WARTIME GUIDES

                                              pic1. footbal team in Stalag XXA                                                           pic2. rugby team in Stalag XXA                                             Pic.3 Sport Platz at Fort 15 Even though the daily food rations were not sufficient an inordinate number of calories were b...

                                           The Rascals Band in Stalag XXA                                            Pic.2. Orchestra at Fort 15 Starting from 1940, PoWs kept in Stalag XXA were able to oraganize a sing-song accompanied on a mouth organ  followed by "Pennies from Heaven" played with a comb and piece tissue. Due time however, more instruments arrived from Switzerland . By the late 1941 an orchestra had been created at Thorn. pic.2 source https://www.awm.gov.au/

To whom it may concern, if you are interested in the history of Stalag XXA in Thorn please don't be afraid to post a question either on our email or in a comment parts, we are willing to answer all nagging inquiries and help if necessery

On your route to Poland we recommend you to visiting DAG Fabrik Bromberg (Bydgoszcz, Poland) which is the place of a former nitroglicerine factory, one of two in Europe. Below are some pictures of DAG visit also a webpage http://www.exploseum.pl/

Unlike in many other forced work camps, PoWs in Stalag XXA were allowed to maintain their Britishness by reading books or even performing various plays. Walking and gymnastics were possible in the two courts which, as stated, were sunny and open to fresh air.  The men having expressed a desire for a football, the Embassy representative ordered one from a near-by town, together with some games, playing cards, etc.  Books will be sent from Berlin.  The Y.M.C.A. representative in Berlin who has initiated the start of a larged fenced recreation ground near camp 2.

                                             Fort IV The camp is located in 2 (with the addition of a military hospital 3) forts of a ring of fortifications surrounding a town considered of military value before 1914.  The forts are extensively built of brick, covered by sod, and are of an extremely substantial construction affording excellent air raid shelters.  The mean are housed in caserates, i.e. barrel-vaulted rooms opening on a corridor at one end with windows at the other.  The rooms, while recipients of little or no sunlight, are sufficiently lighted and ventilated.  One fort, housing the men, contains two large courts one of which is being arranged as football-field.  Exercise is possible in these courts which are sunny, and also on a ...

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; ...