Stalag VB

British Senior Medical Officer and British Man of Confidence: Capt. Gilder, R.A.M.C.

British doctors

" medical orderlies

American " "

British interpreter

" patients

American "

Among the patients are 5 British and 3 American officers; these will probably soon be sent to an Oflag.

The increase in the number of patients is due to the arrival of some Prisoners of War previously in Italy. The Inspector was told that this Lazaret will probably become almost completely one reserved to British and American Prisoners of War. The French will go somewhere else in the near future.

Due to the increase in British and American Prisoners of War, there are now more rooms for them. The Chefarzt is not satisfied with the officers' rooms, and will improve them for the rest of their stay here.

But now that there are so many more patients in this Lazaret, there is an urgent need for more Red Cross food and Invalid Comfort parcels, both British and American. 296 American food parcels had been for some time in Stalag V B, from which the Lazaret depends; the authorities of that Stalag promised to have them sent at once. As there are as a rule no British or American Prisoners of War in Stalag V B itself, and that thus no control can be effectively done on those parcels, it would probably be better if they were sent directly to Reserve-Lazarett Rottenmünster. The authorities of Stalag V B, approached on this seemed agreeable with this proposition. The International Red Cross Committee will be informed of that.

There are now quite a number of surgical cases in this Lazaret, and a British surgeon was needed. The Inspector learned 2 days later that 2 British doctors, one of them probably a surgeon, had been transferred to Rottenmünster from Oflag V A.

Also, dental attention should be organised; it was decided that twice a month the Prisoners of War needing to see a dentist go to Stalag V B for it. To be checked during next visit.

Some more medical orderlies are also wanted; the Chefarzt had already asked for some to be sent here, and was expecting 12 in the near future.

There are also 13 tuberculosis cases, all Indians; they will soon be transported to a specialised Lazaret. In the meantime it was promised they would receive additional blankets.

A second consultation-room is being fixed up; more instruments were promised for it.

The Americans would like to receive some medical parcels, as up to now they have those given by the British Red Cross Society only.

There are some difficulties in Stalag V B to recognise the 3 American medical orderlies as protected personnel. They are in possession of their official identity card, but the authorities of the Stalag are not satisfied with the indications mentioned on them. They say that, to be considered as protected personnel, a man had to have passed a special course to become regular or auxiliary medical orderly. Article 9 of the Geneva Convention (Sick and Wounded) is interpreted in this Stalag in a very peculiar way. There was also a British stretcher-bearer, who unfortunately had left the Lazaret but a few days before this visit, and who, said Capt. Gilder, was in possession of the regular certificate; the authorities of the Stalag refused to recognise him as protected personnel, because he could not, it was said, prove that he had followed a special course for stretcher-bearers.

The transport of the patients from Stalag V B to this Stalag was done in filthy trucks, in very poor conditions for wounded soldiers. The Camp Commander of Stalag V B was very sorry to hear that, but the German doctor said that it also happened that German wounded soldiers were to be carried that way; the Camp Commander answered that this should only happen in urgent cases, when no other means of conveyance could be found at once, but that it was to be an exception. The Men of Confidence of Rottenmünster were all the more scandalised with the way this transport had been made, as, they said, patients of other nationalities are transported in a really decent way. The impression made by the German doctor of the Stalag was far from being satisfactory.

Another serious complaint is that the wounded Prisoners of War who came here from Italy, have had a long journey, stayed in different camps or hospitals during that journey, but for the greater part never received any proper medical attention until they arrived in Rottenmünster.

The British doctors can go for walks, on "parole"; this is due, it was said, to an order issued in February, 1943. Walks for patients, even on "parole", have been refused by the Camp Commander of Stalag V B.

There is also a great need for British and American clothing in this Lazaret; the small stock that was there is insufficient now that there are so many patients in Rottenmünster. Some patients only have German lazaret-clothing, but no uniforms. What will happen to them, if they are well and are to be sent to a Stalag? The Camp Commander of Stalag V B could not answer that.

The Men of Confidence said that British and even American uniforms were seen in Stalag V B on Prisoners of War of all sorts of nationalities; the Inspector asked that all British and American clothing be sent to Reserve-Lazarett Rottenmünster, there to be given to the Men of Confidence to distribute them as they think it best.

It is still difficult to have shoes repaired. Capt. Gilder as well as Haas have written to the I.R.C.C. in this respect.

There is practically nothing in the canteen. One razor-blade is issued per month. The Chefarzt will try and have a barber for this Lazarett.

Letter-mail from U.S.A. takes an average of 2½ - 3 months; from England, 1 month. There are no more, or very few losses of parcels under way now.

The American Man of Confidence said that the families of the Prisoners of War wrote that they did not receive any mail from them in the States, although they write regularly. The International Red Cross Committee will be asked to make inquiries, and find out where the letters are lost, or eventually unduly delayed.

The only other complaint was concerning the way the British and Americans were considered in this Lazaret and in Stalag V B, when they were there. They were continually reminded that they are Prisoners of War, and had absolutely nothing to say. The new Chefarzt had already noticed that, and had taken the necessary steps to have the Prisoners of War treated as they should be by the German Non-Commissioned Officers and men. His attention was drawn on the different articles of the Geneva Convention, and the Inspector had the impression that he will do everything he can to improve the treatment of those who are in his Lazaret. The Inspector then went to Stalag V B, where he had an interview with the Camp Commander and his Staff. There the impression was decidedly bad; the delegate of the Swiss Legation in Berlin left with the opinion that bad will was shown in this Stalag, as well as a complete lack of interest for the British and American Prisoners of War. An instance; an American flying Non-Commissioned Officer died in this Stalag; the Man of Confidence was not given any information, and was not allowed to go to his funeral.

The Inspector is still of the opinion that, instead of making of this Lazaret one for British and Americans, the latter should be transferred somewhere else, in an area where more of their compatriots are; or that this Lazaret be made completely independent from Stalag V B.