On December 16, 1943, during a bombing mission over Berlin, a sudden attack dramatically altered the course of a Royal Air Force (RAF) navigator’s life. Flying in a Lancaster bomber, moments after releasing a payload of 13,000 pounds of bombs, including a formidable 4,000-pound “cookie,” disaster struck. The aircraft, capturing infra-red photographs at 163 mph (280 km/hr), was targeted from below by a German night fighter. The attack severely damaged the port wing and fuselage, causing a fire and destroying the navigator’s instrument panel.
With burning fuel rapidly spreading, a swift evacuation became critical. Five crew members parachuted from the bomber just before it exploded. The stark contrast between the noisy, chaotic bomber and the silent, cold night air was immediate and profound. After deploying his parachute, the navigator descended into the snowy landscape below, likely disoriented from a head injury sustained during the attack. He collided with a church steeple and then a wall, resulting in fractures to his right epicondyle and right ankle.
Regaining consciousness in a German doctor’s surgery, he found himself alongside his pilot and bombardier, all under German guard. They were then moved to a section of a Berlin maternity hospital converted for POWs. With his arm and leg in plaster casts, the harsh reality of captivity began to set in. Two days later, they were transported by train to Dulag Luft in Frankfurt-am-Rhein, a holding camp where solitary confinement awaited. The unheated cells and damp plaster in the German winter made sleep elusive and discomfort a constant companion.
The following day brought interrogation. Despite pre-mission briefings to only provide rank and name if captured, the interrogator’s perfect English and knowledge of the navigator’s home base, Spilsby, were unsettling. Feigning memory loss due to his head injuries, the navigator deflected questioning.
After further interrogations and days in cells, they were transferred to a proper transit camp. As the gate closed, the guard’s English words, “For you, the war is over!” echoed the stark reality of their situation.
Following Christmas, a grueling journey in cattle trucks (packed with 40 men or 8 horses) led them to Stalag Luft 3 Belaria, near Żagań (Sagan) in former Polish territory. Belaria, a compound of Stalag Luft 3, was distinct from the main camp, which itself consisted of North, South, Centre, East, and West compounds, along with a jail, hospital, and German ‘vorlager’. Belaria, and Stalag Luft 3 in general, were relatively well-organized POW camps for Allied officers who were aircrew, a concept initiated by Hermann Göring, himself a WWI pilot.
Belaria initially comprised eight accommodation huts, each with basic ablution facilities including washbasins, showers (mostly cold), and a urinal. Part of one hut was designated as a sick-quarters or ‘Lazaret’. Belaria also included a ration store with a kitchen and a rudimentary latrine.
The Lazaret featured a main room equipped for medical treatment, a dormitory for patients, a cooking area, and a small room with infrared and UV lamps. Storage for linen, food, and medical supplies was also available.
The navigator became the Lazaret’s first patient under the camp doctor, Captain Monteuuis RAMC, who had been captured earlier in the war. Another patient was an Irish RAF recruit, McIlroy, with a severe leg fracture. Other patients included Tommy Hughes, Ginger Rutherford, and Stan Griffith, each with their own war-related injuries. The Lazaret provided basic medical care and a semblance of recovery for these wounded airmen.
The Lazaret staff, besides Captain Monteuuis, included Geoff Cornish, an Australian medical student and Hampden pilot who was a long-term POW and spoke German. Four Warrant Officer NCOs managed cooking, cleaning, and other essential tasks. One of them, Peter Brewer, was also a masseur, a valuable skill for patient rehabilitation.
By late January 1944, the navigator’s arm cast was removed. He began a regimen of physiotherapy, “climbing up the wall,” to regain mobility. His leg cast was replaced with a walking plaster, and by mid-February, it too was removed. He credited Pete Brewer’s rehabilitation efforts for his recovery.
For two months, he lived amongst the general POW population before being asked by Captain Monteuuis to assist in the Lazaret as the camp population grew.
German Camp Staff and Routine
The German camp staff belonged to the Luftwaffe. Initially, Hauptmann Werner was in charge, but as the POW numbers increased, an Oberst (Colonel) took command. This Oberst, whose name the author didn’t recall, had been reassigned from the Eastern Front after being invalided from Stalingrad. Werner became Adjutant, assisted by a Leutnant as Abwehr (Defence) Officer, and Feldwebel Glemnitz, along with several ‘ferrets’. These ‘ferrets’ were Unteroffiziers or Gefreiters, wearing blue dungarees and armed with a Mauser pistol and long screwdrivers, used to probe for contraband during hut inspections.
The Oberst, as the senior German officer, would have worn a distinctive German WWII Oberst combat uniform. This uniform, indicative of his high rank, would have been meticulously tailored and adorned with insignia denoting his status within the Wehrmacht. While the specifics of his uniform aren’t detailed in the narrative, a typical German WWII Oberst combat uniform would include:
- Tunic: A field-grey wool tunic with dark green collar and cuffs.
- Shoulder Boards: Gold-corded shoulder boards indicating the rank of Oberst (Colonel).
- Insignia: National emblem (Wehrmachtsadler) and rank insignia.
- Iron Cross: Potentially decorated with the Iron Cross or other military awards, depending on his service history, including possibly from his time on the Stalingrad front prior to his assignment to the POW camp.
- Trousers: Stone-grey trousers, often tucked into jackboots.
- Belt: Leather belt with Wehrmacht buckle.
- Peaked Cap (Schirmmütze): A peaked cap with appropriate insignia, though in a camp setting, he might have sometimes worn a field cap (Feldmütze).
This imposing figure of the Oberst represented the authority of the German military within the camp, a stark contrast to the captive Allied officers. His uniform was not merely clothing but a symbol of power and the enemy’s presence.
Daily life in the camp was structured around twice-daily parades for roll call. During these parades, ‘ferrets’ inspected the huts. Escape attempts being a primary duty for POW officers, camp activities were often geared towards this goal, including map making, forging passes (‘ausweiss’), creating civilian clothing from uniforms, photography, and tunneling. These activities were coordinated by Wing Commander Bob Tuck, who organized a system to monitor ferret movements and divert their attention from escape preparations.
Initially, Belaria housed primarily Commonwealth Air Force POWs, but as more US Army Air Corps officers were captured, additional huts were built. Camp numbers swelled, and Dr. Monteuuis, learning of the navigator’s medical background, recruited him to the Lazaret staff in April 1944.
Dr. Monteuuis was described as an eccentric yet dedicated doctor. He was deeply committed to his patients within the limitations of camp life and tried to educate his staff in basic medical sciences during evenings. The Lazaret was consistently busy, tending to the various ailments of the POWs, who readily sought medical attention in the monotonous camp environment. Dr. Monteuuis’s medical philosophy was pragmatic, emphasizing nature’s role in healing.
It is crucial to note the vast difference between conditions in German POW camps and Japanese camps. German camps, like Stalag Luft 3, were significantly better than Japanese camps, which had drastically higher death rates among Allied prisoners. Even within European Axis powers, German conditions were generally considered better than Italian camps.
Belaria had previously been a Wehrmacht cadet training area. The Germans repurposed it into a POW camp by enclosing huts with double barbed wire fences and establishing an administrative center or ‘vorlager’. A marked boundary within the perimeter defined prisoner movement limits. Adjacent compounds housed Russian POWs and a playing field. The camp expanded significantly from early 1944 to early 1945, growing from about 50-60 to over 1100 men.
POWs were called “kriegsgefangenen,” shortened to “kriegie.” The initial Belaria arrivals were the first kriegies, aside from about 20 ‘purged’ from North Compound, including escape organizers like WGCDR Bob Tuck and Geoff Cornish, as the Germans suspected an escape attempt (later known as the Great Escape).
The Senior British Officer (SBO) enforced hygiene standards: daily washing, shaving every other day, and weekly washing of clothes. Hot water was provided twice daily. Soap was scarce, mostly ersatz German soap or items from Red Cross parcels. These measures were vital for maintaining morale and health in the harsh conditions.
Belaria benefited from experienced POWs who advised newcomers on adapting to camp life. Educational and recreational activities quickly emerged, including language classes, a library, a theater group, a band, and escape planning.
Occupations
| Occupations in a Prison Camp in Germany |
|---|
| Skilled: Doctor, Dentist, Interpreter, Cook, Carpenter, Musician, Mining Engineer |
Parts of the camp were converted into allotments for growing vegetables, though the soil was poor. These activities provided purpose and helped maintain morale. The playing field was used for sports like soccer, cricket, and ice hockey in winter, using skates from the Red Cross.
Red Cross Rations
| Red Cross Rations |
|---|
| Canadian: 1 tin Spam (12oz), 1 tin Corned Beef (12oz), 1 tin Salmon (8oz), 1 tin Sardines (8oz), 1 tin Klim, 1 pkt Coffee or Tea (4oz), 1 pkt Cheese, 1 tin Biscuits (8oz), 1 Milk Chocolate (5oz), 1 pkt Salt & Pepper (1oz), 1 tin Butter (16oz), 1 pkt Sugar (8oz), 1 tin Jam/Marmalade (8oz), 1 bar Soap (2oz) |
| New Zealand: 1 tin Corned Mutton (16oz), 1 tin Beef (16oz), 1 tin Condensed Milk, 1 tin Cafe-au-Lait, 2 tins Tea (2oz each) & Sugar, 1 tin Honey (6oz), 1 tin Butter (16oz), 1 tin Chocolate (4oz), 1 tin Jam (8oz), 1 tin Meat & Vegetables (16oz), 1 tin Cheese (8oz), 1 pkt Sultanas (8oz) |
| Australian Bulk: This arrived 3-4 times per week, consisting mainly of dried fruit and sugar, distributed by weight. The fermented, crusty raisins were used to make alcoholic brew. |
Red Cross parcels were a crucial supplement to German rations, containing essential food items and morale boosters. Theatrical performances and escape-related activities, like tin bashing to create tunnel air pipes and civilian clothing from uniforms, were also significant occupations.
Food
German rations, while basic, were supplemented by Red Cross parcels. Initially, rations were one parcel per two men per week, improving to one per man before dwindling as the war progressed. By early 1945, parcels ceased entirely at Luckenwalde due to bombing disruptions of supply lines from Geneva. POWs attempted to preserve food by resealing punctured tins from Red Cross parcels, especially Argentine Fray Bentos meat tins.
| German Rations |
|---|
| At Balaria: Jan 44 to Jan 45 (Weekly per man approx) |
| 165 gm Margarine (6 oz), 165 gm Honey or Jam, 60 gm Cheese, 1800 gm bread (Dauerbrot) (1 loaf = 4 pounds), 1500 gm Potatoes, 160-170 gm Sugar, Vegetables (Swedes, Kohlrabi, Cabbage, Peas in season), 100 gm (4oz) Bratlings Pulver or Semolina, 50 gm Sausage (Blutwurst or bacon), 100-160 gm Meat (mince or beef or pork) per 2 weeks, Barley 250gm per week (usually cooked and distributed daily) |
Conditions varied with the seasons, and storage was challenging without refrigeration. The Lazaret received additional comfort parcels for patients.
Illness & Injuries
Common ailments included cuts, bruises, sprains, and skin infections. Skin diseases, impetigo, and sycosis barbi were frequent. Respiratory infections were common, from colds to bronchitis. Gastrointestinal issues were also prevalent.
Clothing
Clothing initially consisted of flight gear, supplemented later by army-pattern clothing, possibly from Red Cross sources or captured German supplies. British army boots, shirts, wool underclothing, and American greatcoats and gloves became available. Red Cross parcels also provided items like scarves, gloves, and woolen hats. Maintaining clothing was essential due to limited supplies.
Medicaments & Treatment
Medical supplies were provided by the Germans and Red Cross. Bandages, dressings, and plaster of Paris were available, though sometimes scarce. German cooperation in providing supplies was generally helpful. Stabsarzt Hildebrand, the German doctor, was noted for his occasional humor and facilitated X-rays at the main camp hospital when needed. Emergencies were relatively infrequent, considering the camp population.
| LIST OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES (Memory-Based) |
|---|
| Bandages, Elastoplast, POP powder, Syringes (inc. A minim one), Ampoules of Sterile Water & sodium chloride, Bottles (medicine), Kaoline Powder, Tinct opii (scarce), Aspirins, APC (Codeine), Prontosil Powder (M&B 693 -Sulphapyridine), Prontosil Tablets, Evipan sodium (Anaesthetic), Ethyl Chloride Spray, Liquor Hammamelis |
Unusual medical cases included appendicitis, Hodgkin’s Disease, psychiatric cases, and gunshot wounds. One psychiatric case resulted in a fatality when the POW wandered off and was shot. Subsequent psychiatric cases were accompanied by German-speaking POWs. Other shootings included a POW shot for being drunk and another for touching the barbed wire fence. A notable surgical case was a circumcision performed by Dr. Monteuuis.
Cases in Lazaret: Inpatients & Outpatients
Common cases treated in the Lazaret included:
- Bruises and Sprains: Treated with witch hazel, bandages, heat, and massage.
- Cuts & Wounds: Treated with acriflavine solution.
- Rhinitis: Menthol inhalations.
- Sore Throats and Tonsillitis: Salt-water gargles.
- Bronchitis: Inhalations and ipecacuanha mixture.
- Urinary Infections: Potassium citrate mixture and fluids.
- Headaches and minor aches: APC tablets.
- Styes: Hot spoon bathing.
- Diarrhoea: Initially fluids, then kaolin mixture or tincture of opium. Severe cases were treated with sulphaguanidine.
- Skin Lesions: Whitfield’s ointment for fungal infections, calamine lotion for urticaria, gentian violet for impetigo, and hot packs and Prontosil for erysipelas.
The Long March
In late January 1945, as the Russian army approached, the Belaria camp was evacuated. POWs were given six hours to prepare for a march in deep snow. Medical staff were promised a horse and cart, which failed to materialize, forcing them to pull it themselves. POWs fashioned sledges from tables for their belongings.
The column of about 1000 men, with the medical team at the rear, began the Long March. Aspirin and APC supplies quickly diminished. Guards flanked the column, and the SBO and the Oberst monitored progress. The first day covered about 20km to a Polish farm where the medical team treated sick marchers and received soup.
The march continued with daily sick parades and harsh conditions. At Gross Selten, they shared accommodation with German SS medical staff. After two days, they moved to Birkenstadt, hosted by a Russian family. The SBO negotiated for the sickest POWs to be taken to a local hospital. As the weather improved, the march became slightly easier, with guards even using the medical cart for their packs. The US contingent was separated from the British at this point.
After several days and about 80km of marching, they reached Spremberg railway junction and were transported by cattle truck to Luckenwalde, south of Berlin, concluding the arduous eight-day Long March.
Luckenwalde
At Luckenwalde, conditions deteriorated further, with no Red Cross parcels. The navigator and Dr. Monteuuis took the seriously ill to a British medical post manned by Irish medics. The rest of the medical team proceeded to Luckenwalde camp. The Long March from Belaria had taken eight days, covering over 80km on foot and the rest by rail, marking a harsh transition to a new phase of captivity.
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