TRANSLATION BY THE LONDON DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS

STALAG VIII B

(Germany)

Visited by Dr. Rossel August 26th.

British Camp Leader - Fr. Ch. REED, No.19

Red Cross Trustee - Edward STEVENS, No.29456

Strength -

Situation and accommodation - On his arrival in the very the Delegate was surprised to see a collection of very old huts. He was also very surprised to meet a mixture of all nationalities. Prisoners are often in the same huts at Italians and Russians. The huts are all in bad condition, dark and cold, infested with fleas and bugs. During the hot season the buts are so intolerable that the men prefer to sleep out in the air in their sleeping bags.

        A new camp is now nearly finished to which will be transferred the Italians and the Russians thus clearing the camp and assuring complete separation. During the final interview, the Delegate did not hide from the German authorities his painful impression of this Camp. He was informed that the new camp would soon be ready.

Food - The cooking of rations issued by the Detaining Power is done by all the prisoners in common.

        A British Sgt-Major is responsible for the checking of the rations to the kitchen. The Camp Leader states that prisoners receiving Red Cross parcels do not share in the rations issued by the German kitchen.

        The cooking of the food from the Red Cross may be done in the kitchen on special stoves. The Camp Leader points out that, the in view of the increasing camp strength, such cooking will become more and more difficult.

Clothing - The British in this camp are quite independent as regards clothing. The "Kommandantur" and camp leaders are in the camp but the Red Cross depot are elsewhere (see under heading "Collective Consignments"). The N.C.O. in charge at the clothing centre reports as follows -

        1. Most urgent needs - Trousers

                                            Boots (specially small sizes)

                                            Pullovers

                                            Towels

        2. Working clothes - The N.C.O. in charge asks if, in order to economise clothing, the British Red Cross could send working overalls. The Delegate stated that firms for whom the prisoners work should normally provide such clothes. If these firms do not issue overalls, this should not be done by the British Red Cross as this would create a precedent.

                Old clothing which has been exchanged for uniforms sent by the Red Cross is sent to the German repair shops. When mended the clothing is again placed at the prisoners' disposal but in shops and organisations under German control and the authorities consider such clothing as the property of the Reich ("Reichseigentum). The British justly find it difficult to admit that such clothing can become the property of the Reich. During the final interview the quarter-master ("Stabszahlmeister") stated in reply to the question that the cleaning and mending having been done at the German Government's expense this old clothing (that the prisoners themselves consider useless and have exchanged for new) becomes justly German property.

        3. Lost clothing - There are various circumstances which arrive in normal camp life which affect clothing centres. When a man escapes, if recaptured he returns to camp bereft of everything for the German authorities confiscate all belongings in these cases. Thefts of clothing occur for exchange purposes (clothing for eggs etc.) Also loss of clothing by carelessness.

        4. The N.C.O. in charge asked if each British P.O.W. had a right to possess two complete outfits. According to instructions lately received from the Red Cross, the Delegate replied that this was not a rule. Each British prisoner should have at least one outfit in order. The British Red Cross hopes that each prisoner could have two battle dresses etc. as far as this is possible.

Collective consignments - The British portion of the camp is now detached from Stalag 344; the camp is running well. The Camp Leader is at Stalag VIII B. but the Red Cross Trustee and the depots are elsewhere.

        All the depots were still in another place but have just been transferred. This depot is naturally very important; 40 British prisoners are working there. The depot covers the rationing of 65 working detachments and 7 hospitals, making a total of 13530 British.

        Each of these detachments is stock simultaneously for a period of 8 weeks; 10 to 14 days before the date when stocks may presumably be exhausted, new consignments are issued. On the whole, this system has proved satisfactory. The Red Cross Trustee remarks as follows:-

        1. Medical and Invalid Comforts are checked and the distribution is carried out under the orders of the Senior British Medical Officer of Stalag VIII B, but are stocked and distributed through the central depot. Medical supplies are not distributed through the central depot. Medical supplies are not distributed for a period of 8 weeks but in proportion to and according to the needs of the detachments, such needs being judged by the British doctor or a number of the medical personnel.

        2. Parcels for prisoners who do not receive personal parcels. As the Camp receives proportionally small quantities of tooth brushes, combs, razor blades etc. the distribution of such articles in accordance with the strength of the detachment is not practical. Special parcels are therefore made of these articles to help prisoners who have received nothing from their next-of-kin for some long time. This system has proved satisfactory.

        3. As a general rule. Red Cross stocks are not in the detachments. The same applies to the Camp; depots are not in the Main Camp but are placed in various storerooms in town. The British Camp Leader having complained, the Delegate visited the stores and found that they could certainly not be controlled; the premises are locked but the doors could easily be forced open. The Camp Leader does not wish to accept such storerooms and be responsible for thefts which might occur. Further the premises containing Standard Parcels are damp.

                Replying to this complaint, the Commandant stated that immediately space was available the stores would be transferred once more to the Main Camp.

        4. The grave question of the ruling for immediate consumption of Red Cross parcels was discussed at length with the Red Cross Trustee and Camp Leader. The latter wonders if it would not be better, in view of this ruling, to return to the former system of distribution, i.e. 4 parcels per month. The Delegate informed him that he was free to choose as he alone could judge of local conditions. No decision had been taken when the Delegate left the Camp Leader who will make a decision according to events.

        5. Stalag VIII B is principally composed of mine working detachments. The men use a great deal of soap and therefore a maximum quantity of soap in bulk should be sent. Further, it must be pointed out that the Argentine parcels contain no soap; the Camp received 12,810 in August. Soap is greatly needed.

        6. Thefts between Geneva and the camp are specially of cigarettes. The Red Cross Trustee suggests that when the wagons are loaded the parcels of cigarettes are placed at the bottom; this simple precaution would often prevent theft.

        7. It happens that detachments sometimes sustain air raids; standard parcels lost on these occasions were replaced from the central stores. The Red Cross Trustee requests Geneva to allow him 400 extra parcels to make up the loss.

        8. With the stocks now on hand, reserves should last until November 15th. 1944 if the distribution continues at the rate of 2 parcels per month. As already stated above the British may, according to events, revert to the distribution of 4 parcels, to which the Delegate quite agrees.

        9. It very often happens that Red Cross supplies are confiscated by the "Abwehr" following an order circulated throughout the camps (for instance - following an escape - a prisoner in possession of unopened tins of food, etc.). As a general rule these supplies are then handed to an infirmary or hospital, but the Camp Leader complains that this is not done in his camp. The Camp Commandant states that these supplies are handed over to the kitchens. In future such cases will be reported to the British medical officers.

        10. When part of Stalag XXI D was removed, the following Red Cross stores were taken for the journey and should have been given back to Stalag VIII B but this was not done -

                11,000 English cigarettes

                11,000 French cigarettes

                     321 cakes of soap

                       38 packets of tobacco

                     123     "         " cocoa

                       17     "         " margarine

                       31     "         " biscuits

                         8     "         " tea

                       65     "         " oatmeal etc.

                This matter was already brought to the notice of the Delegate of the Protecting Power on the 14th. inst.

        11. The British Camp Leader will not distribute parcels to [?] Belgians, members of the Allied Forces, as these men are no longer under his control.

        12. During the last months the British have lost through theft approximately 367 "parcels" and 201,000 cigarettes.

Hygiene and medical attention - The wash basins are few; the rudimentary latrines are sometimes emptied too late, no horses being available for the sewage carts. Disinfectant can sometimes be obtained. Prisoners can take a showerbath once a week.

        Medical attention is given by 2 British doctors -

                Captain I.O.B. SPENCER, No.684

                Major G.F. EAGLE, No.1984/VIII F

        and several doctors of other nationalities. The 25 members of the medical personnel in the camp include 16 British.

        Of the 72 patients in the camp infirmary 21 are British.

        A delicate question has been raised with regard to the recognising of medical personnel by the German authorities. All prisoners have had their papers taken away by order of the "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht". Certain members of the medical personnel have had to give up their papers which prove they are members of this body and are now obliged to work.

        It would appear that the transmission of medical papers between Geneva and the detachments is very faulty. A lost of men who are not in possession of their medical personnel certificates has been sent to Geneva.

        As an example the names are given below of two members of the medical personnel who are obliged to work in a mine as they do not possess certificates -

                Private Gerald RAATH, No.1983, POW No.30959, age 24

                Private Robert WILSON de ROUX, No.76370, POW No.270244, age 24.

        As a further example, the three following men have not been recognised as medical personnel although Capt. I.O.B. Spencer No.684, their unit commander, certified that the three were under his orders as medical personnel -

                L/Cpl. R. PEARCE, No.5179320, POW No.12436

                Bds. L. MAIDMENT, No.5182006, POW No.14849

                Bds. W. COATES, No.5182015, POW No.1758

        The Camp Leader at working detachment E.593 reports that Sgt. R.C. BENTLEY, POW No.23253 is also without medical papers.

        Doctors find that their work in the detachments is becoming more and more limited as practically they can no longer travel. Working detachment E.593, with a strength of 423 British, has two doctors one of whom would like to be sent elsewhere; his request has been transmitted by the Delegate to the Camp authorities.

        Incidents often occur between army doctors and civilian doctors on the works. A man certified unfit for heavy work is frequently sent back to the mine by a civilian doctor who is not competent to take such decisions.

Correspondence - British mail is very irregular at the present time. Personal parcels, tobacco or others, are always lost or only arrive in very small quantities.

Interview with Camp Leaders - The Delegate was able to converse freely with the Camp Leaders.

Work and Pay - Pay is allowed normally and there is no complaint.

        Work is often very hard in this industrial and mining region. It is difficult to state whether the work required is heavier than that required from civilian workers, it is certain in any case that work in mining and other detachments is very heavy.

        The Delegate visited several working camps and was able to converse freely with the following camp leaders -

Recreation, intellectual and spiritual needs -

        Chaplains - John HIDDLESTONE, No.22726, N.Z.

                          G. KESTELL-CORNISH, No.23905 (R.A.Ch.D.)

        Chaplains find it difficult to visit the neighbouring hospital and to spend the necessary time there; visits are always cut short. They are no longer able to visit the detachments.

        There are two Italian Catholic priests in the camp but they do not speak English and certain men in detachments have not been able to attend Mass since three years.

        Theatricals are not allowed at present in prison camps in Germany; theatres for the civilian population in Germany have been suppressed by order of the "Arbeitseinsatz" and prisoners may no longer have shows.

        As regards sports, games etc. see appendix.

Special Requests - For the British Camp Leader - office equipment, typewriters, brooms and brushes.

Conclusion - All questions raised during the interview with the Camp Leaders were referred to the German Commandant at the final interview. The Delegate thanked the Commandant who stated he would do all in his power to settle questions of detail. However, in view of the actual accommodation on Stalag VIII B is not sufficiently equipped; further, working conditions in the various detachments are often very hard.