CONFIDENTIAL

No. 372

BRITISH

Stalag IV F Hartmannsdorf

Labour-detachments depending on Stalag IV F

ZWICKAU - AREA

Date of visit February 21st, 1944.

District British Man of Confidence: Bdr. C.A. Horsfall (10959)

A meeting was arranged where 6 British Men of Confidence representing labour-detachments within the Zwickau-area were assembled. The individual reports read as follows:-

Arbo.Kdo.C 58 Crossen n/Zwickau

British Man of Confidence: Bdr. C.A. Horsfall (10959)

The camp is situated near the paper factory where the prisoners work, in one of the suburbs of Zwickau. There are two large barracks forming a wide angle and encircled by barbed wire. Within the barbed wire is a new cookhouse under construction and the latrine - and washhouse is connected to the barracks by a covered gangway.

II. 241 British prisoners of war; amongst them are 30 Cypriots and 6 South-Africans. The remainder are men from the British Isles.

III. The barrack is divided in 5 large sleeping rooms and a revier on one side of the corridor. On the opposite side of the gangway are the same amount of mess-rooms, furnished with benches and tables and one locker per man. The bedrooms have double-tier beds, palliasses and two blankets. Central heating, electric light.

IV. 14 taps in the washroom and 8 sprays for hot showers.

V. 9 seats, flush-type.

VI. The food is drawn from the work's canteen. As soon as the cookhouse which is nearly finished, is ready, the prisoners will do their own cooking. Up to now there is one British cook in charge for preparing tea and similar little things.

VII. There is a British medical orderly in camp and a German work's sanitator is also attending. Sick parade with a French doctor at the revier in town.

VIII. Fairly good. A number of men receive working-clothing from the firm.

IX. In order. Washing given out.

X. Correct.

XI. Good.

XII. One of the prisoners conducts church services.

XIII. In order. Football is played.

XIV. In good order.

XV. A small library, some musical instruments and some indoor games are in camp. Cinema performances are being considered.

XVI. No serious complaints.

Labour. The prisoners are employed by a paper factory for loading and unloading waggons, making pulp, working on paper machines, etc. Two shifts of 12 hours a day, one break of an hour for meals.

Arb.Kdo.C 101 Crossen.

British Man of Confidence: Sgt. F.G. Lewis (11410)

I. The camp consists of two barracks situated within the factory's compound.

II. 230 British prisoners of war form the camp's strength.

III. 11 sleeping and living rooms furnished with double tier beds, palliasses with covering cloth, and 2 blankets, sufficient tables and forms. Electric light, heating adequate.

IV. In order. Hot showers available at the works.

V. Adequate.

VI. The cooking is done at the factory's kitchen.

VII. Daily sick parade with the works doctor. General state of health is reported to be good.

VIII. Fairly good. Every man has at least one full British uniform about 70% have a second pair of trousers. The boot position is quite fair too.

IX. The prisoners do their own washing.

X. No pay so far, as the camp has been opened only 3 weeks ago.

XI. Very limited canteen supplies.

XII. No religious arrangements so far.

XIII. Football is played.

XIV. Improving.

XV. Some books and musical instruments are in camp.

Labour: The prisoners are working in a paper factory on various jobs. There are two shifts of 12 hours for men working on paper machines, two shifts of 8 hours for men engaged on some special work and the rest of the prisoners work from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with one hour's break for meals.

Arb.Kdo. 60 Schoenbach

British Man of Confidence: Spr. J. Sharpe (10712)

I. The camp is housed in a dance-hall of the village inn and serves at the same time as sleeping, dining and recreation-room.

II. There are 48 British prisoners of war.

III. Double-tier beds, tables and chairs, lighting and heating arrangements, adequate.

IV. Primitive.

V. Latrines are of the pit-type system, with 3 seats.

VI. The cooking is done by British cooks. It is reported to be poor.

VII. There is a medical orderly in camp, but little medical supply. Sick parade with a French Medical Officer.

VIII. Good.

IX. The laundry is done by the men themselves. Washpowder issue in order.

X. Correct.

XI. No canteen.

XII. None so far.

XIII. No recreation arrangements.

XIV. In good order.

XV. No welfare work up to now.

Labour  The men are engaged by the Reichsbahn and are working 9 hours daily. Sunday is free.

Arb. Kdo. Z 15 Zwickau (Sudkampfbahn)

British Man of Confidence: Bdr. John Allen Thomas (11223)

I. The detachment is accommodated in a house adjoining the Sport-Stadium, holding two sleeping rooms, one mess-room and a wash-room and cookhouse combined. The latrines are in a corner of the camp's yard.

II. Complement: 60 British prisoners of war, of whom 17 Cypriots.

III. Double tier beds with two blankets. One stove in each room and 5 large tables in the mess-room.

IV. 16 taps with running cold water in the washroom. Two boilers with coal fires serve for preparing hot water. Hot baths once a week in town.

V. Adequate.

VI. Cooking is done at a central kitchen in town.

VII. Sick parade with a French Medical Officer. Little Medical supply from the German side, in camp.

VIII. Fairly good.

IX. Laundry is given out.

X. Correct.

XI. Poorly stocked.

XII. None.

XIII. No recreation arrangements.

XIV. In good order.

XV. Very poor. Some primitive books are in camp.

XVI. No further complaints.

Labour: The men work in a sport-stadium doing odd jobs. Some of them are digging air-raid shelters in town. Actual working hours: 8 1/2 hours.

Arb.Kdo. W 27 Schillerschleesschen Werdau.

British Man of Confidence: Lce/Cpl. F.G. Smith (259841)

I. The men are lodged in the annexe to a public-house. There is one large dining room and mess-room, 2 sleeping rooms, a washroom and a parcel and clothing store.

II. 60 British prisoners of war, of whom 2 in Revier and one in hospital.

III. The beds are double-tier with sacking mattresses and 2 blankets. Sufficient sitting accommodation. Heating and lighting adequate.

IV. Weekly showers at local public bath. Four wash basins and taps and two footbaths in camp's washroom.

V. 3 wooden structure latrines and 1 urinal.

VI. Food is provided from nearby restaurant. Consists of regulation heavy workers rations which seem inadequate

VII. Medical attention is very poor. A man who reports sick is excused from work if the Kommandofuhrer agrees with him. Should he still be sick after three or four days an interview with a French Medical Officer is arranged. Medical supply consists of 1 small first aid box.

VIII. A supply of clothing from the British Red Cross has arrived at this camp and the situation is reasonably good.

IX. Laundry is done by local contractor.

X. Correct.

XI. Beer and lemonade is available.

XII. None so far.

XIII. No recreation facilities provided.

XIV. In order. First mail from England is just arriving.

XV. Poor.

Labour. The men are employed on railway work, loading and unloading waggons and such heavy work as is required by the town authorities. Working hours from 7 a.m. to 12 and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. One day free per week.

Arb.Kdo. Z 118 Zwickau, Buergerschacht I.

British Man of Confidence: Lce/Cpl. E. Josef (263306)

I. There is one large barrack divided into 7 sleeping and living rooms, one washroom, toilets and guards-room. Small open-air space.

II. 194 British prisoners of war.

III. The beds consist of two large shelves, one above the other. No separation for each man. Palliasses and but one blanket. No lockers. Central heating, electric light. The guards-company commander promised to have immediately one more blanket issued.

IV. Good. 40 taps with running cold water. Hot showers every day at the mine.

V. 8 seats, pit-type.

VI. The cooking is done by two British cooks under the supervision of a German civilian in the factory's cookhouse. The British prisoners have a separate cooking range.

VII. There is a British medical orderly in camp. Sick parade three times a week with a French Medical Officer. The work's sanitator is also available at any time. General state of health is reported to be not very satisfactory.

VIII. Fairly good. Working-clothing were issued to the men, but replacements for worn-out and damaged things are almost non-existent.

IX. Laundry is given out at reasonable charge.

X. Unsettled.

XI. The camp had an issue of canteen articles of about 40 Rm. worth. Beer is always available.

XII. None.

XIII. Football is played and walked are organized.

XIV. In order.

XV. Some indoor games and one mandolin is in camp.

Labour. The men are engaged in a coal-mine on 3 shifts of 8 1/4 hours duration in 3 different shifts.

NIEDERWIESA - AREA.

Date of visit: February, 22, 1944.

Chief Man of Confidence from Stalag acts as District Man of Confidence.

A meeting was arranged where 4 British Men of Confidence representing all British labour-detachments within the Niederwiesa-area were assembled.

The individual reports on the condition of each of the labour detachments read as follows:

Arb.Kdo. Niederwiesa.

British Man of Confidence: Cpl. K.L. Wood. (250683)

I. The prisoners are accommodated in a ballroom of the village inn. The same room is used for sleeping, eating and recreational purposes.

II. 201 British prisoners of war.

III. Triple tier beds placed in the centre of the room. Around these are tables and chairs and a number of lockers, one to share between two men.

IV. General washing facilities are good. The washroom is in the basement and holds three long troughs with sufficient taps and two coppers for boiling water. Baths are available at work each week.

V. Pit-Type, approximately 20 seats and 1 urinal.

VI. Cooking by British prisoners. Food consists of turnips and potatoes throughout the week, with a porridge gruel and meat and potatoes on Sundays. Meat is also issued on Tuesdays. The men consider the food to be insufficient and not good enough for the work required of them.

VII. There is a British medical orderly in camp. Sick parade every Monday with French Medical Officer at the local clinic at Chemnitz. German medical supply is completed with purchases from the local chemist.

VIII. All sorts of clothing and new boots are badly needed.

IX. Laundry is given out.

X. Correct.

XI. Beer is always available from the inn to which the billet is attached. Other articles are scarce.

XII. None at all.

XIII. No arrangements so far.

XIV. In order.

XV. There is a piano in camp and some indoor games.

XV. These men were not allowed to elect their own Man of Confidence a point which was immediately straightened out at the conference with the local authorities.

Labour. The men are employed by the Reichsbahn on shift work. Up to now the men were working on 2 twelve hours shifts, but a new schedule which leaves the prisoners more free time is under consideration.

Arb.Kdo.G 32 Grunhainichen.

British Man of Confidence. Cpl. A. McCallum (12037)

I. The camp is accommodated in a part of the paper factory where the men work.

II. There are 29 British prisoners of war.

III. Double tier beds, tables and form in the room, which serves for sleeping and mess room.

IV. Adequate.

V. Adequate.

VI. Cooking is done by civilians in the works canteen. It is reported to be satisfactory.

VII. Men reporting sick stay in camp for two or three days and if not better after this time, they are sent to hospital. Little medical supply in camp.

VIII. The clothing question is acute, but an issue from Stalag is expected the very next day.

IX. The laundry is done by the men themselves.

X. Correct.

XI. None.

XII. None.

XIII. No recreation facilities.

XIV. In order.

XV. No welfare work.

XVI. No further complaints.

Labour. Working in paper factory from 7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Arb.Kdo.E 36 Eppendorf

British Man of Confidence: Lce/Cpl. H. Oyer (252654)

I. Small civilian cottage forms the men's quarters. Two rooms dining room and bedroom.

II. 30 British prisoners of war.

III. Triple and double tier beds in the sleeping room, tables and forms in the dining room.

IV. Adequate.

V. One seat, pit-type latrine.

VI. The food is cooked by German civilians and is reported to be satisfactory.

VII. Medical attention is given by French doctor.

VIII. Satisfactory.

IX. Laundry is given out.

X. In order.

XI. Only beer is available.

XII. None.

XIII. No recreational arrangements.

XIV. In order.

XV. No welfare work.

Labour. The men are employed by a shoe factory. 10 1/2 hours actual work.

Arb.Kdo. W 120 Willischal.

British Man of Confidence: Cpl. Edward Gordon (12063)

I. Three rooms on the ground floor of a house are the prisoner's billet. Bedroom, dining room and a hallway or entrance.

II. 20 British prisoners of war.

III. Double tier beds, tables and benches.

IV. Good.

V. Adequate.

VI. Civilians are cooking for the prisoners. Satisfactory.

VII. Medical attention at the Revier at an hour's walk from camp. No medical supply at the camp.

VIII. Fairly good for clothing. Boots are in a bad way.

IX. The laundry is done by the men themselves.

X. Correct.

XI. No canteen.

XII. None so far.

XIII. None.

XIV. In order.

XV. Very poor.

Labour. The men are engaged on loading and unloading railway trucks. Occasional Sunday work. Hours are refunded in course of the following week.

On his way from Niederwiesa to Freiberg/Sa. where the next meeting was arranged, the Delegate visited the following labour detachment:-

Arb.Kdo. Z 55 Zug n/ Freiberg.

Date of visit February 22nd, 1944.

British Man of Confidence: Lce/Cpl. G.J. Layhe (259250)

I. One fairly large room on the factory premises is serving as sleeping and living room for the prisoners. Adjoining to this room is a kitchen, the lavatory and a wash room.

II. 51 British prisoners of war form the camp's strength. They are all from former Italian captivity.

III. The room is furnished with double tier wooden beds with palliasses and two blankets per man. There are also small shelves and sufficient tables and forms. Electric light and central heating is adequate.

IV. 3 taps with running cold water and two long wooden troughs for washing, as well as 7 sprays for showers in the washroom. Hot showers twice a week.

V. 2 seats, flush type and one urinal.

VI. Two British cooks are in charge of the cooking and they prepare the food to everybody's satisfaction.

VII. The men have twice a week sick parade with a French Medical Officer. Medical supply from the German side is very limited. The general state of health is reported to be very good.

VIII. Fairly good. Everybody has one full British uniform and some clothes for working have been issued by local authorities.

IX. Laundry is done by the men themselves. They receive regularly an issue of washpowder or soap.

X. Correct.

XI. Poorly stocked. Only beer and lemonade is available.

XII. None so far.

XIII. Sunday walks are organized. Football will be played as soon as the weather will allow it.

XIV. In good order.

XV. Some indoor games and a banjo are in camp.

XVI. Complaints: No copy of the Geneva Convention.

Labour. The men are employed by a leather factory on various jobs. Four men work with carpenters, 4 with bricklayers, one with a cobbler, four at the machine-hall and the remainder are labouring. 9 1/2 hours actual work.

FREISBERG - AREA

Date of visit: February 22nd 1944.

Chief Man of Confidence from Stalag IV F is acting as District Man of Confidence.

A meeting was arranged where 4 British Men of Confidence representing all British labour detachments within the Freiberg area were assembled.

The individual reports on the condition on each of the labour detachments read as follows:-

Arb.Kdo. F 57 Freiberg/Sa.

British Man of Confidence: Lce/Cpl. P. Prebble (252864)

I. The camp consists of two large wooden barracks, a latrine-house adjoining the quarters, a wash-house and the cookhouse.

II. Complement: 203 British prisoners of war.

III. There are 8 bedrooms with roughly 22 men in each and one room slightly larger with 30 men. Double tier beds with palliasses and 3 blankets, no wardrobes. There are furthermore one sick-room with 8 single beds and a large mess-room with sufficient tables and forms, also used for recreation purposes. Electric light is everywhere and good central heating is installed.

IV. The washroom has a large trough on 3 sides and about 20 taps with running water, as well as several wash-basins. Showers are available daily at the mine.

V. Good. 42 seats, flush-type.

VI. Cooking is done by German civilians. The miners receive heaviest worker rations i.e. 500 grammes of bread and 50 grammes of margarine daily, surface workers have 400 grammes of bread and 30 grammes of margarine per day. All men receive daily 25 grammes of sugar and jam, about 8 potatoes, a bowl of stew (swedes, turnips, etc.) and meat four times a week. Coffee is issued every morning and German tea every evening. There is a large boiler and a good sized stove in the wash-house for personal cooking.

VII. Twice a day sick parade, at 7.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. attended by the Factory and mine sanitator. A qualified German doctor calls occasionally when men may be interviewed. The nearest hospital is under French supervision at Brandt-Erbesdorf about 8 km. from the camp. Optical and dental treatment available in the town of Freiberg.

VIII. Fairly good. Working clothes have been issued to practically all the miners, but replacements of same are almost non-existent.

IX. Laundry is done in town. Three articles are allowed per week.

X. Miners received 38 Rm. a month, surface workers 34 Rm.

XI. There is no canteen in the camp. Some articles are available from Stalag.

XII. There are no arrangements for regular Church of England services, but a French Roman Catholic priest comes on the first Sunday of each month.

XIII. Sunday walks are organized.

XIV. In good order.

XV. 16 indoor-games, 9 pieces of sports equipment and 3 banjos were received from the YMCA.

Labour  The men are engaged on a lead mine situated on the outskirts of Freiberg. They work on shifts of 8 1/4 hours actual work, 3 shifts a day. Sunday is as a rule free. 127 prisoners work down in the mine, 75 are engaged on surface work.

Arb.Kdo. W 71 Weissenborn.

British Man of Confidence: Lce/Cpl. Jucker (259187)

I. Two rooms on the factory's premises.

II. 44 British prisoners of war, of whom one is a Cypriot.

III. Central heating. No further information.

IV. Good.

V. Poor. No further information.

VI. Cooking is done by German civilians not always to the prisoner's taste.

VII. Three times a week sick parade with German civilian doctor.

VIII. Fairly good.

IX. Laundry is done by the men themselves on their day off duty.

X. Correct.

XI. Very poorly stocked.

XII. None so far.

XIII. Poor.

XIV. In good order.

XV. No welfare work yet.

Labour. The men are engaged by a paper factory working in two shifts of 12 hours a day. They have their 24 consecutive hours free each.

Arb.Kdo. F 58 Freiberg.Sa.

British Man of Confidence: Cpl. S.T. Gregory (259389)

I. The prisoners are housed in a stone building holding 2 dining rooms and 2 dormitories. Washhouse and toilets in the camp's yard.

II. 40 British prisoners of war.

III. No information.

IV. Adequate.

V. Adequate.

VI. Done at the work's canteen.

VII. Sick parade once a week with French Medical Officer. No medical supply in camp.

VIII. A consignment of clothing has just arrived from Stalag. This will improve the situation, but is still insufficient.

IX. Laundry is given out at a rate of Rm. 1.50 per month.

X. Correct.

XI. No canteen facilities.

XII. None so far.

XIII. No recreation arrangement.

XIV. In good order.

XV. A few games from the YMCA are in camp.

Labour: These men are engaged by a flax-factory on various departments, mainly tending machines. 12 hours actual working time, 1 1/2 miles to and from camp.

Arb.Kdo. 88 Oberschoener.

British Man of Confidence: Driver John Edward Smith (Army No.2014889)

I. Barrack camp.

II. 24 British prisoners of war.

III. No information.

IV. There is no water in camp. It has to be fetched from a nearby farm. A number of washbasins are at the prisoners' disposal. Occasional hot showers in town.

V. No information.

VI. Food is reported to be fair. The men were short on eating bowls and the guards-company commander promised to straighten the matter out.

VII. Men reporting sick have to go to Freiberg to attend sick parade with a French Medical Officer.

VIII. Every prisoner has one full British uniform. Some men have a second pair of trousers.

IX. Laundry is done by the men themselves.

X. Correct.

XI. No canteen of any description.

XII. None so far.

XIII. None.

XIV. In order. Incoming mail slow.

XV. Very poor.

XVI. No further complaints.

Labour: These prisoners are working in a stone quarry 10 hours daily. Sunday is usually free.

Arb.Kdo. L 104 Lugau (Vertrauens-Schacht)

British man of Confidence: Cpl. G.M. Shaw (258376)

Date of visit February 23rd, 1944

I. The camp is situated in the southern out-skirts of Lugau near the above named coal mine. There are two large two-storey stone buildings with sleeping accommodations for 233 men. The larger building holds one large dormitory for roughly 150 men and several smaller rooms on the first floor, 1 dining room, 1 good sized recreation-room, wash room and toilets on the ground floor and a kitchen and some store rooms in the basement. The smaller building is divided into one large sleeping room, washroom and toilets, as well as several rooms for the German guards, on the ground floor and another 4 smaller bedrooms on the first floor.

II. The camp's complement amounts to 211 British prisoners of war, of whom 6 are in the lazaret at Hohnstein-Ernstthal and 22 in the Revier.

III. The rooms are partly furnished with triple tier and double tier beds. 2 blankets are provided. Good electric lighting and central heating. Sufficient sitting accommodations in the mess rooms.

IV. In good order. How showers every day at the mine.

V. Adequate. Various systems.

VI. 3 British army cooks do the cooking. Satisfactory.

VII. There is a British medical orderly and a German sanitator in camp. Twice a week sick parade with a French doctor at Lugau. Emergency cases are attended by the work's doctor. The number of men in Revier appears to be rather high, but the Man of Confidence informed the Delegate that the German sanitator sends men to bed for very minor cases, such as cuts, bruises or small concussions and helps them wherever he can.

VIII. Good. Working kits provided. Boots are in good repair too.

IX. Laundry is given out. The firm pays for it.

X. Correct.

XI. The Man of Confidence goes every week to Stalag for shopping.

XII. Church service is held by a British Salvation Army minister nearly every Sunday.

XIII. Sunday walks are organized and all sorts of sports are going on.

XIV. In good order.

XV. Some indoor games and several musical instruments are in camp. Cinema performances every free Sunday.

XVI. The only complaint concerns the Sunday work. Only every second Sunday is free.

Labour. About 160 men are engaged in under-ground coal-mining. The shaft is roughly about 600 m. deep. The rest of the prisoners are on surface work. All work on 3 shifts of 8 1/4 hours per day.

----------------

Stalag IV F Hartmannsdorf.

        The Delegate's impression on the general conditions within this Stalag is fair.

        No further cases of ill-treatments by guards or civilians occurred since last visit on January 9, 1944.

        It is noteworthy, compared with Stalag IV C D and G, that not a single case of killing a British prisoner of war is reported in this Stalag. Commandant, Oberst Haendler, appears to be an able officer who exerts full control and authority upon his subordinates.

        Since last visit, conditions at the work detachment Niederwiesa have improved. Hauptmann Jaenches, the Arbeitseinsatz-Offizier, assured the Delegate of his intention to withdraw the British prisoners from work detachment Z 118, Zwickau, Buergershacht coal mine, at an early date.

        All Questions with regard to clothing, medical attention, recreations and welfare work, were full discussed.

        Two chaplains, a protestant and a catholic have been applied for. A number of minor complaints were dealt with.

sgd. RUDOLPH E. DENZLER.

0103/5839/P.W.2. dated 6.4.1944.

F.O. Ref. K.W. 2/4    "    1.4.1944.

(EN CLAIR)

DEPARTMENTAL NO.2

FROM BERNE TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Mr. Norton

No. 1342

D. untimed 29th March, 1944.

R. 10.45 p.m. 30th March, 1944.

29th March, 1944.

        My despatch 1291 following is substance of report on detachments Stalag IV F visited 21st to 23rd February containing 3752 prisoners in 58 detachments: Zwickau area 058 241 prisoners working paper factory two shifts 12 hours daily no serious complaints. C.101 230 prisoners working paper factory two shifts of 12 hours for men working on machines. 60 Schoebach 48 prisoners working Reichsbahn washing facilities primitive no canteen no recreation. Z.15 60 prisoners doing odd jobs no recreation. W.27 60 prisoners employed railway loading regulation heavy workers-ration seems inadequate medical attention very poor no recreation. Z.118 194 prisoners working coal mine in shifts of 8-1/4 hours one blanket per man health reported not very satisfactory.

        Niederwiesa area N.90 201 prisoners employed Reichsbahn 12 hour shifts accommodated in one room used for sleeping eating and leisure prisoners consider food inadequate for work required clothing and boots bad condition no recreation. G.32 29 prisoners working paper factory 10-1/2 hours daily clothing bad no recreation. E.36 30 prisoners working shoe factory 10-1/2 hours daily accommodated in small two room cottage no recreation. W.120 20 prisoners railway loading work medical attention at revier one hours walking distance no medical supply at camp no recreation.

        Z.55 51 prisoners working leather factory no copy Geneva Convention.

        Freiberg area F.57 (your telegram 593) 203 prisoners working lead mine 8-1/4 hours daily receiving heavy workers rations. W.71 (your telegram No. 593) 44 prisoners working paper factory 12 hour shifts toilet facilities and recreation poor.

        F.58 40 prisoners working flax factory 1-1/2 miles away 12 hours daily no canteen no recreation.

        88 Oberschoener 24 prisoners working stone quarry 10 hours daily no water in camp occasional hot showers food fair no canteen no recreation.

        L.104 211 prisoners working coal mine 8-1/4 hours daily only free every second Sunday.

        General impression this Stalag fair. No further cases ill-treatment by guards or civilians. Noteworthy that compared with IV C D and G no case of prisoners being killed. Since last visit conditions Niederwiese improved. Prisoners will be withdrawn from Z.118 Zwickau coal mine.

0103/5841(P.W.2.) 18th May, 1944.

F.O. Ref: K.W. 2/4. 15th May, 1944.

(EN CLAIR)

DEPARTMENTAL NO.1.

FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO BERNE.

No.1524.

13th May, 1944

D. 7.00 a.m. 14th May, 1944.

Your telegram No. 1342 and despatch No. 2201 (report on work camps at Stalag IV.F)

Request representations regarding following defects:-

        (a) Excessive working hours all camps and 12 hours rest now allowed Camp L104;

        (b) No recreational facilities at camps 60, W.27, N.90, G.32, 88 and E.36;

        (c) Medical attention and supplies inadequate Camp W.120;

        (d) No water Camp 88.

Information received that a prisoner of war died at Camp C.58 during March 1944 as a result medical neglect. Request report.