PRISONERS OF WAR

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 86, 22 August 1941, Page 7

PRISONERS OF WAR

Treatment By Germans

ADHERENCE TO CONVENTION ♦ A reassuring report about conditions in German prisoner-of-war camps has been issued by the International Red Cross organization at Geneva. This indicates that prisoners are well fed, comparatively well clothed,-live in sanitary surroundings, have their health attended to, and are provided with reasonable facilities for recreational and cultural pursuits. Parcels are regularly received under certain necessary limitations, and letters to and from relatives can also be sent. These conditions are the result of adherence by the Germans to the Geneva Convention of 1929, which defines the standard of treatment for prisoners of war.

The Geneva organization regularly visits all prison camps, and its officials have private talks with all the inmates. Its reports, published in full and illustrated with numerous photo graphs, speak for themselves. The fol lowing is an extract from a report on a prison camp on the outskirts of a forest in the southern part of Ger many. To this camp R.A.F. prisoners are first sent: — R.A.F. Prisoners’ Camp. “The barracks are well aired, warmed, and supplied with hot and cold running water. They are divided into a great number of rooms which contain one to three beds. The rooms have proper beds, a table, and chairs, and all are decorated with a great number of 'photographs. The prisoners have kept their own cameras. The mural paintings of some of them are quite remarkable. From all points ofview the prisoners are as well treated as it is possible for them to be, good rooms, dining-room, sitting-room with padded armchairs, where whisky is served /each evening, and where they can read papers and books. There is a room for games, a piano, radio, etc.; the enjoyment of hot showers from morning, to evening, a walk to th»outside of the camp each day, swim ming in a very well-fitted neighbour ing bath, and a big playing field. Then* is a canteen where prisoners can buy all that they want. Moreover, they receive numerous parcels from the British Red Cross, and the stores of boxes of all sorts of jams for a personnel of 100 men amount to several thousands. The prisoners receive their pay according to their grades, in proportion to the half of the pay that the corresponding grades receive in the German army.”

This camp takes only men in perfect health. Aviator prisoners who have been wounded are cared for in the hos pifal nearest where they crash. The camp commandant at the camp often spends his evenings in the. prisoners’ quarters till very late at night and rela tioiis are most cordial and friendly.

Work In Forests.

Reporting on another camp, not far from the Baltic Sea, Geneva remarks that this is kept entirely for English aviators, to the number of 428, in addition to seven French soldiers who are engaged as tailors, shoemakers and hairdressers. Here “the general hygiene leaves nothing to be desired: warm showers once a week, and in a disinfection hut the clothes of the men who come in from the work detachments are thoroughly cleaned. . . . The canteen is well stocked. One can buy fresh vegetables. potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, cabPages, white and red, and salad greens. Moreover, beet is plentiful. The prisoners have at their disposal little warm ing stoves on which they can cook the viands to their liking, which is in addi t'ion to the adequate kitchen. The infirmary is well equipped and a dentist pays a weekly visit to the camp. Religious services are held regularly, and there is a well-equipped library. Many of the prisoners worked in the forests, and, when talked to by the Geneva dele-

gate, declared that they hard no complaints to put forward.

“There is not actually a university in the camp,” says the official report, “but there are courses in languages, specially German, and lectures have been organized. The prisoners have the use of a piano and several accordions ; loudspeakers will very soon be installed in each room.” In this camp, as appears to be the general rule in many others, prisoners are allowed to write two letters and four cards' each month