CONFIDENTIAL

RESERVE LAZARET ROTTENMUENSTER

BRITISH

AUSTRALIAN

NEW ZEALAND
1 CANADIAN

September 1941

German Physician in charge of Wehrkreis V: Oberstabsarzt Dr. Zeller

Local Chief Physician: Stabsarzt Dr. Essig

Senior British Physician: Capt. Gilder RAMC, POW No. 3629

Assistant "            "       :

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        There has been no change in the physical condition of this Lazaret.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        There have been many new arrivals at this camp from Greece. At present there are 111 British speaking (English, Australian, New Zealand and one Canadian) of whom 97 are ill, three are physicians and eleven sanitary orderlies. (Names of all the new comers have been sent to London under separate cover.) Forty of the English speaking prisoners have been here for some months. The new-comers arrived early in September. They include Indians and Maoris.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        This Lazaret was formerly a "Kurhaus" for persons with nervous disorders. It is housed in a large brick building, most of the patients being quartered in large wards, but a few single or double rooms are available for seriously ill, or isolated cases. For the most part beds are hospital style with springs and furnished with either cloth mattresses or straw mattresses, sheets and two blankets. For the men coming from tropical climates, as many of the more recent arrivals have, two blankets do not seem sufficient, especially during the approaching period before heating is instituted. There is no over-crowding, and ventilation and lighting are satisfactory.

IV.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES

        Wash basins with hot running water are available three times each day and are conveniently situated on each floor. Six baths with daily hot water provide satisfactory bathing facilities. There is one running water basin for every four patients.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        On each floor are four toilets and four urinals, which number is satisfactory. These are well taken care of, being clean and in working order at the time of the inspection.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        Food as planned on the weekly menu should provide the usual 2200 - 2400 calories which is standard prisoner of war fare. It seems reasonable that at institutions such as this, where from time to time a number of seriously undernourished men are undergoing treatment, a more liberal diet should be given. Due to the fact that no Red Cross packages were as yet being received by the new-comers, many complaints about food were heard. However, there was little variation from food served at similar Lazarets.

        British prisoners who have been here some months are receiving one package per week per person. Milk and extra bread rations are given those suffering from digestinal illnesses. Potatoes appear to be lacking because the new potato crop has not yet been distributed. The quality of the food, however, is good and the kitchen is clean.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        A large percentage of the British-speaking patients quartered in this Lazaret have only recently arrived from Greece (September 3.) Practically all these men show signs of malnutrition and vitamin deficiency, and in some cases the condition is serious. The more serious cases are suffering mainly from Vitamin B deficiency, the chief symptoms being edema of ankles and partial paralysis of lower extremities. The English doctors brought a fair amount of vitamin preparations, especially Vitamin B, suitable for parenteral administration, but these supplies are almost exhausted and requests for more have been rejected by the Lazaret administrator on the grounds of expense. Such preparations are definitely needed and available at most hospitals. The Oberstabsarzt was notified of the situation and believed the condition could be easily corrected. (Letter to Berlin authorities.) The following are seriously ill cases:

                1.) Walter MITCHELL, POW No. 16478, Clematis Road, Cherry Green, Sheffield, England. Suffering from Empyema of right chest and Beri Beri.

                2.) Charles SUTTON, POW No. 16454, 88 Stanley Road, Carlshalton on the Hill, Surrey, England. Empyema following Pneumonia with malnutrition.

                3.) Arthur BULL, POW No. 1351, 124 Wisover Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England. Tuberculosis left lung.

                4.) George EDWARDS, POW No. 323, 75 Tintern Road, Wrythe Lane, Carlshalton, Surrey, England. Tuberculosis Pulmonary.

                5.) Meer KAHN, POW No. 16488, Tanhi, Pundi Gheb, Campbellpore, India. Suspect Tuberculosis.

        Operating room and other treatment facilities are satisfactory. One man had recently died of diphtheria complicating severe malnutrition and avitaminosis:

                Robert Alexander GUNN, POW No. 16200, died September 6, 1941.

        The following men died of tuberculosis of the lung and ere buried with military honors.

                John SMITH, POW No. 588, died March 15, 1941

                Thomas COLLINS, POW No. 581, died May 22, 1941

                Horace GUEST, POW No. 36784, died February 2, 1941.

        At this camp was a young naval doctor who had recently come from Greece along with the prisoners arriving September 3, 1941. He stated that there were about 1200 British still in Greece (Salonika) and that most of them were suffering from malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. He stated that the food was very inadequate and that only supplementary vitamin therapy kept the men going. His impression was that most of these 1200 would be kept in Greece in labor camps. (This information does not agree with that given the Embassy by the German Government, and no representations are being made based on this individual prisoners statement.)

        A prisoner who speaks no English, Mohamad Nessour, POW No. 16457, address, Salt, Transjordan, has a fractured leg. A Greek Agathangelou, POW No. 16191, British No. 2869, has lost his left arm.

        It was observed that the Maoris here have considerable lung trouble. They have been given three blankets each but they should not be required to spend the winter in such a cold climate. This applies equally to the Indians. (Note to British Government on this general question.)

VIII.) CLOTHING

        Because the prisoners are ill, they do not require many clothes, and this situation is satisfactory. It would be helpful to anticipate future needs and to send 100 pairs of boots, mainly size 9 and 100 uniforms.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        Satisfactory.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        Regular.

XI.) CANTEEN

        Normal. Doctors and sanitary personnel can buy beer; patients can buy lemonade. Cigarettes are on sale at the rate of four per day per man at normal prices.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        British chaplains, Catholic and Protestant, are needed. (Letter to Berlin authorities.)

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        Satisfactory. The physicians can take walks and adequate court yard is available for ambulatory patients.

XIV.) MAIL

        New arrivals have received no mail. The older patients are getting letters regularly. Under separate cover is being sent a list of all British speaking prisoners who have received no letters from home. Parcels for prisoners who have been here for a long time are now coming in good numbers. Many letters arrive by air mail and they have done much to improve the morale of the recipients.

        Second Lt. Morris ROWLAND, POW No. 641, suffering from arthritis of the knee but progressing favorably, would like to hear again from Mrs. Sheila Rowland, Apt. 204, 64 Street, Clair, Toronto, Canada. He last heard from her on August 9, 1941.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        None.

XVI. COMPLAINTS

        There are still complaints regarding insufficient numbers of potatoes. The local authorities stated they would provide more potatoes within three weeks when the new crop is distributed. Of major importance, however, is the arrival of Red Cross food parcels for the new prisoners. When they come at the normal rate of one per man per week it is not believed that there will be many complaints regarding insufficient amounts of potatoes.

        A former complaint that prisoners who are ill should have money for the canteen has been rectified. Each man now receives RM 2.-- monthly, which though hardly sufficient, is perhaps in accord with the fact that there is very little to buy in the camp canteen.

        Another former complaint that letters were arriving slowly has now been rectified. Parcels, however, should in the future be sent not to STALAG V B where there are French but no British, but direct to Reserve Lazaret Rottenmuenster, Wehrkreis V. In this way the French prisoners who are in control of the mail room at STALAG V B will not have to handle British Red Cross parcels with the great temptations they arouse. Cigarettes are wanted, although smoking is not allowed in many of the wards, because of the prisoners lung illnesses.

        Certain medical supplies such as vitamin B should be provided for those prisoners who have been brought from Greece who show signs of malnutrition. (Letter to Berlin authorities.) Indians and Maoris should be given more blankets because of their extreme sensitivity to cold. (Letter to Berlin authorities.) Captain Gilder reports that certain personal articles including personally owned blankets had been taken away from the physicians (Letter to Berlin authorities.) The difficulty regarding blankets is as follows: German authorities claim British patients should have no more blankets than German patients, which means one in the summer and two in the winter. Secondly German authorities state that British patients must reimburse the Germans for German blankets which they destroy by cutting them up to make civilian clothes for the purpose of escaping. Hence they are keeping a reserve supply of the British Red Cross blankets in case they need to be confiscated. (Letter to Berlin authorities.) Some ambulatory patients want to be able to cook their own Red Cross food parcels but this cannot be allowed because there is not sufficient room in the kitchen, nor are there other stoves available. Books and indoor games are wanted by the prisoners.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSIONS

        Captain Gilder continues to make an extremely good impression. He reported minor conflicts between the British and French prisoners but it is believed that those have now been settled. It is clear that he and the British assistant physicians are doing all of the medical work for the prisoners. German physicians are not really needed except to provide necessary supplies. The newly arrived patients stated that the trip from Greece took five days in the train but was not too uncomfortable. They say that their treatment here is splendid compared to what they received in Greece. In view of the serious illness with which many of the prisoners are suffering, this camp should be inspected regularly. At present, however, with the exception of the above mentioned defects conditions are not unsatisfactory.

        The chief German physician at Wehrkreis V and the man responsible for this Lazaret and for Reserve Lazaret Ehingen is Oberstabsarzt Dr. Zeller. He is an able person and it is believed that he will cooperate with the American Embassy in improving the standard of this Lazaret.

        All matters subject to complaint in this report have been discussed with the local camp authorities. Defects which the local camp authorities refuse to correct or state they are unable to correct, have been taken up with the German High Command in Berlin in letters dated October 2, 3, and 6, 1941.

Gordon Knox

Dr. Howard Fishburn