No.567

CONFIDENTIAL

Date of visit: September 7th, 1944

STALAG IX C - ZWEIGLAGER MUEHLHAUSEN

Camp Commander: Hptm. Knabe

British Medical Officer: Capt. J. Gray, POW No.16798

British Man of Confidence: C.Q.M.S. A. Horne, POW No.592

Camp Leader: S.S.M. G. Simpson, POW No.[43077?]

Accompanying Officer GHC: Hptm. Schafor

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

        No change since our last visit on July 15th, 1944.

II. CAPACITY AND PRESENT PERSONNEL

        Details of the present strength are as follows:

                Total of Stalag area: 2403 British prisoners of war excluding Reserve Lazaret Obermassfeld and Meinigen

                In this camp: 380 British prisoners of war, including 178 non-commissioned officers, of whom 169 are recognized, 1 medical officer and 2 chaplains.

        According to information volunteered by the accompanying officer of the German High Command, there is little hope that non-commissioned officers will be transferred to a proper non-commissioned officer's camp at the present time. It is said that the removal of certain camps in other regions of Germany is more urgent. However, the Protecting Power continue to pay attention to this matter.

III. INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS

        More than 100 prisoners have left this camp since our last visit, with the result that the large concert-hall, with a few exceptions, has been cleared of the beds. In the other rooms there has been no change and the slight overcrowding continues.

IV. WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES

        With the departure of 100 men the facilities for washing and bathing are again satisfactory.

V. TOILET FACILITIES

        The same applies as before. (point IV)

VI. FOOD AND COOKING

        No complaint about food and cooking whatsoever is reported. The order of the Red Cross to go on half rations has been accepted with much understanding by the prisoners of war.

VII. MEDICAL ATTENTION AND STATE OF HEALTH

        On the day of the visit, the British medical officer, Capt. Gray, was not at the Stalag but touring some of the working detachments in connexion with preliminary medical examinations of prisoners of war to be presented at the next sitting of the Mixed medical commission. Speaking for the doctor, however, the man of confidence states that the general health of the prisoners throughout the Stalag can be described as good and that amongst the 10 patients at present in the revier of this camp there are no serious cases.

        Red Cross medical supplies are reported to be insufficient at the moment. From German sources small supplies are being received regularly.

        Cpl. R. Tanner, POW No 740 (see our last report, page 2) has now been recognized, not as a sanitator, but as a non-commissioned officer. The other 5 sanitators mentioned in our last report have in the meantime been sent out on working detachments, as no recognition has been forthcoming.

VIII. CLOTHING

        The situation is satisfactory.

IX. LAUNDRY

        Nothing new to report.

X. MONEY AND PAY

        In order.

XI. CANTEEN

        Like everywhere else, in this camp too the canteen is poorly stocked and little is on sale, mostly only beer and matches.

XII. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

        The order of the G.H.C., whereby chaplains of officer's rank are forbidden to visit working detachments, is still in force and naturally limits the activities of the two chaplains to services held in this camp only. Church of England services are held by Capt. Bamber and those for the Roman Catholics by Father Hinsley.

XIII. RECREATION AND EXERCISE

        OUTDOOR: Satisfactory in that prisoners of war are able to go out for sports every afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays as well as on Sunday-mornings.

        INDOOR: Organized indoor entertainments have been forbidden for the last 3 weeks by order of the Camp Commander of Stalag IX C, Colonel Schaal, after the performance of a sketch written and acted by the prisoners and in which, in the opinion of the Germans, their country was insulted. Hptm. Knabe, the Commander of this camp informed the delegate of the Protecting Power that legal proceedings are being taken against those immediately concerned, i.e. the author and actors of the sketch (the sketch is said to have shown first a scene in a labour exchange in Scotland and then the same in Germany after the war).

        The delegate of the Protecting Power requested the accompanying officer of the Stalag, Capt. Brünger, to induce the Camp Commander to withdraw the above order. In the meantime, prisoners of war are allowed to play cards, musical instruments and such like, but forbidden are theatrical performances or concerts.

XIV. MAIL

        As everywhere else, mail has become very slow in the course of the last 2 or 3 months. Private parcels are particularly bad.

XV. WELFARE WORK

        Nothing to report.

XVI. COMPLAINTS

        No new complaints other than mentioned under the previous points of this report. A number of small matter were settled on the spot.

XVII. GENERAL IMPRESSION

        Although prisoners of war are annoyed about the order forbidding organized entertainments for the time being and in spite of the fact that there is still no hope for the non-commissioned officers to be transferred to a non-commissioned officers camp, the spirit in this camp is excellent. This is confirmed for the whole Stalag area by the chief man of confidence, R.Q.M.S. Townsley, who has travelled to this camp to meet the delegate of the Protecting Power.

sgd. Werner Buchmüller.