CONFIDENTIAL

No.451

BRITISH

STALAG IV G OSCHATZ

WORK DETACHMENTS DEPENDING ON STALAG IV G OSCHATZ

LEIPZIG AREA

Date of visit: May 24th, 1944.

District Man of Confidence for Leipzig-East: Cpl. REEVES (251537) c/o L 29

District Man of Confidence for Leipzig-West: Sig. PUTZEL, R. (224427) c/o L 255

        A meeting was arranged where the two District Men of Confidence as well as 23 other Men of Confidence representing all British Labour-Detachments within the Leipzig Area were assembled.

        Those present:

Revier L 94: Capt. WEBSTER F.T.D., RAMC.

        A fair number of representatives had no complaints or only minor requests brought forward. However, many questions referring to accommodation, long working-hours, Sunday work, cooking facilities, living in a danger zone, medical attendance, mail, non recognition of medical personnel, etc.

        At the meeting thereupon with the local military authorities many of these questions were settled, others promised to be looked after or referred to Stalag Commandant.

        I can say that conditions in general have greatly improved since my first visit on January of this year. No case of physical illtreatment reported.

KLINGA AREA

BRITISH

Date of visit: May 24th, 1944.

Present at the meeting:

Revier: Capt. V.M.F. WRIGHT RAMC.

        No complaints nor requests with regard to accommodation. Questions discussed referred to labour, working within areas liable to aerial bombardments, working up time lost during air-raid alarms.

        The withdrawal of the British prisoners from four of the above mentioned work detachments under reference to Art. 9, last phrase, of the convention shall be subject of an intervention by the Swiss Legation, Berlin.

WURZEN AREA

BRITISH

Date of visit: May 25th, 1944.

        A meeting took place, the following Men of Confidence representing the area being present:

Revier: Capt. McGARVIN RAMC.

        No complaints with regard to accommodations. Most of these detachments work for stone-quarries. General questions regarding labour, working-hours, medical attendance, mail, recreation were discussed and explained.

        The local Kontroll-Offizier promised to promote recreations and sport activities during the summertime.

GRIMMA AREA

BRITISH

Date of visit: May 25th, 1944.

        The Delegate met the following Men of Confidence:

        No requests with regard to accommodation. Indeed the barrack of Work-Commando 35/361 where the meeting took place may be considered a very pleasant and comfortable holiday bungalow. Prisoners there are most content.

        Minor plaints were amicably settled with the local Kontrol-Offizier.

MEISSEN AREA

BRITISH

Date of visit: May 26th, 1944.

        A meeting took place at Meissen, the following Men of Confidence being present:

        Satisfactory accommodations except bad ventilation and overcrowding at detachment 682 and 740. A general complaint was the poor quality of the German food supplies. Kontroll-Offizier explained this deficiency referring to the present unsatisfactory state of the food situation within the district. A further complaint dealt with the local Kreisleiter's order to call up prisoners of war to work for the township on Sundays to dig air-raid shelters. The Arbeitseinsatz-Offizier promised to have this stopped in so far as British prisoners are concerned. Various minor plaints were straightened out.

DOEBELN AREA

BRITISH

Date of visit: May 26th, 1944.

        The following Men of Confidence assembled:

        Accommodations satisfactory. Usual questions discussed and explained. Various minor requests were submitted to the local Kontroll-Offizier who promised to look after them.

        Stalag authorities afforded me the facilities to meet all British Men of Confidence and the Chief Man of Confidence, Sgt. James Wakelin, was permitted to accompany me on the whole inspection tour.

        At the conference with Stalag Commandant and his staff officers the following questions were discussed.

1. Medical

        I have met all three British Medical Officers and visited two of the infirmaries, namely:

        Leipzig: Capt. F.T.D. Webster RAMC is stationed in this infirmary with three other resident doctors (1 French, 1 Russian, 1 Italian). It is grossly inadequate and serves the prisoners of all nationalities of the area which include approximately 2000 British, 2500 French, 2000 Russians and 3000 Italians, also a small number of Dutch, Poles and Serbs. It has no further facilities now, even after the influx of the British and Italian prisoners into the district, as it had when it served to the French and Russians alone. There are ten beds only available for the treatment of British prisoners, and occasionally some of these are occupied by sick of another nationality. The beds are in the form of 5 double-tier, heavily bug-ridden constructions and have dilapidated straw palliasses. Sheets are not available for the beds. The beds are in a small overcrowded room, 33 feet by 11 feet. The number of beds is completely insufficient and frequently men who require treatment in the infirmary must remain sick in their work-detachment.

                The British sick are seen only twice a week as during the other days the infirmary is occupied by the sick of other nationalities. Consequently men are often ill in their "Lager" for two or three days before they can get any medical treatment. Many of the British prisoners also have to walk 4 to 6 kilometres to the infirmary when they report sick. During "Sick Parades" the examination-room of the infirmary (which is also the medical dressing-room) is extremely overcrowded and noisy. The four resident doctors with the medical orderlies and clerks have all to work in the same room which sometimes contains as many as 50 men of different nationalities. Careful auscultation of a chest is impossible and medical examination of a sick man generally is extremely difficult. The British Sick Parade is held simultaneously and in the same room with that of the Italians.

                There are no bathing facilities for patients retained in the infirmary. Wash-bowls and cold water only are available. There are no facilities for making occasional hot drinks for the sick, and a system of diet is impossible. Consequently the purpose of the Red Cross Invalid parcels is largely defeated.

                The Stabsarzt has informed me that a second infirmary for the Leipzig-area is at present being under construction.

        Bad Lausick: This infirmary is under the supervision of Capt. V.M.F. Wright RAMC. I have visited it and found the latrines in a disgraceful state. Bed-linen had not been changed for six weeks.

                The Stabsarzt said that he had no opportunity to inspect this infirmary for some time and promised an early visit and a change to the better.

        Wurzen: Capt. James Grant McGavin RAMC is in charge of this infirmary. According to his report it is overcrowded and very stuffy. Sterilization of instruments is to be done in the guard-room where there is gas. One small fire holding one kettle with enough coal to last four hours per day has to suffice for 51 patients, making drinks, cooking parcel food and bathing. The German ration is cooked in a nearby lazaret and of course arrives cold or lukewarm.

                Capt. McGavin assesses the food rations issued to prisoners in this area to contain:

                        Normal workers   2000 calories

                        Heavy workers     2500 calories

                He thinks that an average man, weight about eleven stone, requires at least:

                        Normal workers   3000 calories

                        Heavy workers     4000 calories

                He tried the hospital diet for one week and lost five kilos in weight doing his ordinary work.

        Medical Orderlies. Only ten Medical Orderlies (British) attend to 3635 British prisoners. I requested an increase to not less than 50, that is to detail one Medical Orderly to every one of the larger detachments. The Stabsarzt has agreed to a substantial increase.

                The position with regard to the medical attendance has remained to be very unsatisfactory. This is more or less the position in all Stalags within the Wehrkreis IV. In view of the fact that a very large percentage of foreign prisoners of war and labourers are concentrated in this very densely populated and highly industrialized district, substantial improvements are difficult to achieve.

2. Withdrawal of the British prisoners from four work detachments under reference to Art. 9, last phrase, of the convention. Commandant is unable to do this under his authority and the case is to be submitted to the Auswärtige Amt by the Swiss Legation in Berlin.

3. Religious activities: So far no ministers of religion have attended the British prisoners of this Stalag. Commandant assured me that he will repeat his application for both, a Protestant and a Roman Catholic padre.

INFORMATION:

        Printed leaflets have been distributed to the British prisoners reading as follows:

                "As a result of repeated applications from British subjects from all parts of the world wishing to take part in the common European struggle against Bolshevism authorization has recently been given for the creation of a British volunteer unit.

                The British Free Corps publishes herewith the following short statement of the aims and principles of the unit:

                1) "The British Free Corps is a thoroughly British volunteer unit, conceived and created by British subjects from all parts of the Empire who have taken up arms and pledged their lives in the common European struggle against Soviet Russia.

                2) The British Free Corps condemns the war with Germany and the sacrifice of British blood in the interests of Jewry and International Finance, and regards this conflict as a fundamental betrayal of the British People and British Imperial interests.

                3) The British Free Corps desires the establishment of peace in Europe, the development of close friendly relations between England and Germany and the encouragement of mutual understanding and collaboration between the two great Germanic peoples.

                4) The British Free Corps will neither make war against Britain or the British Crown nor support any action or policy detrimental to the interests of the British People."

                "Published by the British Free Corps"

        I have not made this new propaganda drive a point of discussion with the German Military Authorities since prisoners disregard it.

(Signed) Rudolph E. DENZLER

(EN CLAIR)

0103/5838 P.W.2. dated 28.6.44.

F.O. Ref. K.W.2/4 dated 12.6.44.

Departmental No.1.

Mr. Norton.

No.2659

12th June, 1944.

FROM BERNE TO FOREIGN OFFICE

D. 2.57. p.m. 12th June, 1944.

R. 8.30 p.m. 12th June, 1944.

        My despatch 2223.

        Report on detachment Stalag IVG visited 24th to 26th May stated Swiss representative met men of confidence representing detachments Leipzig area following complaints of accommodation long working hours, Sunday work, cooking facilities, living in danger zone, medical attention, mail, non-recognition medical personnel, many of which settled with local military authorities others referred to Stalag Commandant. Conditions greatly improved since January visit.

        Discussions with men of confidence 6 detachments Klinga area dealt with working within areas liable to air attack, making up time lost during alarms, Swiss will endeavour obtain withdrawal of prisoners from 5 detachments under Article 9 Convention.

        Wurzen area no complaints regarding accommodation, German control officer promised recreation sport during summer.

        Grimma area no serious complaints.

        Meissen area satisfactory accommodation except bad ventilation and overcrowding at detachments 682 and 740 complaint concerning poor quality German rations and prisoners having to work Sundays for town authorities digging airraid shelters.

        Doebeln area no serious complaints.

        Leipzig infirmary grossly inadequate only ten beds for approximately 2000 British, beds bug-infested, dilapidated straw palliasses, no sheets, overcrowded, British sick seen only twice weekly, many must walk four to six kilometres to infirmary, adequate medical examination extremely difficult in overcrowded noisy room. No bathing facilities and only cold water at infirmary, no facilities for making hot drinks or preparation Red Cross food diet system impossible.

        Bad Lausick infirmary latrines in disgraceful state, bed linen unchanged for six weeks.

        British M.O. reported Wurzen infirmary overcrowded and stuffy instruments sterilized in guard room, one small fire with sufficient coal for four hours daily for cooking Red Cross food and bathing needs of fifty one patients.

        German rations inadequate.

        Insufficient number of British medical orderlies in detachments, medical attention generally unsatisfactory no Chaplains this Stalag.

        Leaflets distributed notifying creation of British free corps for fight against Bolshevism disregarded by prisoners.