CONFIDENTIAL
Reserve Lazaret Rottenmunster Wehrkreis V BRITISH
May 1941
Chief Physician: (for the Wehrkreis) Oberstabsarzt Major Dr. Zeller
Chief British Physician: Captain S.S.B. Gilder R.A.M.C.
Assistant German Physician in charge of the Reserve Lazarett: Hauptmann Dr. Essig.
1. General Description.
This camp is located not far from a small town and comprise a form of cure hotel. It is formed of several wings bordering an inner court and is of three-storey construction. The building appears to be modern and the grounds are well kept.
2. Capacity and Present Personnel.
There were 33 British prisoners at this camp of which 26 are patients, 15 so seriously hurt, that they have been announced for repatriation. There are 6 British sanitary personnel and 1 British physician. The hospital is not overcrowded and there is sufficient place in the rooms for more beds. Certain of the rooms are reserved as isolation wards.
This hospital includes French prisoners of war. The British however, have an entire floor to themselves.
3. Interior Arrangements.
The rooms appear to be airy and clean. The beds are of iron with spring supports and are covered with sheets, blankets, and pillows. Cupboard space is adequate, and a sufficiency of orderlies exists to keep the rooms in order.
Normal fire precautions are taken, including buckets with sand placed in the corridors. The hospital has a deep cellar which could be used for air raid precautions. This area, however, has not yet experienced an air raid.
4. Bathing and Washing Facilities.
Adequate. The men have running water and basins and can take warm showers if they receive medical permission.
5. Toilet Facilities.
Adequate, running water.
6. Food and Cooking.
Food was sampled and found to be barely adequate. The taste did not seem up to standard and the vegetables were thought to be poor in quality. The meat was good. The prisoners complained that they received insufficient potatoes, and Dr. Zeller who accompanied the inspectors stated that this deficiency would be promptly rectified. It should be borne in mind, however, that the prisoners asked for more potatoes mainly because they know it would be impossible to procure more meat and more butter and more fresh vegetables, and because the quantity of the food was barely sufficient for those who are not ill. After considerable discussion Dr. Zeller held out the faint hope that during the coming summer months more vegetables might be provided. Certain of the orderlies stated "the food is better here than at Stalag V A". (Stalag V A is now empty of British prisoners) "The food is O.K. if you are well". "It is very monotonous and some of the patients complain".
Patients who are on a special diet received skimmed milk, white bread, and occasionally eggs. Others obtain the normal prisoner of war, private soldier diet, the rations of which in grams have been presented in other prisoner of war camp reports. No menu card was available for the inspectors at this hospital.
7. Medical Attention and Sickness.
Listed below are the prisoners, the prisoner of war numbers, and diagnoses, together with their home addresses and these men are scheduled to be repatriated:-
BREEZE, Albert 37101 V B Schizophrenia. Breeze, Rectory Road, Lyng Norfolk.
McDONALD John 7504 VI G Abcess of the lung. Keepers Cottage, Lockmeln by Garve, Ross-shire, Scotland.
WATT Robert 438 V B Ulcus ventriculi. Strangs Cottage, Perth Head, Scone, Scotland.
MILLNER Willes 325 6.9.19. general paralysis. Mr. Smith 35 Huntingdon Ave. Balsover Chesterfield Derby.
BALLS Hugh 342 29.2.18 Pleurisy. Mrs. Balls 57 Chappel Road, Western Colville, Cambridge.
AUBERT Clarence 42 15.10.20. Pleurisy. Mrs. Aubert 30 Seaton Place St. Helier Jersey, Channel Island.
McKNIGHT, James 36170 Toes amputated. Mrs. Annie Lynch 90 Manchester Road Astley England.
SAMSON James 351 V D Fractura muta tarsale. Mrs. Samson Cross Street 9 St. Dunstans Canterbury, Kent.
NEE Michael 41352 V B Fracture. Mrs. Nee (Margaret) 40 Cordale Ave. Ranton Scotland.
ROBERTSON Freidrich 36151 VI A Abcess of the lung. Mrs. W. Robertson Station Road, Carron Morayshire, Scotland.
HENDERSON Georg 132 V B Paralysis Nervi radialist. Mrs. Henderson, 23 Singls Row, South Newsham Blyth Northumberland
MIDDLETON Thomas 37127 Ehing. Fracture from gun shot. Mrs. Middleton 43 Aberdeen Street, Wolderhurst Hull
HUGHES Reginald 162 V D Tuberculosis pulmonis. Mrs. James High 121 Vicarage Farm Road, Heston Middlesex.
COLLINS Thomas 581 28.1.19. Tuberculosis pulmonis et peritonei. Mr. Collins 19 Lord Street Stamford, Yorkshire, England.
NESWORTHY James 36163 VI A 26.3.00 Tuberculosis pulmonis. Mrs. Nesworthy 15 James Street South Shields, Yorkshire.
It was observed that many of the patients were suffering either from post-diphtheric paralysis, or the after effects of frost bite. Those who had diphtheria came mainly from Strasbourg and Dortmund. Formerly there had been 20 such cases, but now only 6 remain. Those suffering from frost bite came from Heuberg, which formerly was a work detail attached to Stalag V B and which now no longer exists. Cases of ostiditis amputations of toes and fingers were observed. One man had seven toes amputated.
The following other cases were observed at this hospital, diagnosis being made by an Embassy physician, Dr. C. Knight, Medical Director, United States Public Health Service, after consultation with Dr. Gilder:
Alexander CARLE 36804 post diphtheric paralysis formerly repatriation now apparently recovered and taken off list.
Horace PETTITT 36185 bullet wound met farsus, sequaler osteomylitis
Evan MORGAN 591 poliarthiritis after bacillary dysentery
Willis MILNER 325 Paralysis right thigh from gun shot wound
Sergeant John MACDONALD 754 Abcess of left lung bullet wound
MIDDLETON Peridural abcess skull dura gun shot wound no nervous troubles, and ulcera leg.
Michale NEE 41352 gunshot wound head, phychotic sequaelius phsycosis undetermined origins can't think or remember or concentrate.
Clarence AUBERT 112 double pleurisy loss of weight possible tuberculosis
Murdock NICHOLSON 36493 pleuritis exsudativa possible tuberculosis right side.
The following have died at this hospital:
Horace GUEST 4.3.1911 soldier, died February 25, 1941/ Home address: Hobicus land Langley Green, Birmingham.
John SMITH 12.7.1917 soldier, died March 15, 1941. Home address: Princa Square Alexandria Dumbartonshire, Scotland.
8. Clothing.
Adequate. More shoes wanted.
9. Laundry.
Adequate.
10. Money and Pay.
The prisoners who of course were not working receive no pay. As a result they could not purchase at the canteen even such necessities as razor blades. For this reason Dr. Gilder has contributed from his personal officer's pay to the patients. This matter was called to the attention of Dr. Zeller who stated that Dr. Gilder would be reimbursed and who stated that the German authorities would make regular monthly payments to all the patients, the amounts being from 1 - 3 RM.
11. Canteen.
The canteen is extremely rudimentary, perhaps due to lack of purchasing power among the patients.
12. Religious Activities.
There is no chaplain at this hospital but the Embassy is attempting to obtain transfer of one of the chaplains from a regular officer's camp.
13. Recreation and Exercise.
Books, darts, checkers, playing cards are urgently wanted. Dr. Zeller stated he would attempt to have a radio loud speaker installed. The prisoners can walk in the courtyard where there are a few flowers and trees and can bring chairs from the hospital into the yard for sunbathing.
14. Mail.
A large group of British prisoners have not yet received news from their families. Their names were taken and sent to London in a special dispatch dated June 18 1941.
15. Welfare Work.
None.
16. Complaints.
Prisoners complained concerning slowness or absence of the mail, deficiencies in quantity and quality of the food, and inability to purchase ordinary canteen articles. Dr. Gilder stated that the medical equipment itself was good. He added, "You can get everything you want in a way of medicines and appliances".
17. General Impression.
From a strictly medical point of view this hospital is apparently good. Certain of the orderlies stated they much preferred their present location to that of the base camp IX C. Unusually attractive features of this camp were bathing facilities with warm water, permission given sanitary personnel to take walks three times a week, and a spirit of cooperation between Dr. Essig and Dr. Gilder.
The resources of the hospital from the point of view of cultural welfare were, however, extremely limited, and life for the patients who are not too ill is unusually monotonous and dull. More energy it is believed, should be used by Dr. Essig to obtain greater variety of diet. Dr. Zeller's statement that potato rations would be increased should be checked in the future investigation.
The garden, which measures 70 by 25 meters, is pleasant for some, but bedridden patients depend on games and books from home. During the past two months 1.5 packages per man have arrived.
Gordon Knox.
