Death and illnesses in Stalag XXA

Marienburg Commonwealth Cemetery

Illnesses

Because of the poor conditions POWS were very weak, many of them died, hundreds were so weak that they could barely move. Many POWs suffered from TB, skin sores, loss of teeth, hair loss, stomach crumps and diarrhoea. Yet, there were many men who did not managed to deal with mental problems, some POWs simply went mad, one POW even jumped off the roof.

Each fort contains a small dispensary with some 10 cots, but cases of any seriousness are sent to the hospital in the above mentioned fort situated between the two forts occupied as living quarters. This lanaret has 170 beds, but was occupied by 43 patients of whom 3 only were Britshers; two were surgical cases and one man was suffering from pneumonia. These men were being looked after by a British sanitary corps however the surgical cases were minor ones, one suffering from a cyst while the other had an injury to his knee. The lasaret was clean and well kept; its 15 closets which were provided with newspapers for use and had been recently installed, provided a welcome contrast to the unattractive closets of the forts.

Pic.3. Funeral in Stalag XXA

Death

Many POWs died in Stalag XXA, those were buried in garrison military cemetery in Thorn, others were transported to Marienburg Commonwealth Cemetery (see above photos). Yet what is worth mentioning, Germans allowed the honorable funerals which included salves and flags on the coffins.

references:

"Let me out you bastards".2011.Toruń

US embassy reports from 1940

Camp histories

Comments

Thanks this trip we've discovered new facts about POW from Stalag XXA in 1945

That was wonderful trip. During three days we saw couple of places connected with POW path of Jack Stansfield. Moreover thanks his son Michael we saw notes with memories of last days in Stalag XXA in Torun. In opposit to all facts which says that prisoners left camp in late december 1945 Jack wrote that they started to march on 21 january! That means that lasts groups of POW left camp in 10 days before Torun was liberated. Fortunatley Jack survived afeter he escaped from march. He met russians army and polish partizants. Below we presents you short memories about Jack and trip to Poland... My father was called Jack Stansfield, he was born in August 1918. He was brought up in the market town of Malton in North Yorkshire where his parents were publicans. He joined the Territorial Army in March 1939 and was mobilised on the declaration of war. Jack enlisted in his local regiment joining the 5th Battalion of the Green Howards. After a short time at the Regimental HQ in Richmond, North

Living conditions in Stalag XXA

Monthly bath in Stalag XXA Living conditions Lawrence Travers Dorins a former POW describes „fort XI was surrounded by a high bank and the fence around it with gates across the entrance road, on one side there was also a dry moat with a bridge on it. The bridge led to a tunnel” The fortress was covered with trees, bushes and earth so that the fortress could not be visible from the bird's eye. Prisoners slept in caponiers where initially were supposed to sleep Prussian soldiers. Yet PoW describes the rooms as if there were designed as rooms in the concentration camps. Rooms looked as semi tunnels. “The perpendicular walls were about 3m high and the height of the arched roof was about 5 m, wooden bunks provided sleeping spaces. Each room had only two small windows which obviously allowed no ventilation. Due to the end of the night the air was solid and everyone would have a headache due to oxygen starvation” .In those rooms kept approximately 32 men. There were three shelves whe

Poem

Not many people are aware of the fact that even in Forced Work Camps, Pows wrote poetry. Below there is a moving poem written by Mr Harry Tapley. Written by Harry Tapley, 4th Btn Gordon Highlanders PoW No. 5532 Kriegsgfangener Lager Stalag XXB, XVIIIB, XXA I find it hard just to explain As I travel back down memory lane Of the strength of mind, and stale black bread And cattle trucks, and frozen dead The companionship, when might was right The petty thieving in the night, The lice, the rags, the hunger pains The barbed wire fence, the stink of drains The sudden blackouts when you stand A raging torrent of commands, Sleeping in snow in open spaces Guards death frozen in their places Sharing out each little mite Eating potatoes black with blight Clogs and foot cloths hurting feet While topping miles of sugar beet Dreaming of bellies being filled While just another prisoner's killed, The eager listening to all news The lies, the rumours, the different vi

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