Stalag VB

French

British

Serbians

Poles

Available beds:

Occupied Beds:

210

112

400

358

The Lazaret is installed in large buildings in the middle of very big gardens. These buildings, at one time a convent, had then been altered to make them into a mental asylum. The material equipment is very good and there is plenty of light and air everywhere. The rooms are spacious, the beds sufficiently far apart and furnished with bedlinen.

The food rations conform to regulations. Special diets are provided for certain patients (gastric and tubercular cases). These diets provide supplementary milk up to one litre and of bread up to 500 grammes. The control and distribution of collective parcels is in the hands of the Camp Leaders.

The usual toilet articles are sold, as well as writing paper, smoking requisites and non-alcoholic drinks. Neither fruit nor vegetables are sold here.

The Surgical Department operates on easy, simple cases. They only have a makeshift operation theatre. The surgeon has, however, operated on some thirty hernia cases without suppuration.

There is also a Medical Department and a Department for infectious cases (venereal diseases and skin troubles).

There are seven cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in the hospital at the moment, including two newly developed cases. These latter are Indians. The French who develop tuberculosis are transferred by convoys to Strasbourg, where they are repatriated. The last convoy left three months ago.

30th April 1941

21st May 1941

16th June 1941

29th June 1941

11 men to Villingen

16 men to Strasbourg

9 " " "

23 " " "

The Lazaret has no X-ray Apparatus and no apparatus for pneumothorax. Radiological examinations and examinations in pneumothorax are therefore done at the Dispensary of the Anti-tubercular Hospital in the town.

The regulations in favour of the Medical Personnel are only applied in part - walks and correspondence conform to the regulations, but they can only receive one supplementary parcel per month instead of the two which should be allowed.

Religious needs are looked after by a French priest who celebrates Mass every Sunday. There is no British priest of the Orthodox Greek Church.

There is no Library, but Stalag V B sends a box of 50 books regularly for circulation.

There are not enough games. The hospital has an orchestra and a dramatic troupe.

The recognised members of the Medical Staff all receive 30 RM. a month. The unrecognised members of the Medical Staff receive 21 RM. a month. The N.C.Os. of the Medical Staff receive 42 RM. a month.

At the time of our visit the medical orderlies had been deprived of their walks for 15 days because of the escape of one of their number. This collective measure was, it appears, not a punishment but a measure necessary for the purpose of an enquiry.

The Camp has no copy of the Geneva Convention, which appeared to be quite unknown there.

We had an interview with one of the administration officers who had withdrawn and confiscated a certain number of personal blankets belonging to the prisoners under the pretext that the latter could not furnish any proof to their right to this property. On our return to Berlin, we made a report on this matter to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.

The material equipment is very good. The patients are well looked after. There are too many doctors. There are not enough chaplains. The Geneva Convention is not displayed.

Games for the patients. Books to start a library. A theatre for the dramatic troupe. Music for the orchestra.