In January 1945 the officers were marched out westward, finally arriving at Oflag III-A in Luckenwalde, south of Berlin. Director: | Neave and a Dutch officer, Lieutenant Luteyn, were the first of the two pairs to leave and successfully reached Switzerland. They were joined in June 1940 by French taken prisoner during the Battle of France, and in 1941 Yugoslavian prisoners arrived from the Balkans Campaign, mainly Serbs. Allied prisoners - British, Dutch, French and Polish - pool their resources to plan numerous escapes from the "escape-proof" German P.O.W. Apart from Antoni Szylling and Tadeusz Piskor, who were imprisoned in Murnau, all Polish army commanders taken by the Germans in 1939 were held there. Stars: The camp was organised into huts about 40 yards long and 8 yards wide. The camp had work camps close to the nearby aluminium factory. who wins student body president riverdale. After being freed in 1941, an orderly to a French admiral wrote that that life there was boring but "not particularly onerous", with "adequate by European prison standards" sanitation, inadequate but regular rations, and cigarettes for purchase. In German-run camps an 'Oflag' was a prisoner of war camp for officers, a 'Stalag' was for enlisted personnel, and there were also separate camps for the navy, aircrews and civilians. Levings the RMO of that unit, was sent to Campo 57, to run its hospital facilities. Only operated for 3 months from August until November 1942. POWs worked in Lodz city. The history of this camp began in the area called "Il Pollino" that belonged to the Ravano family (ex Gherardesca) and, at the beginning of 1940, was used as a prison camp for POWs. The Fund's operations include assistance to widows and orphans of fallen colleagues in the country, the fees for the lawyers defending prisoners before German courts, the payment of salaries of the cadets and soldiers, as well as cultural and educational activities. Marlag und Milag Nord, the camps for captured Navy personnel and civilian sailors respectively, were originally in two separate enclosures at the Sandbostel camp. Colditz, escape, Nazi Germany, prisoners of war, Second World War. A few hours later the German army arrived at the camp and the inmates were marched to trains that were to take them to Germany. Originally a Hitler Youth camp, in October 1939 it was modified to house about 15,000 Polish prisoners from the German September 1939 offensive. Location lists and additional aerial photographs of POW camps in Germany, Italy and Occupied Europe, including reports on transfers, are in AIR 14/1235-1240, and similar documentation on German camps occurs in AIR 40/227-231. POW Quarters were roomy and designed so as to be cool and airy in the hot summer months. Built as Stalag II-A Neubrandenburg in 1939, it was extended by the officer camp Oflag II-E in 1940 (renamed Oflag-67in February 1944). It was known officially as Oflag IV-C. Oflag indicating a camp for Officers and IV-C the designation of its location in Colditz. 150 feet above sea level, bungalows surrounded by playing fields and gardens, educational courses also were held here! While the plans to question all liberated POWs never materialised, these records still represent a large percentage of those in enemy hands in 1945. Soviet soldiers arrived shortly after the Nazis invaded The USSR in 1941. 00:00. Sep 13, 2016 Boban Docevski. July 1941: About 20,000 Soviet prisoners captured during Operation Barbarossa arrived. With luck, the office door had been relocked and this satisfied the soldiers that nobody had entered the office. Reports from SHAEF dated February 1945 showed 1 Belgian, 1 Yugoslav and 2870 French were held. They give details of name, rank and service/army number as well as regiment/corps, prisoner of war number and their final camp location (in Italy/Germany/both). There was a hospital located near here at Saandhof & Stolzenberg and 350 British & US and 200 other ranks were there on March 17th 1945. Senior NCOs (sergeants and above) were required to work only in a supervisory role, although they could join in with the lower ranks if they wished to do so, this became a contentious issue as the Germans (but not the Italians for the most part) were very keen to make all non-officer ranks work especially as the continuing war after 1941 was sapping German industry and agriculture of its manpower. Please note that the surviving appendices for WO 208/3298-3327 are held separately in nominal card indexes WO 208/5582-5583 which can be searched on findmypast.co.uk by name. Situated in a previous almshouse, large and modern. II Bereitschaftspolizeiabteilung ("2nd Riot Police Division") of the Bavarian State Police. In November 1941 a typhoid fever epidemic broke out in Lager-Ost. British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it. Oflag IV-D Elsterhorst was a World War II German Army Prisoner-of-war camp for Allied officers located near Hoyerswerda in Saxony, 44 km north-east of Dresden. Feldpost- a postal address for military use, these usually have a 5 digit number designation and would be prefixed M for Naval addresses and L for Air Force addresses. The Colditz Story: Directed by Guy Hamilton. In 1939 as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact it was annexed by the Soviets and on July 26, 1941 was occupied by the Nazis and is now in the Ukraine. In 1942 the French officers were transferred to other camps and replaced with Polish officers. Later in 1943 onwards it also housed British/Commonwealth POWs although they were very much the smaller numbers of those incarcerated, and later still US POWs, it was evacuated due to the approach opf the Red Army in February 1945. The first one was in Siedlce, and the second was titled in the following towns: Suchozebry and Will Suchozebrska. On October 30th 1942 14 Australians and five New Zealanders escaped through a tunnel, but were all recaptured when they found the route to the Swiss border was heavily populated and ran into a large Italian army camp. POWs were sent out to labour in nearby farms, sawmills, factories, goodsyards and cutting ice on the river Vistula. His job was to keep them imprisoned and their job was to escape. All went well as the six escapers entered the office during the previous evening and opened up the tunnel. 11, Hospital #12-Gombos Gyul, Budapest, Hungary 47-19, Salonika Civilian Internment Camp Salonika Greece 40-23, San Martino Civilian Internment Camp Monferrato Italy 45-08, Schuler Military Hospital, Ploesti (Ploesci) Romania 45-26, Serbian Hospital Zagreb Croatia, Yugoslavia 45-16, Sinaia Military Hospital #415, Sinaia, Romania 45-25, Skoplue Military Hospital Serbia Southern Yugoslavia 42-21, Sofia Military Hospital Sofia Bulgaria 42-23, Sospel Civilian Internment Camp Monaco France 44-07, Spitalul de Stat, Targoviste, Romania 45-25, St. Denis (Grand Caserine) Civilian Internment Camp Paris France 49-02, Stadtroda Hospital #1170 (Serves Stalag IX-C) Stadtroda Thuringia, Germany 51-11, State Hospital Trencin Czechoslovakia 49-18, Sub-Lagarule Timis, Timisul de Jos, Romania 45-21, Targu-Jiu POW Camp, Targu-Jiu, Romania 45-23, Teil Lazarett (Serves Stalag XVIII-A) Spittal/Drau Carinthia, Austria 46-13, Transit Camp 133 Unknown (probably located in Rennes, France as Lazarett 133), Transit Camp and Hospital (Dulag 127) Zemun Slavonia 45-20, Transit Camp Feld Post #319797 Location Unknown, Val De Grace Hospital For Civilians Paris France 49-02, Vaucluse Restricted Residence For Civilians Vaucluse France 44-05, Venlo Restricted Residence For Civilians Venloo Holland 51-06, Vernet Civilian Internment Camp Ariege France 43-01, Vincenzo Civilian Internment Camp Vincenzo Italy 45-11, Von Kormend Civilian Hospital Szombathely, Hungary 47-16, Wartenburg Prison Wartenburg East Prussia 53-20, The International Committee of the Red Cross, The Red Cross together with the order of St John joined forces during WWII just as they had in WWI to carry out extensive humane services for the sick and wounded, for POWs and civilians alike. In June 1941 a new compound Oflag 62 was opened for high-ranking Soviet officers captured during Operation Barbarossa. The 1st Anzacs arrived in 1941 after processing at Capua, this became an officers only camp later in 1942 with the transfer of most other ranks to Udine PG 57 and then back to a mixed ranks camp later in 1943. Although individuals are rarely mentioned by name, a speculative search of files in these record series may still prove fruitful. Marlag und Milag Nord was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp complex for men of the British Merchant Navy and Royal Navy. Stalag Luft II Litzmannstadt (Lodz -Poland), Camp for Soviet pilots in the district Litzmannstadt'u - Erzhausen (Lodz region today called Ruda Pabianicka at the south-western area of the city), the square of the current streets Oder (German Wallensteinerstrasse, from the south-west) Retmanskiej (German Paracelsusweg; from the north-west.) Records concerning war crimes committed against Allied POWs have mostly been preserved in WO 235, WO 309, WO 310, WO 311 and WO 325 with other material in FO 371, WO 32 (code 94), TS 26 and among the Foreign Office records of the Control Commission for Germany (CCG). The Villa Orsini close by, was used to house very senior British and Commonwealth officers including: Major-General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame, Air Marshal Boyd, General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor, Brigadier Reginald Miles and Brigadier James Hargest. Files concerning this complex subject are dispersed over various record series and, although not exhaustive, any search should include ADM 1, ADM 116, AIR 2 (code B 89), AIR 14, AIR 20, CO 980, FO 369, WO 32 (code 91), WO 170, WO 203, WO 204 and WO 219. Work camps under the jurisdiction of Stalag IIIB, A civilian work camp for Poles (Gemeinschaftslager). It was located south of the railway tracks. Director: P.G. Fort 14 (XIV) named after Jozefa Dwernickiego. Reaction to the armistice varied from camp to camp. Just outside of the gates of Milag was the Kommandantur ("Headquarters") and accommodation for the guards. I.e. The German records were taken between September 1944 and March 1945, the Italian records August 1943 and were recorded by the Casualty (PW) Branch of the Directorate of Prisoners of War in London during the war. A harrowing account of the forced marches from some of the easternmost POW camps during the last days of the war. Newly released documents at The National Archives show the three remarkable and successful escape attempts made by three British-born Officers Flight Lieutenant Hedley S Fowler, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Bolton Littledale, and British Army Lieutenant Airey M S Neave. Drama, History, War. Over the next few days the column was attacked from the air several times. Wounded and captured at Calais, he was taken to Stalag XXA near Thorn in Poland and managed to escape with a fellow prisoner in April 1941. J.W. | Gross: The lighting was poor, and heating didnt function. Also known as Stalag 344, and connected to Stalag IV b/z and Stalag VIII-d. 64,000 POWs in 1944 with 150 officers and 13,625 being British. A very unique window into WWII, as well as into prison life. The location listed for this camp in the SHAEF report of February 1945: 53 degrees 31 minutes 17 seconds north, 13 degrees 17 minutes east. Immediately after the German invasion of Poland, at the beginning of World War II, some 1,000 Polish officers were imprisoned there. It should be noted that recently this source is not a complete roll of everyone who was in the Italian POW system for various reasons, although it's the only sdingle source that has the majority. By February 1944 most of the officers had been transferred to other Oflags. The local German forces refused free access to the camp, so an assault into the area was made by the Guards Armoured Division and the camp was liberated on April 29, 1945. Many of them died from the bitter cold and exhaustion. Opened originally in December1941, 431other ranks were reported here on February 26th 1943. Please click on the Hire a Researcher button on the left-hand side navigation bar for more information. Another notable escape attempt occurred on 12th June 1943 (the delousing break) where Squadron Leader Roger Bushell organised for 26 men to escape from 32 who attempted, none managed to get very far and were captured soon after. They caught the train to Stuttgart where they stayed overnight in a small hotel. Finally, in late December 1944, Americans captured in the Battle of the Bulge arrived. Roger Bushell is believed not to have used the tunnel, instead escaping on the same night from a goat shed in the camp grounds. In between the camps there was a large shower block which was used by men of both camps. After the Italian Armistice September 1943, 11 officers and 14 other ranks escaped with Italian partisan and SOE help. A Michael Alexander (British Army officer) John Arundell, 16th Baron Arundell of Wardour B Douglas Bader John William Best Tadeusz Br-Komorowski Dominic Bruce Hugh Bruce Louis Buisson Micky Burn C Alan Campbell, Baron Campbell of Alloway John Chrisp Antoni Chruciel Yves Congar D Gris Davies-Scourfield John Dickinson (RAF Officer) District I in what is now known as Olsztyn, Poland, then it was in East Prussia. P.G. Originally designed to hold 4,000 in July 1942. To the north and east of the village three smaller camps were also built. District X Nearest city Hanover, in the middle north of Germany. Discovered by dog on ground. They were made by individuals identified by MI9/IS9 lists as having been directly involved with an escape organisation or who had some other significant function within the POW camp's internal organisation. They crossed into Switzerland at 01.30 on 13 September 1942, and were taken to the British legation at Bern. This camp housed British POWs from 1940 until it's evacuation in May 1945 and forced march westwards. Bobby Moore, Votes: There was also a sub-camp, designated Oflag XXI-C/Z established at Grune bei Lissa (now Gronwko, near to Leszno), between September 1943 and January 1945. The camp was founded in 1939, by the 3rd Battalion barracks German motorized infantry regiment & 25th and 3rd Squadron - two motorized artillery regiments. Oflag II-D was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp located at Gross Born, Pomerania (now Borne Sulinowo, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland). Set up by the Italians in May 1942 and ran until September 8th 1943. The files BT 382/3232-3249 consist of an alphabetical series of printed cards relating to merchant seamen POWs of all nationalities. This page was last edited on 26 September 2022, at 08:59. 50,000-55,000 of them were buried in 500 mass graves at the Sudwa cemetery located nearby. Ben Macintyre and his 2022 book Colditz. In April 1942 the last group of Polish officers arrived from Oflag X-C near Lbeck. Because of approaching Soviet troops, all POWs capable of walking were marched out. The main camp was in a former brewery in a suburb of the town with a few large brick buildings up to 3 storeys high. On 26/2/43 there were 247 officers and 2898 other ranks interned here. Lager Fnfeichen was located in Fnfeichen, a former estate within the city limits of Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg, northern Germany. The buildings were fairly modern and were made of thick concrete with toilet and washing facilities however being completely inadequate having only 12 toilets and 3 taps for up to 10,000 POWs. The first POWs arrived on 12 September. 189 officers held here as of 26/2/41 originally opened May 1941. In early 1942 three officers managed to hide inside empty boxes in a truck that was unloading food supplies. Although all the camp buildings had not been completed, there were well-built ablutions and latrines, served with a good water supply, and a proper infirmary. The sick and the dead were left at Stettin while the majority of the rest were moved on to Stalag IIA (Neubrandenberg) where they arrived on 7th February, 1945. In Siedlce, and the Second was titled in the middle north of Germany Suchozebry and Will Suchozebrska, arriving. Camp housed British POWs from 1940 until it 's evacuation in May and... 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