CONFIDENTIAL

STALAG IV D/Z

Date of visit: Sept. 22nd, 1942.

Camp Commander: Oberstleutnant Prange

Camp Leader: Hauptmann Sochnel

German Physician: Assistenzarzt Dr. Vicreckl

Senior British Medical Officer: Captain Singh

Man of Confidence: C.S.M. Barkat Ali (P.o.W. No. 5312)

This camp, previously known as Oflag IV E, depends administratively from Stalag IV D, a French and Serbian camp situated 23 kms. from it.

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        The camp is formed of a large brick building, an old barrack for N.C.O.'s schools. It used to accommodate about 600 N.C.O.'s, but now there are about 1300 p.o.w. living in it.

        The main building is surrounded by a fairly large courtyard, where a certain number of wooden barracks, of the usual Army type are scattered about. Some of these barracks are used as lodging-quarters, others as administrative buildings, post and parcel offices, for example.

        In the area of the camp itself, but separated from it by an extra barbed wire fence, there is a wooden barrack which is used as a sort of quarantine ward. All the p.o.w. who arrive here are put there for one or more days, until they can be examined and deloused. Separate latrines are attached to this barrack, so that the newcomers have no contact with the rest of the inmates of the camp, until they are completely cleaned.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        On the day of the visit, the camp contained 1766 p.o.w., all Indians. They comprised:

                160 Sikhs

                396 Hindus

                  84 [?]

        The rest being Mohameddans.

        With the work-camps attached to Stalag IV D/Z, the total number of Indian p.o.w. is about 4000.

        It must be mentioned here that all the Indians depend administratively to this camp. Thus those in Stalag IV B are comprised in that total number of p.o.w.

        There are only 2 work-camps, it seems, depending from Stalag IV D/Z. One could not be seen, for reasons given in details under point XVI. The other one is about 500 kms. away, and will be seen, if it still exists, when an inspection tour of Wehrkreis XXI will again be planned. There are working parties, but they come back to Stalag IV D/Z every evening.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        In the main building, most of the rooms, where accommodation is ready for 39 men, but where only 32-34 actually lodge, have triple-tier wooden beds. These rooms are decidedly overcrowded, and measures will be taken by the General commanding the Wehrkreis, as will be seen under point XVI. The corner-rooms are larger, and are provided with 32 double-tier wooden beds. But there is no heating means in these rooms, who were not used last Winter, the camp not having as many inmates as now. Ovens will be placed in all the corner-rooms, before the beginning of the winter.

        On each of the 3 floors, there is a prayer-room.

        The barracks have only double-tier wooden bunks. It can not be said that there is any overcrowding there.

IV.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES

        The washing installations and the shower-rooms are quite sufficient. But there is a scarcity of water, due to the fact that the water-system had been erected for 600 people, and now there are 3 times as many living there. Apart from this, most Indians use an enormous quantity of water, following the rites of their religions.

        On account of what precedes cold water is only available between 5 and 7 a.m.; 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and 5 and 7 p.m. The water does not always reach the top floor. This matter was taken up with the new General, Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen of Wehrkreis IV, who seems to be willing to do quite a lot for the p.'s.o.w. He said that he had already given orders to improve as much as possible the water supply through different alterations which will be started at once.

        The men get a hot bath a fortnight. With the improvements in the water supply, they will probably be able to have one a week.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        There are several W.C. of the flush type in the main building. There are also huts with latrines of the pit type for those who lodge in the wooden barracks. In all, there were 31 seats, which is not sufficient for 1800 men. Orders had already been given by the General, so that a new hut, with 10 seats, is erected at once.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        There was no complaint about the food. The quantities given out are the same as in other camps, but for the fact that instead of meat, which the Indians mostly do not eat, they are given extra quantities of potatoes and vegetables.

        The cooking is done by the prisoners themselves, who prepare the food according to their own rituals.

        The Man of Confidence complained that there were not enough coal nor stoves to cook the private food. During their visit, the inspectors saw men cooking private food parcels on dozens of stoves, and at any time during the day. So this complaint can not be considered as grounded.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        Apart from Capt. Singh, there are 2 more Indian doctors here:

                Lieut. Rana (previously at Stalag III D),

                Lieut. Andul Rakim.

        The Revier is composed of 3 rooms, each one comprising 12 single iron beds. One of these rooms is always kept free, in case it has to be used as isolation room.

        On the day of the visit, there were only 15 patients in the Revier, suffering mostly from bronchitis. No Tbc. is at present here. Two cases only have occurred in this Stalag, and the men were transferred to Res. Laz. Koenigswartha.

        Every day, an average of 150 men attends the sick parade. They come for slight ailments, and sometimes also, probably, only to be comforted by the doctors.

        The general health in this camp is remarkably good, considering the fact that the Indians are not particularly fit to live in this part of the world.

        There is a good understanding between the Indian and German doctors, which helps the former very much.

        A certain number of German medicaments are available. But until now, no British medical parcels have arrived here, and the Indian doctors have written to the I.R.C.C. in Geneva, and hope to get some in the near future.

        As regards dental case, there is some difficulty in getting false teeth. 4 or 5 men need full dentures, and the Assistenzarzt promised to try and have them fitted with one. But it will be hard to satisfy the 30 or 40 p.o.w. who would need partial dentures, although they are willing to pay for them.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        Since the beginning of this month, the Ps.o.w. have been issued with new uniform, and one set of underclothing. So the whole camp is well dressed, and the men give a very good impression. Only those Indians who have just arrived here from Italy are not yet newly equipped. The M.o.C. has written 2 weeks ago to the I.R.C.C., to ask for some more uniforms.

        The M.o.c., also since the beginning of this month, is able to have a certain control over the equipment sent by the Red Cross. But a letter sent to the Protecting Power on April 30th 1942, asking to have that control, never reached the Swiss Legation in Berlin, have been answered by the German Camp Authorities themselves. The inspectors insisted on the fact that all letters addressed to the Protecting Power should be transmitted at once, and it is hoped that it will be so in the future.

        Large size boots, about 500 pairs of them, would be needed here.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        The laundry is done by the ps.o.w. themselves, as a rule.

        Lately, all the under-garments of the ps.o.w. have been taken away, and sent to be disinfected. The German Physician, who seems to be very much afraid of a Typhus epidemic, thought that the ps.o.w. had too many shirts and other things, and that they would remain dirty for quite a long time, being hidden in beds and in other places before being washed. He therefore had all the under-garments taken away from the ps.o.w., and only one shirt and one set of underwear and socks given out. All the rest has been sent to be disinfected, and a second garniture will then be distributed. Clothing received in private parcel is kept in stock for the man it is addressed to and will be emitted according to needs.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        The ps.o.w. received, even if not working, Rpfg 30 a day. They refused lately to take that money, as they were afraid it would be retained from their pay at home.

        This allocation is therefore stopped now. Only those ps.o.w. who do some work will be paid from now on.

XI.) CANTEEN

        The canteen is not very well equipped. Apart from a few pencils and odds and ends, only some Polish cigarettes can be bought. The canteen is entirely in the hands of the ps.o.w. A list of wishes is given out regularly and the German Authorities try to meet them, but unfortunately in general with not much success.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        There was no complaint about the possibility of practising the different religions here. It must be said that extra facilities were just given during the Ramazan.

        The Man of Confidence was afraid that, if some more ps.o.w. were to arrive here, the prayer-rooms would have to be transformed into living quarters. This is not to be feared.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        In the area of the camp itself, there is the possibility to have some exercise, such as volley-ball, tennis-coits, etc. The ps.o.w. are taken four times a week to a football field, and they enjoy it very much.

        Indoor games are also here. There were plenty of them, but they deteriorated, and the Man of Confidence has already asked for some more.

        There are a certain number of books now, also in Hindustani. Some more are being censored in Berlin, and are expected here in the near future.

        There is, not far from the camp, a very large hall which can contain 900 seats very comfortably. The ps.o.w. have erected a stage in it, and give very interesting shows. Prizes are given to the best actors. This hall is also used almost daily for cinema shows for the ps.o.w. Talkies are projected.

        A few loud-speakers are installed in this camp, both indoors and outdoors.

XIV.) MAIL

        Mail had come regularly since the beginning of the year, and there was no complaint on this point.

        But, due to alleged measures taken in England concerning the mail of German ps.o.w., a new regulation is in force so that, from Sept. 10th until October 9th, the ps.o.w. will only be allowed to send 1 letter and 1 postcard. Incoming mail is restricted to 4 letters per man. The protected personnel is not affected by this measure.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        Nobody ever visited this camp since September 16th 1941. Now that it can be seen, the inspectors insisted on the fact that regular visits should be allowed, whatever reasons the German authorities might have to prevent them.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        1) The Man of Confidence complained that he was to send Red Cross parcels to two so-called work-camps which he named "Legion-Camps". There, the Indians are supposed to be trained in the military way, and the opinion of the Man of Confidence is that they should not be considered any more as prisoners of war, and therefore are not entitled to have these parcels which are sent to p.o.w. only. These 2 camps are those of Frankenberg and Koenigsbruecke. The German Authorities said that the former does not exist any more, the men having been transferred lately to Stalags IV B and IV D/Z. As for the latter, it is a German training camp, where, it is supposed, some Indians work in the same way as they do in other work-camps. For those reasons as well as for the fact that some men previously in those work-camps have been ill-treated by other Indians because, they say, they refused to join the Legion, the G.H.C. will be asked for more particulars on this matter, and specially to authorise the representative of the Protecting Power to go and visit it, insisting on the application of art. 86, Par. 2, of the Geneva Convention. Further information on this case will be given later on.

        2) As it is said that the Indians are not affected when put into arrests for a certain number of days, an extra punishment was given them under the form of an individual non-distribution of Red Cross parcels for 2-3 weeks. This breach of Art. 48, Par. 1, of the Geneva Convention was brought to the attention of the General, who immediately gave orders to have that sort of punishment stopped.

        3) A certain number of sanitary personnel is not recognised as such, not having the necessary papers to claim their standing. A list of these men will be sent as soon as possible by the Man of Confidence. It must be mentioned that the sanitary personnel who has recently arrived in prison camps in Germany have their papers in order.

        4) Some men in this camp would like to receive "The Camp", instead of the Hindu newspaper which is distributed here. The G.H.C. will be approached on this matter.

        5) No copy of the Geneva Convention is posted here. The G.H.C. will be asked to have some sent to this camp.

        6) The Man of Confidence asked that the Indians should not be made to work in the snow during the coming Winter. The Camp Authorities agreed to it, and said they would only have to work indoors during the cold season. It must be added that a special ruling has been made for the Indian ps.o.w., that is that they will not be compelled to work, if they do not wish to do so. The inspectors prefer not to take position over this measure.

        7) The ps.o.w. are not allowed to write to friends in Great-Britain. The G.H.C. will be asked why there is such a restriction in the provision of Art. 36 of the Geneva Convention. The inspectors also wish to mention the 2 following points:

                a) There has never been any case of typhus in this camp, and yet it was not allowed to visit it, for just over a year, on account of the danger of infection through that illness. This breach of Art. 86, Par. 2, will again be brought to the attention of the G.H.C.

                b) On account of so many different religious sects brought together in this camp, several difficulties do arise, and specially it is very hard to have a Man of Confidence who does really represent all the p.o.w. Actually, it is a Mohammedan who is Man of Confidence, and he is the representative of the majority. But the Sikhs, and specially the Hindus, do not recognise him as such. For many reasons, it is not possible to have several Men of Confidence in a camp. The inspectors tried to persuade the representatives of the different sects that they should work together with the Man of Confidence, but this does not seem to be a good solution, at least it can not be a durable one. Therefore, they approached the General on this point, and proposed to have the different sects separated and, if possible, in different camps altogether. This proposition had at the same time the advantage of getting several hundreds of prisoners of war away from this Stalag, thus leaving more room for those who would remain here. In this way too, the water problem might find a better solution. The General was quite agreeable to this proposition. He thinks he will be able to get another camp at his disposal in the very near future, and thus this point may be satisfactorily settled.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        This camp is not bad at all. The Camp Leader is doing all he can to help the Indians, who seem to like him very much. There is certainly room for improvement, nevertheless.

Fred O. Auckenthaler

R. Burckhardt

0103/3328 (P.W.2.a.). 26.8.42.

F.O.Ref. K.W.2/4 21.8.42.

(En clair)

FROM BERNE TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Mr. Norton,

No. 2957.

D. 1.21. p.m. August 18th, 1942.

R. 6.55. a.m. August 19th, 1942.

        August 18th, 1942.

        Swiss Government inform me that prisoner of war camp Oflag IV E will be known as Stalag IV D/Z (repeat Stalag IV D/Z) from now on.

0103/3836/P.W.2.a. 8.6.43.

Foreign Office Ref: K.W.2/4-1 3.6.43.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

R. 5847.

        The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the honour to inform the Swiss Legation, Foreign Interests Division, in reply to the Note of 16th December, 1942. No.1915, that the difficulties brought up for discussion which were experienced by the Swiss Delegates when visiting British prisoners of war camps, have been subjected to a detailed examination.

        Regarding Stalag IV D/Z Annaberg, it was actually not possible in the period in question to visit the Indian prisoners of war accommodated in the above mentioned camp. It is to be regretted that owing to the contradictory statements of the officer who spoke with the Swiss Delegation, the impression has been formed that it was the intention to create special difficulties for the Delegates; the attitude of the officer was brought about by the fact that he was not sufficiently informed of the circumstances.

        In all other cases mentioned in the list a subsequent examination has shown that the measures of the Military Authorities were not put into effect in view of the imminent visit of the Swiss Delegates, but came into effect quite accidentally in this period. The visits were also not taken into account at all in the deliberations regarding the measures put into effect.

        In regard to the matter of Stalag 319 Cholm, the Swiss Legation have meanwhile made special reference to this in their Note No.234 of 27th February, 1943. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have temporarily replied to this Note in their Memorandum No.R.4704 of 11th March, 1943, and a further communication will be made in this matter.

        Berlin, 20th March, 1943.

        To the Swiss Legation,

        Foreign Interests Division,

        2 Pariser Platz,

        Berlin W.8.

0103/3328 (P.W.2.a.). 30/Nov.42.

F.O.Ref: K.W.2/4. 24.Nov.42.

(EN CLAIR)

DEPARTMENTAL No. 2.

FROM BERNE TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Mr. Norton,

No. 4133

D. Untimed. 19th November, 1942.

R. 11.55 p.m. 20th November, 1942.

        November 19th, 1942.

        My telegram No. 2957.

        Following points mentioned in report on Stalag IV D/Z visited by representatives Swiss Legation Berlin 22nd September:

        With complement 1,766 Indian prisoners camp is overcrowded. At time visit heating stoves not installed. Water scarce. Insufficient toilet facilities, 31 seats for nearly 1,800 men. Food medical attention satisfactory. Protected personnel unaffected by reprisal measures concerning mail.

        Man confidence he had to send Red Cross parcels to alleged work camps at Frankenburg and Koenigsbruecke which he called Legion Camps where Indians are supposed to be given military training. German authorities stated former no longer existed prisoners having been transferred to Stalag IV B and IV D/Z. Latter is training camp where Germans assert Indians work as in other work camps. Swiss representatives requested permission for future visit to Koenigsbruecke.

        As German authorities alleged Indians are unaffected by arrest punishments consisted of non-distribution of Red Cross parcels for several weeks to offenders. Matter brought to attention of Commander military district who ordered this to cease. No copy Geneva Convention. Prisoners not allowed write to friends in United Kingdom.

        Swiss representatives state visits have not been allowed to this camp for over a year owing to alleged danger infection from typhus though there have never been any cases.

        German camp leader seems sympathetic to prisoners but Swiss representatives consider room for improvement in this camp.