CONFIDENTIAL

RESERVE LAZARET OBERMASSFELD (WEHRKREIS IX)

Dependent on STALAG IX C

German Chief physician: Oberartz Doctor Kost.

Senior British physician: Major Chapel RAMC

Senior British officer: Lt. Colonel King-Salter

January 21st, 1942

I.) GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        This camp has already been described in many previous reports. There have been no changes since the last visit on 13th of November 1941.

II.) CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        At the time of the visit, there were 356 British prisoners of war, including 9 Doctors, 1 dentist, 1 clergyman and 36 sanitary personnel. There are also 3 British nurses [Note in margin: These are not in the Army nor are Air Force Nursing personnel. Names unknown]. The total capacity of the hospital is 400 beds, of which at the time 393 were occupied. The British senior doctor emphasized the fact that the present number of patients means that the hospital is definitely overcrowded. The Legation representatives agree with this, and feel that a decrease of about a hundred beds is desirable. Doctor Kost stated that he tried to obtain more rooms, for instance an adjacent wing of the building, actually occupied by other tenants, but that he has so far not succeeded. The matter will be taken up with the German High Command.

        As a palliative, Doctor Kost suggested that the three British nurses actually at Obermassfeld should be transferred to a camp for civilian women, but both the senior British officer and the British doctor emphasized the fact that these three nurses were doing excellent work for the patients, and were especially valuable from the point of view of the morale in the hospital. As the room in which the nurses were living had to be used for other purposes, six senior officers living together in one room offered to put their room at the disposal of the nurses, and take up their quarters with the subaltern officers. This was agreed to by the German chief physician, who promised to take no more steps to have the nurses transferred. The matter was also discussed to the same effect with the Commander of the Stalag, from which the lazaret is dependent.

III.) INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        There have been no changes in the interior arrangements of the lazaret, except that one room has been added in a building close to the main building. This room is more particularly used for massage and other physical treatment, and in the afternoon also for classes in different subjects.

        The wards are, except for overcrowdedness, suitable for their purpose. They are airy and well heated. The light in the big ward on the ground floor is still not satisfactory. The point was discussed with Doctor Kost, who stated that there was a shortness of electrical current due to the dry weather in the last months. He could therefore, at the moment, do nothing to improve the matter. The beds are all of a comfortable hospital type, only in a few cases arranged in double tiers. The upper beds are never used by patients physically handicapped, as was made certain by the delegates. All beds are provided with at least two blankets and bed linen which is changed about once a month.

        In the hospital, there is only one isolation room, in which all newly coming patients are put in a sort of quarantine. This room is only about 6 by 6 by 3 metres, and is occupied by twelve beds arranged in double tiers. This room must be considered definitely overcrowded, and will be specially mentioned in the complaints to the German High Command.

IV.) BATHING AND WASHING FACILITIES

        The bathing and washing facilities are adequate and there have been no changes on this point.

V.) TOILET FACILITIES

        The latrines are satisfactory. There are no changes.

VI.) FOOD AND COOKING

        The cooking facilities are the same as described in previous reports. It ought to be mentioned that there are no facilities for the men to warm up their private food individually. This matter was discussed with the Commander in the Stalag, who promised to look into the matter. The point will be checked at the next visit. In the meantime, it has been arranged that a large number of men can have parcel-food prepared collectively.

        As regards quality and the quantity of the food, this seemed to be adequate, but Major Chapel insisted on having facility to see the weekly food-card, including the amount of each item on the menu. This matter was discussed with the camp Commander, who promised to have it settled. A copy of the menu for the period 19 - 25 January 1942 is added to the report. Major Chapel raised a complaint that the bread ration had lately been cut down from 325 to 250 grams per day. He stated that this had not mattered so much as long as they had had Canadian Red Cross parcels, which contained biscuits, but there were now only very few of these parcels left and no more were expected in the future. Doctor Kost stated that he had been forced to take this step on account of the fact that complaints had been made by civilians, through the German authorities, that bread had been thrown out of the windows of the hospital and in the nearby river, and that he did not consider this measure to be taken as a punishment, but as preventative steps to avoid waste of food. He agreed anyhow to have the daily ration raised momentarily to 300 grams per day, and this as long as no more bread would be wasted.

VII.) MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SICKNESS

        As had been mentioned in previous reports, this lazaret is mainly a surgical one. A majority of the cases here are amputations and other orthopedic cases and the main problem is, as has been mentioned before, to provide the necessary artificial limbs. The German authorities do not seem to be able to provide any necessary equipment and, for practical reasons, it does not seem possible to have artificial limbs sent from abroad to be fitted on the patients in the hospital, at least not on a large scale. The avoid more permanent damage to the patients, the British doctors here have made temporary limbs of different kinds, which for a time serve their purpose. But to be able to carry on this work, the doctors are, however, in need of more material, a list of which includes: Strip duraluminium or substitute 10 sq. metres by 3 cm., Straps in webbing or canvas 100 11/2 metres by 10 cm., Lacets 200 (about 2 metres in length). Springs 100 rubber 100 metal 12 cm. in length, Rivets copper 200, Bolts 100 - 12 cm. 100 - 3 cm, Porous felt 10 sq. metres, Webbing or canvas 10 sq. metres, Orthopedic felt (sticky on one side) 5 sq. metres. This list has already been cabled to the International Red Cross in Geneva. Major Chapel stated that, in other respects, they were well supplied with all kinds of medical outfit. It was also stated that the tooth-brushes asked for in the last report had partly arrived.

        In this hospital there are also about 15 blind patients, which are learning the Braille system. They seemed to have been doing fairly well and it was stated that the Braille books have lately been arriving satisfactorily. A special teacher, a German who is blind himself, was expected here within the next few days, and it was asked to have more advanced Braille books and others for complete Braille shorthand as well as instruments sent to make a proper teaching possible. These wishes have been transmitted to the International Red Cross. Marquis of Normandy, who is specially taking care of these blind men and takes this question very much at heart, stated that the men were doing quite well, and that locally everything possible is done for their benefit. He emphasized, however, very strongly the fact that the atmosphere here in the hospital is absolutely wrong for these blind men, in so far that they do not learn to carry on on their own behalf, as there are always comrades willing to help them with everything. He asked the delegates very urgently to suggest to the British Government to consider the matter of having the blind prisoners repatriated or at least transferred to a neutral country at once and that this question ought to be considered quite apart from the general question of repatriation. He asks the British government to take the first step to this effect, without asking for reciprocity, as he felt sure that the German Government would immediately act in the same way.

        A list of the 15 blind p.o.w. actually at Obermassfeld, as well as the names of three blind or almost blind p.o.w. at present at the Reserve Hospital Hildburghausen but who will probably be transferred to Obermassfeld in the near future, is added to this report.

        The same suggestion about repatriation or internment in a neutral country was raised by Major Chapel on behalf of three British p.o.w., two with Cancer and one with Hotchkins disease, and who are probably not going to live more than about 6 more months. The names of these patients are William Ions, p.o.w. 10292, Morris Lorenz, p.o.w. 39396 and lt. O'Reilly.

        A patient who has been seriously wounded in the abdomen was stated to be badly in need of a rubber belt. Such a belt cannot be provided in Germany. The matter has been transmitted to the International Red Cross.

        About the question of typhus, it was stated that this lazaret has never had a case of this disease. The measures taken are thorough delousing inspections of the whole camp twice a week and, in addition, frequent individual searches for lice. The sanitary personnel has not been inoculated against typhus, and Major Chapel was a bit anxious because of this. The matter was discussed with the Commander at the Stalag, who stated that he had asked for a certain amount of vaccine so that the sanitary personnel might be inoculated, if they had to take care of typhus cases. This question will also be taken up with the German High Command. It ought to be mentioned here that Major Gibson, RAMC, formerly at Obermassfeld, and who has since been attending Russian prisoners of war in a work camp, as stated in the last report, contracted typhus, was transported to Reserve Lazaret Wasungen, and died there within a few days from his arrival. The delegates wish to mention that this is the only case of death due to typhus among British p.o.w. that they heard of during their whole trip, but that they heard of several deaths among the German medical officers. As Reserve Lazaret Wasungen was closed and could not be visited by the delegates, all particulars concerning Major Gibson's death will be asked for from the German High Command. A list of medical orderlies not recognised as such is added to this report.

VIII.) CLOTHING

        There is now a small supply of clothes in the Hospital, including 80 pairs of trousers, 50 tunics, 20 pairs of new shoes and 20 pairs of repaired leather shoes. It ought to be mentioned that no great-coats have as yet arrived, although it was stated on the last visit here that these great-coats had already been ordered. This matter was taken up with the Commander in the Stalag, who promised to look into it. The usual conflict about who ought to be in charge of the distribution of clothing sent from the British Red Cross arises here as in other camps, and will be taken up in general with the German High Command. The most urgent need seemed to be about shoes. The shoes are issued in that way that patients with some kind of orthopedic diseases of the feet receive new leather shoes and the others repaired leather shoes or clogs. A sufficient number of leather shoes did not seem to be in stock to provide all men in need of it with such shoes, but the most urgent cases had been selected and would be provided within the next days. The whole matter will be checked on the next visit.

        Many of the patients here, who had been selected for repatriation and sent to Rouen, had given their good uniforms to less fortunate comrades, and are now, when returned here, either without, or with bad uniforms. It is suggested that further supplies of uniforms would be sent here.

        Several officers here would like to buy uniforms, but do not know where to get them. The Legation will try to arrange this matter through the German High Command.

IX.) LAUNDRY

        The laundry is in general satisfactorily arranged. There were complaints from some men that their towels are changed very seldom, but Doctor Kost stated that they all have facilities to wash these themselves, if they find it necessary. Hot water is always provided.

X.) MONEY AND PAY

        All officers and sanitary personnel now receive their pay according to rank. The patients receive RM 0.25 per day from camp funds.

        The question of the state of the accounts for the officers had not yet been settled, but it was stated in the base camp that if an officer writes there and asks about it, he will receive the answer.

        Major Chapel had been presented with two bills, one about things damaged in the hospital, and one about milk issued in September. These two bills concern mostly patients who have left the hospital a long time ago and who cannot be reached any more. Although Major Chapel agreed to pay the bills and make the necessary retinues from the pay of the men at present in the hospital, he wanted to raise the question of principle over this matter.

XI.) CANTEEN

        There were no complaints about the canteen.

XII.) RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        There is now a clergyman in the lazaret, but, as there are about 50 Catholics, a Roman Catholic priest is wanted. The matter has been taken up with the Commander at the base camp, who promised to find out whether an itinerant priest could be available.

XIII.) RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        There is a fairly good library. Games have been provided in sufficient number, but they are now wearing off, and especially more playing cards are wanted. Some accordions have arrived for the blind patients, but they would like to receive one more. This will be brought to the attention of the YMCA in Berlin.

XIV.) MAIL

        There are still a number of prisoners here who have not received any mail or receive it very irregularly. A complete list of these prisoners will be sent by senior British officer and forwarded in due time. At present, just some urgent cases will be mentioned: John HARTLEY (blind) 14643, who has had only five letters in twenty months and whose letters do not seem to reach England; K. BRISLEY - 4086, amputated one leg, formerly at Stalag IX B, does not receive mail regularly and has not received and prophase which has been sent to him by the Belgian Red Cross; P/O D.C. Dougall, RCAF, received no mail whatever from Canada.

        PATIENTS AT RESERVE LAZARET OBERMASSFELD WHO HAVE RECEIVED NO MAIL SINCE CAPTURE.

        There are also a large number of men who have received mail about parcels sent to them, parcels which have never arrived. As a rule, a lot of privately addressed parcels do not seem to arrive. A list of these men will also be sent by the Senior British Officer and forwarded through the Legation.

        There has arrived a sufficient number of Red Cross food parcels, and it had been considered to issue three parcels in a fortnight. The delegates mentioned that this is not in accordance with the politics of the British Government, who wishes one parcel weekly to be issued. The question of the distribution of parcels will be discussed under point XVI.

        The prisoners are allowed to write the regular number of letters and cards.

XV.) WELFARE WORK

        The hospital has been visited regularly by representatives of the YMCA.

XVI.) COMPLAINTS

        The following complaints and questions were discussed:

        1/ Several officers who have passed the Mixed Medical Commission for repatriation but are not in need of hospital treatment, asked to be transferred to an Oflag. From a technical point of view, it does not seem appropriate to separated the would-be repatriates, so not steps to this effect will be taken for the time being.

                There are in this hospital 251 patients who have returned from Heilag Rouen. One of the repatriated to-be has died in the hospital, notice of which has been given some time ago by cable from the Swiss Legation.

        2/ Many of the p.o.w. who had been transferred to Rouen for repatriation had brought with them books and letters who had been left in bundles in Rouen. As it seems to be some time before the question of repatriation is arranged, they would like to have these books and letters returned. Also some luggage is missing from this trip to Rouen and some other has returned in bad condition. Some officers asked which steps could be taken to have lost of broken luggage replaced. Both these questions will be taken up with the German High Command.

        3/ Major Chapel once more took up the question about the selection of medical personnel for repatriation. The delegate pointed out to Major Chapel that this was a minor one to the main question of repatriation, and that it ought to be taken up only when the main question is settled.

        4/ Since some time new orders have been given that light has to be turned off at nine o'clock in the evening, and not put on at all in the morning, which means that all patients as well as medical personnel are actually in the dark for almost 12 hours in succession. Lt. Colonel King-Salter and Major Chapel were making a strong protest from the moral and medical point of views. The matter was discussed with the German chief physician, and also with the Commander at the base camp. These measures seem to be a consequence of the general shortness of electric current, and the German authorities have provided petrol lamps to be used by the medical personnel until 10 p.m. and also in the case of emergency by the British doctors. The matter will anyhow be taken up with the German High Command.

        5/ There are still several sanitators not recognized as such by the German authorities, because of lack of appropriate papers. A list of this personnel is attached to this report.

        6/ A new system of distributing the food-parcels has been started in the camp, and has given ground for some complaints. All the tins are now to be kept in a special room and when a prisoner of war wants one of his tins, the contents of this has to be emptied in some other recipient. As there are so many different kinds of food in the tins and not enough recipients, it often happens that different kinds of food have to be kept in the same recipient. The matter has been discussed with the Commander in the base camp, who promised to try and provide more recipients. It will be checked on the next visit.

        7/ The question about German lessons was once more mentioned, and the prisoners of war still seemed to believe that these lessons are forbidden. The Commander was most surprised to hear this, as he stated that on the contrary he encouraged those lessons. He promised to arrange the matter.

                Other lessons have been organized, but because of the lack of rooms in the hospital, some of these lessons have to take place in bath-rooms etc.

        8/ Complaints were also risen about the long time for censoring books at the base camp, often7 to 8 weeks. The Commander at the base camp stated that there had been a shortage of personnel, as the camp had been closed for some time because of typhus, but that he now had some more men for censoring, and that an improvement was to be expected. The matter will be checked at the next visit.

XVII.) GENERAL IMPRESSION

        Apart from the overcrowdedness, this hospital still is a good one. Both Lt. Colonel King-Salter and Major Chapel emphasized the good collaboration that exists between the German chief physician and the British p.o.w., but there seems to be some difficulties in the relations with certain of the minor German authorities. This question was discussed with the Commander at the base camp, who promised to inquire about the matter. It will be taken up at the next visit.

        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 that are unable to correct have been taken up with the German High Command in Berlin.

Fred. O. Auckenthaler

Dr. Folke Malmquist.

BLIND PATIENTS OF R.L. OBERMASSFELD & HILDBURGHAUSEN

        The following are at R.L. Hildburghausen

                PARKER

                WOOD

                SCHOFIELD

MEDICAL ORDERLIES NOT RECOGNIZED AS SUCH BY THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES.

(a) Working as medical orderlies as Reserve Lazaret OBERMASSFELD

(b) Working in Arbeits-Kommandos