The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards FellowshipPicton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
History
The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards Fellowship
Picton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals, charities, etc.; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, German
At Scheuen near Celle a similar difficulty existed. There were 118
British out of a total of 9,000 prisoners. “The British
non-commissioned officers muster their men and exercise some general
control over them, but the French or Belgian non-commissioned officers
are in charge of the barracks and designate the men who are to do
fatigue duty. In consequence, it is claimed, British soldiers are
detailed to such work more frequently than those of other nationalities.
On speaking of this to the Commandant, he promised at once to arrange so
that a more fair division of work should be made in the future.
Otherwise the men made no complaint with regard to any discrimination
against them.”
ZUEDER ZOLLHAUS, WAHN.
The reports issued in Miscellaneous, No. 14 (1915) continue the
inspections and reinspections up to the middle of May. As improvements
were continuously being made in the camps, it is scarcely necessary to
refer in detail to these further reports. There are reports on fifteen
camps for military prisoners. Two of these reports (those on the
“working camp” at Züder Zollhaus and Wahn) are unfavourable, thirteen
are favourable. At Züder Zollhaus were 2,000 prisoners, of whom 479 were
British. The camp was for prisoners who were willing to work on the
land. “I was given to understand,” writes Dr. Ohnesorg, “that this camp
would only be occupied during the summer months.” The inspector finds
the hospital accommodation in this case “very crude.” There were about
thirty cases of sickness which should certainly have been removed
elsewhere. The morning meal seems very small for the morning’s work. It
consists of either soup or coffee with 300 grammes (say 10 oz.) of
bread. Altogether it is plain that improvements here were urgently
needed. Dr. Ohnesorg, however, says: “All of them (the British
prisoners) appeared to be in good physical condition.... The work is not
hard, and they are permitted to take it leisurely.... They informed me
that their treatment was good, they were not overworked, and practically
the only complaint they had to make was that a more substantial meal to
begin the day on should be given them.” At Wahn the food was complained
of, and the most unpleasant feature is that the Commandant did not seem
on good terms with the British.
BLANKENBURG.
As regards the camp for officers at Blankenburg, Mr. Jackson writes:
The house itself is as comfortable as any of the places where I
saw interned officers in England.... It is surrounded by
attractive, well-kept grounds, in which a tennis-court has just
been made.... There are several modestly furnished mess and
recreation rooms, and a terrace which is used for afternoon
tea.... The Commandant is interested in his work, and evidently
does all he can to make conditions agreeable.
There were 110 officers, of whom nine were British.
SENNE.
At Sennelager Mr. Osborne reports:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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