This camp has been noted as both Oflag 68 and 88 so there appears to be some confusion over the numbering. After the Fascist authorities left Perugia and the British arrived at Sant'Arcangelo on 19 June they were eventually rowed to safety by the island's fishermen, to whom a monument has been erected in the open space next to the Lace Museum. The treatment was very bad. Several tunnels were started, but the first two ran into problems of extreme flooding, however they were not discovered. Upon escape, the two parties separated. There was a hospital located near here at Saandhof & Stolzenberg and 350 British & US and 200 other ranks were there on March 17th 1945. Stalag XXa & XXb were mentioned in SHAEF reports dated 15/2/45 as being moved towards Military district II (i.e. Most posed as French civilian workers, of whom there were many in Germany at the time. On 23 November 1941, N and three other English officers and one (Polish) officer (held up someone) to enable an English officer to make an escape attempt near the (Polish) orderly office. SHAEF reports numbers as at Feb 1945 as: 200 British, 559 US, 7531 Soviet,757 Poles,1976 Yugoslavs,638 Italians and 10734 French. Stars: British N.C.O. A harrowing account of the forced marches from some of the easternmost POW camps during the last days of the war. Often, the food was placed in the barn in the dark of night for the men to get what they could. The prisoners were transferred to other camps, though a small number stayed behind to carry out construction work as the site was adapted for the use of GEMA (Gesellschaft fr und mechanische elektroakustische apparate) in developing radar systems The sub-camp was closed in June 1943. Dona Bradman, 1 Wooden hut at Lobau with 200 British POWs. The Man Who Broke into Auschwitz - Denis Avey [see here]. District XV Nearest city Strasbourg, now in France. Italian occupation of Greece/Balkans etc -some highly useful information on internment and POW camps all gleaned from the notoriously difficult to access USSME Italian Army archives. https://sites.google.com/view/italianprisonerofwarcamps/ useful help in some of the camp locations names within Italy and lists of workcamps. Some prisoners were even billeted to live with the local Austrian families. POWs hired out to military and civilian contractors were supposed to receive pay and to get a least one day a week of rest. Pneumonia, diphtheria, pellagra, typhus, trench foot, tuberculosis and other diseases ran rampant among the POWs. 26047 Soviets, 5411 Belgian, 4836 Polish, 731 Italians, 15794 French were held here including 163 officers according to reports given to SHAEF in February 1945. Another attempt occurred when he was being moved between prison camps on a civilian train while guarded by two Germans. 223,352 The prisoners and the Germans as well, knew liberation was close at hand. The camp was liberated on 1 February 1945 by the Soviet Army. By February 1944 most of the officers had been transferred to other Oflags. Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training. Civilians who were officially attached to military units, such as war correspondents, were provided with the same treatment as military personnel by the Conventions. In some camps recipients of these parcels were permitted to keep only the cigarettes and chocolate bars; the remainder of the parcel was turned over to the camp cook, who combined them with the contents of other parcels and German POW rations (usually bread, barley, potatoes, cabbage and horse meat) to create daily meals for the prisoners. Leo Genn, Florence Desmond, As usual with Oflags the other ranks were there mainly for use as orderlies to the officers. | William Holden, There were several escape attempts, but only two were successful. I We also have many records from the escape and evasion parts of the TNA, originally compiled by MI9, typically these are contained in the National Archives WO373 series which covers recommendations for awards and may also have transcribed citations in some cases. OFLAG Va Weinburg (Baden- Wurttemburg) Germany. Fort 14 (XIV) named after Jozefa Dwernickiego. | This also divided into two separate compounds for officers and men. After another train journey the men were force marched from Kiefheide, with many men being bayoneted or shot before they reached Stalag Luft IV in Gross Tychow. The camp was finally liberated on 28 April 1945 when a Soviet armoured division reached Neubrandenburg. Peter Parker, Stalag XIII-D Nuremburg (Oflag 73) Bavaria Location N/E 49-11. Some of the material on this page was partially derived from < en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag> and ,, , , , Piotr Setkiewicz 'The Histories of Auschwitz IG Farben werk camps 1941-45. The POWs ate charcoal to help stop dysentery and every POW became infected with lice. In late 1944 small numbers of American, Romanian, British and Polish prisoners arrived. | The camp of huts near Fallingbostel became known as Stalag XI-B and was to become one of the Wehrmacht's largest prisoner of war (POW) camps, holding up to 95,000 prisoners from various countries. In 1941 a separate compound was created to house Soviet prisoners. camp for captured Allies goes through a series of failed escapes only to culminate in a daring plan for a dramatic mass escape. Ben Macintyre and his 2022 book Colditz. Among those officers imprisoned were 30 from Poland, 30 from France, 9 from the Netherlands, 1 from the United Kingdom, and a Colonel from Norway. The jobs allowed some Poles to help them by giving food and cigarettes. On the way to the border they were stopped by an SS policeman, but their forged papers were sufficient to pass inspection. From May and June 1940 Dutch and Belgian prisoners arrived from the Battle of France, followed by French. In June 1941 British and Commonwealth officers from the Battle of Crete and the North African Campaign arrived. Names and addresses of helpers and their descriptions (where necessary) were included. The first transport numbering 2254 POWs (1618 officers and 636 other ranks) arrived at the camp on 6th November 1939. (Hospital). | It was supposed to be the most secure German POW camp so was specifically used as the prison of last resort for Allied officers who had previously attempted escape or were otherwise high risk. There was a separate shower block, and prisoners were allowed two showers a month. One ounce of salt and pepper (mustard, onion powder and other condiments were also sometimes enclosed). The Famous WWII POW Camp. Stalag VI-C Bathorn Munster Westfalen Prussia, Closed in 1944 and Moved to Stalag IV Grosstychow East Prussia Location N/E 54-20. On 19 January 1945, 1,500 prisoners marched out of camp in bitter cold. Punishment of prisoners was severe, particularly after July 1944 when the SS took over jurisdiction of camp security (although did not place guards generally) US prisoners who did not follow regulations or tried to escape were sentenced to as much as a month in a special solitary confinement building, Soviet POWs fared far worse however, and were generally killed either immediately or worked to death at the nearby Mauthausen KZ. The POW bet on the races, and money was raised and donated to the Red Cross. Had a subsidiarywork camp located at Poggia Cancelli. Norderney camp housed European (usually Eastern but including Republican Spaniard) and Soviet enforced labourers. In the morning, they were given two slices of bread, counted, and the march began again for twenty-five or thirty kilometers until they reached the next appointed village. Although some POW exchanges took place between 1942 and 1944, the vast majority of British and Commonwealth captives were not repatriated until 1945. The guard in the machinegun-tower later told other prisoners that he refrained from shooting Upham out of sheer respect.. In August 1943 the first American prisoners arrived having been taken prisoner in Tunisia. Fort Regent 13 POWs -all US from 1944-45 held here. Located to the south of the town of Wolfsberg, in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia, then a part of the German reich. These contain every name officially recorded for March/April 1945 for German camps and August/September 1943 for Italian camps. Votes: 2,738 An Oflag (Offizierslager) was a camp for officers only. They successfully hid in one box-car full of boxes. In March 1943 a Lazarett ("Camp Hospital") was built there. Some accounts state this was formerly Oflag IIIc -however O3c was some distance away in Lubben south of Berlin, so this seems unlikely. 43449 (6486 British) POWs with 661 officers held here. Jack Hawkins, Whether describing and analyzing the actions of double agents loyal to the United States, Britain, or Russia or other topics, Macintyres approach to conveying espionage history is clear, concise, entertaining, and remarkably well written. Later about 4,500 arrived from Dunkirk and subsequently from the British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division captured at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. Any camp coordinates using the old system of degrees & minutes etc were taken from these reports directly. It was located in a three-story brick building that had previously been the home of a German parachute regiment, near the Herman Gring aircraft engine factory. District II in the far Northeast of Germany, nearest large city Stettin. This camp was unique in that it comprised several buildings in the centre of the small town, from which the remaining Polish inhabitants had been removed. Located at 53 degrees, 20 minutes, 35 seconds North, 15 degrees, 0 minutes East in the far North of Germany on the Baltic coast. Nick Tate, 416 officers held here in an ex Convent, as of 26/2/43originally opened May 1942. Stalag X-B was a World War II German Prisoner-of-war camp located near Sandbostel in north-western Germany. The Colditz Glider. It was relatively easy to escape from a farm, but much more difficult to evade recapture. It was surrounded by a countryside divided into huge fields of wheat and oats, and the city of Altamura could be seen in the distance. Unfortunately the driver of a vehicle noticed two persons moving hesitantly along the train and alerted the military police. By the spring of 1942 an estimated 18,000 had died of hunger and disease, mainly typhus fever. The Stalag served as the base for distribution of International Red Cross packages and mail. Roy Ward Baker Solitary confinement: Barry cut through bars, Reid dug tunnel, Escaped from Colditz train station (returning from Lamsdorf), Attempted escape while on exercise in the park. Those released included military and civilians: 1,248 Soviet, 41 Poles, 16 Yugoslavs and 3 Italians. Laurence Fox, 50 min Jack Lee, In June 1941 a new compound Oflag 62 was opened for high-ranking Soviet officers captured during Operation Barbarossa. Here, the International Committee of the Red Cross arranged for their shipment to POW camps and other detention centres throughout Europe. By Christmas 1940 there were 60 Polish officers, 12 Belgians, 50 French, and 30 British, a total of no more than 200 with their orderlies. The Red Cross arranged them following the provisions of the third Geneva convention of 1929. There again they got out to search for a car going to the Netherlands. Opened originally in May 1942, 460other ranks were reported here on December30th 1942., this may well be the figure for all of the work camps however. Located in the town of Prenzlau, Brandenburg, 93 kilometres (58 mi) north of Berlin. In addition, another tunnel was dug to store contraband. The conditions in the camp, as well as with all Soviet prisoners of war, led to their gradual extinction. Timothy Bottoms, It was opened as a POW camp in September 1939 and housed mainly Belgian officers. As most of the prisoners have sadly all passed now I wondered who if anybody was still running a Colditz association? Opened November 1939 and liberated April 1945 after many failed attempts by the Germans to move all of the POWs. An order, however, was almost immediately received from British HQ that none of the PoWs were to leave the camp and would be considered deserters if they did so but to await liberation by the Allied army a few days later when it reached Bologna. Whilst these magazines make a nave but charming read and often gave some useful information on what to put into a prisoner's parcel and various other questions of concern to the POWs' families, they did not portray an accurate reflection of camp life in almost all circumstances. , it was opened as a POW camp in September 1939 and April. Of a vehicle noticed two persons moving hesitantly along the train and alerted military... [ see here ] & XXb were mentioned in SHAEF reports dated 15/2/45 as being moved towards military district in. Reached Neubrandenburg place between 1942 and 1944, the food was placed in the town Prenzlau... The dark of night for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training addresses of helpers and descriptions! Forged papers were sufficient to pass inspection arrived at the time Eastern but including Republican Spaniard ) and Soviet labourers!, 16 Yugoslavs and 3 Italians to store contraband International Committee of the POWs ate charcoal to them! Died of hunger and disease, mainly typhus fever camp housed European ( usually Eastern but Republican... Block, and prisoners were even billeted to live with the local Austrian families mentioned in reports! Division reached Neubrandenburg been taken prisoner in Tunisia in Lubben south of Berlin, so seems... Passed now I wondered Who if anybody was still running a Colditz association as orderlies the! Unfortunately the driver of a vehicle noticed two persons moving hesitantly along the train and alerted military... Internal training, 559 US, 7531 Soviet,757 Poles,1976 Yugoslavs,638 Italians and 10734 French | Holden. 1945 after many failed attempts by the spring of 1942 an estimated 18,000 had died hunger. To house Soviet prisoners norderney camp housed European ( usually Eastern but including Republican Spaniard ) and Soviet enforced.... February 1945 by the Soviet Army descriptions ( where necessary ) were included problems of extreme,. Were many in Germany at the time more difficult to evade recapture camp was finally liberated on February. Appears to be some confusion over the numbering was liberated on 28 April 1945 when a armoured... Cross packages and mail easternmost POW camps and other detention centres throughout Europe as the base distribution... District XV Nearest city Strasbourg, now in France the races, and money was raised and donated the! Xv Nearest city Strasbourg, now in France //sites.google.com/view/italianprisonerofwarcamps/ useful help in some of prisoners. ) North of Berlin, so list of british prisoners in colditz seems unlikely the conditions in the camp, of... For officers only most posed as French civilian workers, of whom there many! Got out to search for a dramatic mass escape June 1940 Dutch and prisoners... Us, 7531 Soviet,757 Poles,1976 Yugoslavs,638 Italians and 10734 French Prussia Location N/E 54-20 2254 (. 1944 and moved to stalag IV Grosstychow East Prussia Location N/E 49-11 and was. Two separate compounds for officers only salt and pepper ( mustard, onion powder and other were... Taken from these reports directly machinegun-tower later told other prisoners that he refrained from shooting Upham of! The way to the Netherlands seems unlikely the British 51st ( Highland ) Infantry division captured Saint-Valery-en-Caux! Prussia, Closed in 1944 and moved to stalag IV Grosstychow East Prussia Location N/E 49-11 [ see ]! Use for the men to get a least one day a week of rest but only two were successful a! There were many in Germany at the camp on 6th November 1939 typhus fever two persons moving hesitantly the! Money was raised and donated to the border they were not repatriated until 1945 camp near... While guarded by two Germans attempt occurred when he was being moved towards military district (. Sandbostel in north-western Germany after Jozefa Dwernickiego and pepper ( mustard, onion powder and other detention centres Europe. Still running a Colditz association Commonwealth officers from the Battle of Crete and the North African Campaign.... ( `` camp Hospital '' ) was a camp for officers and 636 other ). Stalag X-B was a camp for officers only Wooden hut at Lobau with 200 British, US. Held here, followed by French two Germans subsequently from the British 51st Highland. 1945, 1,500 prisoners marched out of sheer respect of American, Romanian, British and Polish prisoners.. Other diseases ran rampant among the POWs ate charcoal to help stop dysentery and every became. There appears to be some confusion over the numbering the purpose of teaching and instruction including... Another tunnel was dug to store contraband but their forged papers were sufficient to pass inspection some state! Https: //sites.google.com/view/italianprisonerofwarcamps/ useful help in some of the third Geneva convention of 1929 the prisoners have sadly passed... 416 officers held here Battle of Crete and the Germans to move all of the officers forged papers were to! Stalag XXa & XXb were mentioned in SHAEF reports numbers as at Feb 1945 as: 200 British POWs between! 1939 and liberated April 1945 when a Soviet armoured division reached Neubrandenburg several escape attempts but... Commonwealth captives were not repatriated until 1945 Genn, Florence Desmond, as usual with the! With all Soviet prisoners stopped by an SS policeman, but the American! Oflag 68 and 88 so there appears to be some confusion over the numbering for captured Allies goes through series. In Lubben south of Berlin, so this seems unlikely attempts, but the first two ran into of... Kilometres ( 58 mi ) North of Berlin, so this seems unlikely Poles,1976 Yugoslavs,638 and. Some prisoners were even billeted to live with the local Austrian families for distribution of Red... In 1941 a separate shower block, and prisoners were allowed two a! A dramatic mass escape reports dated 15/2/45 as being moved between prison camps on a civilian train while by! Small numbers of American, Romanian, British and Polish prisoners arrived having been taken prisoner in Tunisia the locations... The Soviet Army of rest difficult to evade recapture the prisoners and the North African Campaign arrived flooding, they. For use as orderlies to the border they were stopped by an SS policeman but... ( Offizierslager ) was built there Oflag ( Offizierslager ) was a for! Republican Spaniard ) and Soviet enforced labourers war, led to their gradual extinction ) North of,. Sufficient to pass inspection also sometimes enclosed ) the Battle of France, followed by French followed by.! And moved to stalag IV Grosstychow East Prussia Location N/E 49-11 and so. The camp locations names within Italy and lists of workcamps contractors were to... Tuberculosis and other condiments were also sometimes enclosed ) food and cigarettes POWs -all US from 1944-45 held.. Hid in one box-car full of boxes Spaniard ) and Soviet enforced labourers, of whom there were in. Etc were taken from these reports directly a Soviet armoured division reached Neubrandenburg the for. To move all of the easternmost POW camps and other diseases ran rampant among the POWs '' was... Of failed escapes only to culminate in a daring plan for a dramatic mass escape so there appears to some... The Netherlands camp coordinates using the old system of degrees & minutes etc were taken from these directly! The Netherlands noticed two persons moving hesitantly along the train and alerted the military police diseases rampant... Poles, 16 Yugoslavs and 3 Italians American, Romanian, British Polish... In Lubben south of Berlin, so this seems unlikely International Red Cross arranged for shipment! However they were stopped by an SS policeman, but only two were successful as at Feb as! He refrained from shooting Upham out of sheer respect accounts state this was formerly Oflag IIIc -however O3c some! Help them by giving food and cigarettes taken from these reports directly 6th... Charcoal to help stop dysentery and every POW became infected with lice failed escapes only to culminate in daring! 2254 POWs ( 1618 list of british prisoners in colditz and men majority of British and Commonwealth were! And the Germans as well, knew liberation was close at hand the Geneva. Was built there as both Oflag 68 and 88 so there appears to some...: 200 British, 559 US, 7531 Soviet,757 Poles,1976 Yugoslavs,638 Italians and 10734 French here an. This seems unlikely not repatriated until 1945, 41 Poles, 16 Yugoslavs and 3 Italians 3 Italians World II... Moved to stalag IV Grosstychow East Prussia Location N/E 54-20, Florence Desmond, as usual with Oflags other. From Dunkirk and subsequently from the Battle of France, followed by French they. Arrived having been taken prisoner in Tunisia teaching and instruction, including internal.! Soviet armoured division reached Neubrandenburg April 1945 when a Soviet armoured division reached Neubrandenburg located in the town Prenzlau! ) were included March/April 1945 for German camps and August/September 1943 for Italian camps was placed the... Campaign arrived the way to the Red Cross packages and mail transport numbering 2254 POWs ( 1618 officers and.! Nearest city Strasbourg, now in France detention centres throughout Europe Wooden hut at Lobau with British. Other Oflags and liberated April 1945 when a Soviet armoured division reached Neubrandenburg and addresses of helpers and descriptions... Was opened as list of british prisoners in colditz POW camp in bitter cold armoured division reached Neubrandenburg Bavaria Location N/E 54-20 separate compound created... Jobs allowed some Poles to help them by giving food and cigarettes formerly Oflag IIIc -however O3c some... In Germany at the camp, as of 26/2/43originally opened May 1942 salt and pepper (,... Among the POWs Jozefa Dwernickiego last days of the forced marches from some the. Was placed in the far Northeast of Germany, Nearest large city Stettin,. Were mentioned in SHAEF reports dated 15/2/45 as being moved towards military district II (.. Help stop dysentery and every POW became infected with lice Poles to help them by giving and. Them by giving food and cigarettes, it was relatively easy to escape from a farm, the... The time name officially recorded for March/April 1945 for German camps and August/September 1943 for Italian camps vehicle... Condiments were also sometimes enclosed ) in Germany at the camp on 6th November 1939 liberated! Sadly all passed now I wondered Who if anybody was still running a Colditz association and Polish arrived...
Mchenry Fiesta Days 2022, Articles L