TRANSLATION BY THE LONDON DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE (Germany)

RESERVELAZARETT H 57

depending on Stalag IV F

Visited by Drs. P. Ruggli and O. Lehner on the 8th November 1943

British Camp Leader  Sergeant George STAKOL No. 64

Total Strength  405 patients of whom

                         21 are British patients and

                           1 is an Indian patient

Site and Accommodation

        The site of the lazaret and the housing accommodation have not altered since the last time the Lazaret was visited. The heating appears to be inadequate: as the climate of this region is very severe the Commandant has promised to do his utmost to get the coal ration increased.

        At the present time prisoners of a nationality other than that mentioned in the Strength given above are building a small waiting room intended for the use of men who come from labour detachments to the Lazaret for consultations.

Food

        Ten German women prepare the food for both the prisoners at the German troops. This food does not seem to be at all to the taste of the French. The delegates suggested the substitution of prisoners for some of these women. This suggestion was not agreed to, but the Camp Leader has received permission to oversee the preparation of the meals, which has not, up to now, been possible.

        The patients suffering from stomach troubles are able to have special diets. Small gas cookers are used for the preparation of food stuffs from collective parcels. But the number of these cookers available is inadequate.

Clothing

        Some of the prisoners have only clothes which have come from Red Cross supplies. The doctors and the medical orderlies working in the operating theatre have white overalls. On arrival each patient receives a suit of pyjamas, two sheets, a pillow and pillow-case and two blankets. The German authorities get the bedlinen washed, once a fortnight. The conditions of footgear is poor. The Camp provides only wooden shoes.

Hygiene

        There are some bugs in the huts. But there are none in the stone buildings. The latrines are adequate. Each week each prisoner can take one hot showerbath.

Medical Attention

        About one third of the patients are surgical cases. The others suffer from various medical complaints. Thirty among them are tubercular, 25 of these cases being of the active type. The radiological apparatus is of an old-fashioned type and is only of use in connection with the lungs. Patients suffering from stomach disorders have to be radioscoped in a neighbouring place. They can only go there at the rate of 5 per week. Serum tests are made elsewhere; the results return to the lazaret after an interval of a week.

        The doctors would like to receive some broth for cultures (with and without Aga-Aga) to enable them to carry out bacteriological work. This request has been submitted to the Commandant.

        The instruments available suffice for ordinary operations, but the surgeon asks for some gloves (rubber ones presumably. trans.) as well as catgut. The German catgut is badly sterilised and often causes suppuration. The orderlies and the doctors of the medical staff receive their pay regularly and are allowed the regulation number of outings.

        Dental Care  The dentist can do stoppings and extractions. Artificial dentures can be put on order, with great difficulty, with a civilian dentist. The Commandant has promised to get into touch with the dental section of the Army in order to facilitate the obtaining of artificial dentures by prisoners.

        Unfit for Service  Men recognised as unfit for service are sent to Stalag IV B. The journey is usually a very long one, and particularly painful for prisoners who are seriously ill. It sometimes happens that patients sent to Stalag IV D in anticipation of repatriation are sent to Labour Detachments by the Staff Doctor of Stalag IV B.

        Deaths  Deaths are always reported to Geneva.

Leisure and Intellectual and Religious Needs

        A Catholic chaplain celebrates regular religious services. The prisoners have a library of 600 books. Football was forbidden following two attempts at escape. The authorities have now promised to surround the sports ground with barbed wire but until this is done the patients may no longer play games thereon. Only the medical orderlies and the doctors can make use of it during their regulation outing times.

Correspondence

        Nothing special to report.

Discipline

        This is very good.

Interview with the Camp Leader and the doctors (without witnesses)

        All the above-mentioned points were discussed.

        The British Camp Leader regrets the fact that the new British Detachments dependant on Stalag IV F (for instance Detachment No. 307) have not yet received any food or clothing parcels, or any cigarettes.

        Those British who were recognised, during their captivity in Italy, as eligible for repatriation, are no longer so considered, now that they are in Germany.

        In one British Detachment there are some tuberculars, the hygienic conditions are unfavourable.

Requests

        Ping-pong balls.

CONCLUSION

        This seems to be a satisfactory lazaret.