CONFIDENTIAL

No.602

AMERICAN/BRITISH

KRIEGSGEFANGENENLAZARETT LUDWIGSBURG

Date of visit: October 21st, 1944.

        This is not an independent RESERVE-LAZARET; as a hospital it forms part of the nearby Stalag V A, under the command of Oberst von Bilfinger. There are no British or American prisoners of war in the area of this Stalag with the exception of those mentioned in the following report.

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

        Ludwigsburg is situated at some distance to the north of Stuttgart. As far as American or British prisoners of war are concerned, this lazaret may best be described as transit- or clearing-station for prisoner patients from the front. As a permanent institution, it accommodates mainly French, but also prisoner of war patients of other nationalities.

        The lazaret itself is composed of several modern stone-buildings.

II. CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL:

        On the day of visit the number of American and British patients was as follows:

                1 American officer

                8 American Non Commissioned Officers

                4 American private soldiers

                1 British officer.

        All Americans arrived three weeks ago from the lazaret at Strasbourg; prior to their arrival at Strasbourg on September 28th, 1944, they had been at a lazaret at Colmar for about 5 days, most of them having been captured about September 22nd, 1944. Immediately after their arrival at this lazaret, every prisoner sent the usual notification to the International Red Cross at Geneva, but none of them had yet been registered by the German authorities when paid a visit by the Delegate of the Protecting Power.

        On inquiry the commander of Stalag V A stated that it was not intended to open either a British or American lazaret here and although the above prisoners had been brought to Ludwigsburg as a result of the situation on the western front, they would be transferred to camps as soon as they are well enough.

III. INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS:

        At present all prisoners are accommodated together in one and the same room, this being as desired by the patients themselves concerned; they do not wish to be separated at the moment, although the Germans have told them that if more patients are to arrive, they will be accommodated according to their military ranks in different wards.

        The ward now assigned to the prisoners is on the first floor in one of the big modern hospital buildings, as such bright and pleasant, though mostly furnished with single beds and a few shelves only and little more. At the moment the accommodation may be considered as adequate, as the prisoners arrived without any belongings other than the clothing they had on.

IV. WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES:

        There is an adequately equipped washroom on each floor of the big building but at the moment it is open during two hours only each day as the recent bombing of Stuttgart has caused a severe shortage of water. Each prisoner has a weekly hot shower.

V. TOILET FACILITIES:

        Modern flush latrines.

VI. FOOD AND COOKING:

        The German food rations are cooked in a communal kitchen by French prisoners of war. At this hospital prisoners do not receive the usual "lazaret rations", but "ordinary rations" with special diet-allowances if required.

        Regarding both, stock and facilities for cooking of Red Cross food, the situation is rather unsatisfactory. Having been here a short time only, the prisoners of war have naturally not yet received any supplies from Geneva, although the Red Cross was notified at once of their arrival. Up to the present time French prisoners of war have regularly lent Red Cross food parcels, so that patients have not been without this important item of their daily diet. However, as to the facilities for cooking of private food, the Delegate of the Protecting Power lodged a complaint with the commander, as the existing arrangements are in no way satisfactory. It was definitely promised to improve the situation; also promised were additional eating utensils, particularly bowls, and the exchange of those at present in the possession of the prisoners of war, as most of them are in bad condition.

VII. MEDICAL ATTENTION AND STATE OF HEALTH:

        Without exception all Americans are surgical cases. A list of their names, rank, number and diagnosis follows hereafter:

        The British officer, Lt. E.D. Pollock, pow. No.3410, is being treated for ulceration of the stomach. He came from Oflag V A, Weinsberg.

        Regarding medical attention and treatment there was no complaint whatsoever. The Polish surgeon, who is in charge of the American surgical cases, is stated to be excellent and doing marvellous work. Additional drugs and medicaments are being supplied by the French, who on their part have received them from Geneva.

        No serious cases have been reported.

VIII. CLOTHING:

        No prisoner of war possesses any further clothing except what he was wearing when being captured on the western front. When being transferred to a camp later, prisoners of war will then naturally be issued with more or new clothing, but even for the time being some additional articles of clothing would be very welcome. (Upon paying a visit to the British OFLAG V A, Weinsberg, on October 23rd, the Delegate of the Protecting Power arranged for the dispatch of some clothing to this lazaret, as well as other items very urgently needed, particularly toilet articles. The British officers were very pleased to be able to help their comrades at Ludwigsburg.

IX. LAUNDRY:

        As far as possible, prisoners of war do their own laundry or assist one another.

X. MONEY AND PAY:

        Nothing to report as yet.

XI. CANTEEN:

        There is nothing on sale in the French canteen except lemonade.

XII. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY:

        Nothing to report.

XIII. RECREATION AND EXERCISE:

        There is a fair sized courtyard at the disposal of the prisoners of war, where walks or games can be enjoyed, although owing to their condition, most patients are unable to make use of it.

XIV. WELFARE WORK:

        Nothing to report as yet.

XV. MAIL:

        Nothing to report.

XVI. COMPLAINTS:

        No complaints other than mentioned under the previous points of this report.

        The American prisoners of war informed the Delegate of the Protecting Power of the presence of four de Gaullist prisoners at this lazaret, who are said to have fought in American Army uniform with the American forces in North Africa, but are now accommodated with and treated as French prisoners of war. Upon discussing the matter with the commander, the latter told the Delegate of the Protecting Power that he had not been informed of this but promised to examine the cases at once.

XVII. GENERAL IMPRESSION:

        Thanks to the extreme kindness of the French prisoners of war at this lazaret, who have been, and still are, assisting the Americans in every possible way, many a hardship could be barred out from the beginning which otherwise would have been unavoidable. Although the accommodation as well as the installation of the lazaret in general is somewhat primitive, this fact is made up for by the excellent medical attention. Furthermore, as soon as in a fit condition, prisoners of war will be transferred to camps in other parts of Germany.

(Signed)

Werner BUCHMUELLER.