supply [as] quite insufficient. If the supply could be increased, the infirmary would be excellent.

        On the whole, the working parties are good and call for no comment; all small outstanding questions could be settled at once.

        Some detachments were notified to the Delegate as defective but he could not visit them or speak to the camp leaders. Among others he was advised that Working Party No.2 (British) had very bad accommodation and sanitary arrangements and that the men received rough treatment by civilians during their work.

Interview with Camp Leaders (without witnesses) - The Delegate was able to speak freely to camp leaders and to discuss all questions mentioned in this report.

Conclusion - The principal questions discussed during visits to detachments and interviews between the Delegate and camp leaders concerned air raid shelters which are often not adequate in industrial areas. On the other hand, the camp leaders declare that the food supply is not sufficient for men who have to provide such long and heavy work.

        The camp military authorities generally maintain a correct attitude towards the camp leaders with whom they seem to be on good terms.