CONFIDENTIAL

No. 226.

Date of visit: July 27th 1943.

RESERVE-LAZARET ROTTENMUENSTER

Chefarzt: Stabsarzt Dr. Essig.

B.S.M.O. and Man of Confidence: Capt. Gilder, RAMC.

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        This lazaret has been described in a previous report, and has had no change since the last visit.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        Most patients are French, and there is also a separate hospital nearby for Russians. On the day of the visit, the number of British were as follows:

                2 doctors

                12 Medical Orderlies

                25 patients.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT

        No change. The wards are very satisfactory.

IV.) WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES

        Satisfactory.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        Adequate.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        The only complaint about the food was that the potatoes were very bad just now. From the day preceding this visit, the prisoners of war were given an extra supply of potatoes, to make up, at least partly, for what had to be left out; this is to go until new potatoes are issued.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        There was no special case to be mentioned. Some patients have left this hospital recently, and more will follow.

        There is a good supply of medicaments, including German ones.

        A new French surgeon, Capt. Favre, is now in this hospital, and operates also on the British, when needed.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        Shoes cannot be repaired any more in the Lazaret. The Chefarzt has asked for a cobbler, and it would be good if the I.R.C.C. could send some repair material.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        No complaint.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        No complaint.

XI.) CANTEEN

        The canteen is common for French and British, and the profits are put to a "Fond d'Entreaide", from which the British can also draw. There are very few things to be had in the canteen, as almost in all camps.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        No change.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        No complaint.

XIV.) MAIL

        The censorship is made in Stalag V, and it takes very long. The 39 British in this Lazaret are the only ones in the whole area of this Stalag, and it should be advisable that they be sent to a more British camp. There are also, it seems, many parcels getting lost underways; the only ones which are coming intact are the book parcels. The German High Command will be asked to control if there is not a leakage in Stalag V B, or on the way between the Stalag and the Reserve-Lazaret. No control can be made by the prisoners of war, as there is no British in the base-camp.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        Nothing to report.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        Surgeon-Lieut. Singer was punished by 4 weeks "Stuben-Arrest". He was then transferred to Stalag VIII B, and is now in Marlag Milag Nord. He was temporarily replaced by Capt. Gorrie, from Stalag VIII B, who has now rejoined his former camp.

        Two of the patients have lately escaped, during a walk. Hence no walks are allowed any more for the patients, and even the walks for the Medical Orderlies had been stopped for 2 weeks, but had been resumed at the time of this visit.

        Capt. Gilder went to Katyn, under protest. He was ordered there, with a small number of British ps.o.w. and one British internee. He refused to make any statement after his visit, and even to talk of what he saw to his comrades. He also refused to give his parole not to escape during the trip, and so had to be accompanied by a guard. On his return, he was kept for a week in a so-called camp in Berlin, Schliefenufer 7 or 9, he does not know exactly which number. This camp will be visited by a Representative of the Protecting Power, if the authorisation can be had from the German High Command.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        The lazaret in itself is good, but the British are completely lost among the other nationalities, and the Stalag does not seem to consider them in any way.

Fred. O. Auckenthaler.