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

RESERVELAZARETT LEIPZIG-WAHREN

Germany.

Visited by Mr. Mayer on November 25th. 1944.

Strength - Several hundred prisoners including -

        46 British       (43 patients 3 medical personnel)

          6 Indians       (6      "       -                            )

          7 Americans  (7      "       -                            )

General remarks - This hospital is in a town centre. The Delegate arrived at the hospital on the 25th. November, at 8 p.m. having been considerably delayed by a supplementary camp visit in another region during the day; thus, his visit was very short and a more complete report cannot be made for the moment.

Hospital quarters - Having arrived after dark, the Delegate had only a vague view of the outside of the hospital - a solid stone building which has not suffered from the bombardment of the region.

        Patients are accommodated in -

                1 large ward for internal complaints and surgical cases (125 single beds. 1 ward for operational cases (14 beds). Isolation ward. 1 ward for newcomers (20 beds) 1 hut for infectious illnesses (50 beds).

        There is also a hospital annexe used for slight cases; this second building contains 120 beds. The hospital installation is satisfactory; in the annexe, however, shower baths or baths are not available.

        Hospital conditions for patients of all nations may be considered good.

Interview with Doctors (without witnesses) - The annexe which is used for slight cases would be quite satisfactory if shower baths could be taken.

        The Doctors in the main building were very pleased to receive the Delegate's visit but stressed the fact that, four months earlier, he would have seen the hospital under very different conditions whereas at present everything is progressing smoothly. Doctors had to contend with great difficulties for over a year when it was impossible to work in harmony with the German doctor and complaints were frequent. Since the summer of 1944, the new German doctor, the "Stabsarzt Bretschneider facilitates the p.o.w. doctors' work; notable improvements have been made and doctors make absolutely no complaints; two requests only are made for the attention of the International Committee of the Red Cross -

                1. An urgent request for bandaging material, cotton wool, calcium, calmatives -

                2. When sending parcels for British, would it not be possible to include about ten extra parcels for doctors and medical personnel?

        From the interview with the doctors and the British and American Camp Leader, Sgt. Ranzit Shirke (Indian), it was noted with regret that the latter refused to give anything at all to doctors of other nations. These doctors of other nations gave attention to British and Americans and it is only just that they should have a little extra. It seems possible to settle this question with the parties concerned.

        It is to be noted that for some months this hospital is too often overcrowded by the arrival of seriously wounded after bombardments in the region.

Conclusion - This hospital would be very good if it was not constantly overcrowded with numerous wounded after bombardments. The German and the p.o.w. doctors work in perfect harmony which greatly contributes to the good working of the hospital.