TRANSLATION BY THE LONDON DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE  (Germany)

RESERVELAZARETT ROTTENMUNSTER-ROTTWELL (Stalag V B)

Visited on the 29th November 1943 by Dr. P. Ruggli

Strength

Camp Leaders

        British        Captain William LUMSDEN No. 1486

        American   Harry HAAS (private soldier) No. 30178

British Doctors

        Captain William LUMSDEN No. 1486

              "      Stanley GILDER No. 3629

              "      Boris LEWIN

              "      Kevin PRIDDIS

Housing Accommodation

        The prisoners are housed in a large building which was formerly in use as a lunatic system. They all sleep on individual metal bedsteads and each man has three blankets. The housing is satisfactory.

Food

        This conforms to the regulations and gives rise to no complaints.

        Prisoners are able to prepare individual dishes from the contents of collective parcels.

Canteen

        The prisoners can get beer and mineral waters from the canteen. The British Camp Leader would like some razor-blades and some shoe polish for the canteen.

Clothing

        On arrival each patient is given one pair of pyjamas, a pair of socks and a towel.

Collective parcels

        British  They do not receive enough parcels, that is to say enough for a third of the strength only, although they report this regularly to Geneva. They have no reserve supply of food parcels. The despatch of the 29th of March 1943 never arrived at the lazaret. The British would like the following articles: boots, overcoats, uniforms, caps (a detailed list has already been sent to Geneva).

        The Indians and the Arabs at the lazaret have received no parcels at all, but the other British share with them the contents of their own, although these are already not numerous enough for them.

        Americans  The Americans complain of only having received parcel No.9. and they are under the impression that the Americans pay more attention to foreigners than to their own people; they would like, if possible, to receive as many cigarettes as the British do.

        The American Camp Leader states that, at Stalag V C, some parcels which were intended for him, had been given new French addresses probably by French staff. In order to avoid a repetition of this the delegate - at his final interview with the authorities - requested that a head Anglo-American Camp Leader should be nominated at the Stalag. The British and American parcels have, up to now, been sorted by French prisoners.

        An assurance in regard to this was given, on the understanding, however, that the whole lazaret should not be put under the control of another Stalag in which there are still more British prisoners.

        In the whole of the rest of Stalag V B there are neither Americans nor British - it is only in the lazaret that there are some. This lazaret is intended for the accommodation of British and American prisoners. It was promised that a solution of this problem, which is an important one, should be found in one way or another.

        The prisoners always receive their cigarettes without any packings; the packing boxes are confiscated. A promise was given, however, that in future boxes of cigarettes coming from Geneva shall be distributed unopened to the prisoners.

        The Americans would like some woollen lumber-jackets.

Hygiene

        The prisoners can take only one hot bath a month each. There are no shower baths. The reply the delegates received to a question on this subject was that the same thing applies in German lazarets. The existence of a few fleas is reported. The other sanitary installations of the lazaret can be considered adequate.

Medical Attention

        Two thirds of the cases are surgical ones; the remaining one third are drawn from medical at psychiatric cases. This lazaret treats all the cases of mental disorder of the District No.5 (Wehrkreis V).

        The doctors complain that they have not enough drugs at their disposal; they would like, in the first instance to receive some sulphanilomides.

Leisure and Intellectual and Religious Needs

        A Catholic priest of French nationality takes care of the spiritual welfare of all the patients.

        The patients have an English library.

Salaries

        The pay, as well as the outings of the medical staff, are according to the regulations.

Unfit for service

        Fifteen British were certified as unfit for service 6 weeks ago by the Mixed Medical Commission and are now waiting to be repatriated, in exchange for others.

Correspondence

        Letters from England take two months to arrive, those from America two or three months.

        The Americans are of the opinion that their mail does not reach the United States as they have received no replies since the month of April 1943.

Discipline

        The discipline is very good. The relationship between the German doctors and the prisoner doctors is excellent.

Interview with the Camp Leader and the doctors (without witnesses)

        All the questions mentioned above were gone into.

CONCLUSION

        This seems to be an excellent lazaret.