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

STALAG IV F.

Germany.

Visited by Dr. Landolt and Dr. Thudichum on Oct. 30th. 1944

British Camp Leader - Aubrey NEALE, No. 63

Strength - 25,946 prisoners as follows:-

Situation and Accommodation - There have been no changes since the last visit of the Delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The description of the camp remains unchanged and may be found in the preceding report.

        Accommodation is specially bad at Working Party Z 117 which includes 24 British p.o.w. The room is dark and has no window only a skylight with blue glass panes. The lighting is bad. The three-tiered beds are crowded together. The roof lets in rain. Heating is had. Next to this room is another and light room which serves as a rest hall.

        During the final interview it was promised that accommodation in this detachment should be improved as far as possible.

Clothing - The British require a hundred great coats. As newly captured British are continually arriving, the Camp Leader would like, in any case, to have a supply of shaving kits (comprising razors, shaving soap etc.) for the newcomers.

        Every prisoners has a right to possess two sets of under-clothing. Each man receiving a Red Cross shirt should give one in exchange.

Collective consignments - All stores from collective consignments must be consumed by November 5th. 1944, with the exception of a stock representing a week's rations, i.e. 9 kilos of food, stored outside the camp. All stores remaining must be handed over to the camp kitchen, if not consumed by this date.

Food - The prisoners in the main camp prepare their own food and control allotted rations. As for everywhere else, the Delegates have received the same complaint regarding insufficient quantities. Attached to this report are copies of the ration lists for the two working parties belonging to this camp.

        Supplementary rations for prisoners employed on very hard work are as follows:-

        A month ago, in an infirmary, tinned meat was issued which had gone bad; ten prisoners suffered slight poisoning. The tins contained low grade meat from a canning factory the name and address of which the Delegates were not able to discover. It appears, in any case, that only one delivery of meat was made from this factory and the Camp Commander promised that no other supplies would be bought there.

Medical attention - There is only one infirmary in the main camp. The whole of the camp area includes fifteen infirmaries in the centre of each district. Three British work there together with doctors of other nationalities.

        There is a general lack of medical supplies and instruments such as syringes, scalpels etc. The Delegates were informed that in one of the infirmaries, the dentist had never had a syringe.

Recreation, intellectual, and spiritual needs - There is a chaplain for each district, making a total of 16 chaplains, one of them ministers in the main camp.

        The nature of the work performed and the long working hours prevent prisoners from practicing sport, there being no time to spare for this.

Work - Working hours amount to 72 hours per week. The Delegates were advised that in a sugar refinery, prisoners work 12 hours a day, Sundays included. Their huts are said to be deficient and overcrowded without sufficient daylight. The Delegates referred this matter to the Camp Commander who promised to improve housing conditions as far as possible, but he could not change the working hours as the sugar refining campaign was then at its peak and would remain thus until the beginning of January 1945: after this delay, prisoners would have a whole week's rest. This same proceeding had occurred last year and the prisoners gave their approval.

Pay - Pay is regular.

Mail - Owing to present circumstances, mail is delayed.

Discipline - The Camp Leaders and the Camp Commander are on good terms. The Delegates were pleased to learn that Camp Leaders and Camp Commander have a meeting once a fortnight to discuss requirements and complaints. Camp Leaders may, on request, visit the various working parties and afterwards make reports to the Commander regarding their visits and any complaints raised.

Final interview with Camp Leaders (without witnesses) - During the final interview the points mentioned in this report were examined.

Conclusion - The main camp leaves a good impression; the morale is not bad. Working parties, on the other hand, leave a somewhat poor impression.

Working Parties - Menus from 23.10.44 to 29.10.44

Stalag IV F -

Working Party Marienberg/Schützenhaus

Working Party Kranken-Revier Marienberg/Sa

Marienberg 16.10.44

Daily Ration for one prisoner from 16.10.44 to 12.11.44

Daily ration of sugar for each p.o.w. 25 gr.

COPY OF TELEGRAM

0103/5288(P.W.2) 1.12.'44.

From  International Red Cross Committee, Geneva.

To  Delegate, London.

Sent.  17.11.1944

Received:  18.11.1944.

ELT INTERCROSS LONDON

390

STALAG IV F VISITED 30 OCTOBER SEE REPORT 22 APRIL SAME REPRESENTATIVE AMONG 25946 PRISONERS 4100 BRITISH OF WHOM 268 NCO'S STOP 2 CANADIANS 21 AUSTRALIANS 53 NEWZEALANDERS 275 SOUTHAFRICANS 2 INDIANS 408 DUTCH OF WHOM 69 NCO'S STOP QUARTERS STILL SATISFACTORY EXCEPT THOSE OF DETACHMENT 117 WHERE 24 BRITISH ARE HOUSE IN DARK BADLY AIRED BADLY HEATED BILLETS ROOF LEAKING RECREATION ROOM IMPROVED AS PROMISED STOP DUTCH CLOTHING IN POOR STATE BRITISH DEMAND GENEVA 100 GREAT COATS AND PRISONERS BOXES FOR EXPECTED NEW ARRIVALS STOP DUTCH PARCELS RESERVE EXHAUSTED FOOD RATIONS INSUFFICIENT STOP 3 BRITISH IN LOCAL DISTRICT HOSPITAL STOP LACK INSTRUMENTS AND MEDICINES STOP RELIGIOUS SERVICE HOWEVER DUTCH DEMAND PROTESTANT CHAPLAIN STOP WORKING UP TO 72 HOURS WEEKLY MAIL DIFFICULT STOP COMMANDANT UNDERSTANDING REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORISED VISIT DETACHMENTS STOP GOOD IMPRESSION FULLSTOP STALAG XVIII C. VISITED 23 OCTOBER SEE REPORT 23 JUNE REPRESENTATIVE AMONG 13787 PRISONERS 927 BRITISH OF WHOM 710 IN CAMP STOP QUARTERS DETERIORATING VERMIN QUANTITY FUEL LIMITED MAXIMUM AUTHORISED BLANKETS TWO WATER SUPPLY INSUFFICIENT SANITARY INSTALLATIONS DEFICIENT STOP FOOD RATIONS CUT DOWN FRESH VEGETABLES REPLACED BY SWEDES DRIED CABBAGE STOP 100 NEWLY ARRIVED PARACHUTISTS HAVE LOST EVERYTHING STOP STOCK TO BE RENEWED FOOD PARCELS MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER AS PRIVATE PARCELS DO NOT ARRIVE STOP RESERVE 3000 PARCELS ORDINARY MAIL ENGLAND RESTARTING STOP HEAD DOCTOR HOLDEN D CAPTAIN 43709 TWO OTHER DOCTORS 40 ORDERLIES 35 BRITISH PATIENTS IN PRIMITIVELY INSTALLED HOSPITAL MANY LACK BEDS AND SHEETS INSUFFICIENT HEATING TRANSFER TO NEW BUILDING EXPECTED STOP DENTAL SERVICE EXCELLENT STOP INSUFFICIENT MEDICAL CARE IN DETACHMENTS FULLSTOP TEILLAZARETT SPITTAL VISITED 30 OCTOBER DOCTORS KOK O CAPTAIN SOUTHAFRICAN 9496 LEWINGS E CAPTAIN AUSTRALIAN 31588 REPRESENTATIVES DEAR WILLIAM 7356 KAPLING HARRY 5216 AMONG 362 PRISONERS 60 PATIENTS 17 ORDERLIES 48 BRITISH UNFIT SERVICE SEE REPORT 17 AUGUST PRIMITIVE EQUIPMENT LACK SUFFICIENT HEATING EXTRA BLANKETS WITHDRAWN FOOD BAD SWEEDS DRIED CABBAGE STOP NO FRESH MEAT SINCE TWO MONTHS STOP REEQUIPMENT DEMANDED FOR AIRMEN IN TRANSIT ALL HAVING LOST EVERYTHING STOP REDUCED STOCKS REDCROSS PARCELS CONSIGNMENTS EXPECTED STOP MAIL ARRIVING STOP LAZARETT APPEAR BADLY SUPPLIED FOR WINTER.

INTERCROIXROUGE F 9044