CONFIDENTIAL
Reserve Lazaret Rottenmuenster Wehrkreis V
" " Villingen " V
June 18, 1941
Camp Commander: Stabsarzt Dr. Esseg
British Doctor:
Captain Gilder (Rottenmuenster)
Captain Lumsden (Villingen)
Both of the confinement centres here under review house ill and wounded British only. While each has its own commanding officer, for all practical purposes general supervision falls under Dr. Zeller, who is located at Stalag V A. Dr. Zeller has the whole area under his supervision as far as medical attention is concerned, and he accompanied the Embassy representative on this trip.
Rottenmuenster
At Rottenmuenster there are 19 English ill and wounded, 2 of which are recent arrivals. A list of names of the men here confined together with an indication of medical diagnosis and prisoner number, has been supplied to the Embassy representative. This list will be forwarded to the British Government by separate communication. In addition to those in confinement at the hospital there is an English doctor and 6 members of the sanitary corps. Fourteen of the nineteen ill and wounded have been passed by the Mixed Medical Commission. Three men have died in the last three months and appropriate notice conveyed through the Red Cross.
The men all testify that they receive sympathetic treatment and have nothing to complain about. They state that they have been very short on parcels, and that no private packages of any kind are coming through. From February 20 to April 20 they went without receipt of anything from the outside, then a consignment of 1 package per man finally came through from the Red Cross. Following this another month went by and then 12 parcels arrived from the Canadian Red Cross. In the meantime 2 medical comfort parcels were received from a Red Cross agency. They advise that there have been virtually no cigarette parcels arriving, either private or Red Cross.
Letters are coming through satisfactorily for most of the men, but there are a few still without any mail at all. (A list of such was furnished to the Embassy representative who visited the hospital in proceeding month).
It is stated that with Red Cross packages food is ample and that now no one is losing weight. The German authorities claim that their rations to the men account for from 2500 to 3000 calories average per man per day. It is to be observed that tubercular patients are supplied with milk daily.
The men are smoking French cigarettes which actually arrive for French prisoners in the same confines, and are naturally dependent on good will of the French in making such distribution. English cigarettes represent an outstanding desire for them.
There are only 20 books in the camp, and the men express a strong desire to have more. (In discussing this situation later at Stalag V B headquarters it was indicated that a sufficient supply of books at this headquarters would be sent to Rottenmuenster to make up for this deficiency.)
There are no games at hand except cards, and they would like to have some dartboard, chess and draughts sets. (This matter will be brought to attention of Berlin Y.M.C.A. organization).
Those physically incapacitated are allowed 4 letters and 2 cards, which represents an increase over 3 letters and 2 cards formerly permitted. Those not incapacitated are permitted 2 letters and 2 cards per month.
The British doctor has indicated that he would like to receive some surgery books along the lines suggested by the following titles:
Medical Operative Surgery - Rowlands and Turner
Textbook of Surgery - Romans and Mitchner
There is no chaplain here, so once a week the doctor reads services. Upon discussing this matter, the commanding officer agreed to try and arrange for a chaplain to come from a nearby concentration every two or three weeks.
The surroundings of this lazaret are very pleasant in Summer. There is a sun garden for those in position to use it.
The English doctor and the sanitary personnel are offered extra recreational facilities of 2 hours three or four times a week.
Lazaret Villingen.
In the hospital near Stalag V B are 8 English ill or wounded, and 1 English doctor. General conditions here are much the same as at Rottenmuenster and need not be repeated in this report.
There is some resentment at not receiving private parcels, or in any event parcels for which the families are paying out funds. Some of the men state that they are telling their families not to pay out any more money for packages as this is a waste of money since the packages are not received in any event.
The man of confidence, John C. SOUTHALL, was concerned over having some time previously signed a receipt for some 40 International Red Cross packages and finally having only 2 actually delivered. Although so much time had elapsed between the original signing of receipt and visit of this representative that it was practically impossible to properly trace this matter, the incident was discussed at length with the Germans, partly on principle and partly to eliminate such occurrence in future. It is not impossible that the German authority supposition to effect that the other packages were sent on to another camp to which prisoners were transferred, is the correct explanation. After this investigation, however, it is believed that the man of confidence will not again be called up to receipt without ever seeing the merchandise to which it applies.
The British doctor has indicated that he would like to receive regularly the British Medical Journal.
Recently the British doctor had not been allowed any extra recreational facilities due to the fact that he usually went out with French doctors and certain of the French had tried to escape. This representative pointed out that while administratively there might be a connection between the two nationalities of doctors here involved, from a treaty and practical point of view no such tie up could be admitted. The authorities then agree that the British doctor would be extended the facilities due to him under the Geneva Convention.
Paul S. Guinn
