12 VOL. 3, --NO. 1 I Expediting Mail TWENTY.MILLIONTH PACKAGE The War Department announced A portion of the prisoner of war on December 18 that transmission of mail addressed toAmerican prisoners On December 7, the anniver_ sary of. Pearl Harbor, the + letter mail to and from American in Japan will, effective at once, be twenty-millionth prisoner of prisoners of war in Germany and carried on Soviet ships leaving west ISONERS war package came off the OF WAR Japan will be expedited as a result of coast ports, as a result of instructions as. issued to Soviet ship captains by the sembly line at one of the Red cd by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees the cooperative assistance . ren~ered Cross Packaging Centers in the American government m thiS re Soviet government advising them to gard by the governments <;>f Swe~en, accept prisoner of war mail from ~;ill~~~~~i~~ ~;:Ok1:,kN~i~, I ~j-, N-0-.-2------W- .-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-0-N-, -D-.-C-.------.."...,.--c-;;-=--F-E-B-R-U-A-R-Y-1-94-5 American postal authorities for dis Switzerland, and the SOVIet UnIOn. Packaging Center operation ~ ~------~------ In the case of American prisoners patch to American prisoners of war held by Japan. This mail will be began early in 1943. A ll four as. of war in Germany, arrangements sembly lines are operated by have been completed with the Swedish transported across the Pacific to women volunteers. A Report to Relatives of Prisoners and Swiss governments whereby pris Soviet ports, and thereafter trans oner of war mail destined for Ameri ferred to the Japanese for delivery By Maurice Pate can soldiers in German prison camps to prisoner of war camps. This serv will be dispatched by air on alternate ADDRESSING NEWLY CAP. rapidly changing military picture of ice supplements that already in effect TlJRED PRlSONERS mmer and fa!! brought numerous new All kinds of arrangements, with the vessels are running constant risks. routes via Sweden and Switzerland. whereby prisoner of war mail to pments in the prisoner of war relief support of our government, have to Twenty voyages by Swedish ships This two-way shuttle service over 'ons. To coordinate the work at vari- Japan is transported by air to Iran, The November 1944 iss,ue of the l~~e ~~r ~f~~ggZ;;b~:"l::;fnglelg ~~~~ be worked out involving London, have so far been safely made between these two alternate routes will con Geneva, Berlin, Stockholm, and even and transshipped from that country BULLETIN reported that mall for new- ,e!led l~OOO miles by 'l!lane (Ind car. Goteborg and Lubeck, though any siderably reduce the transit time for ly reported prisoners of war in Ger. i~do t~~o~1h~~s !~ig ';'o:.'t~r'gi ~~~~ Moscow, because sailings of neutral day we know a ship may strike a these mails, which will be dispatched to Japan. ships now entering the Baltic Sea mine. German minesweepers cleared No postage is necessary on the many could ~e addressed in car~ 0 n~ ~?:lfz~',-f;,~.e ~ho;n~ ;~t~~:,fr!~~:~ from the United States to Europe di the International Red Cross DU'ec ~e stopped tn Barcelona and Lisbon, on their relief missions must be noti a path for our Swedish relief ships to rect by air on a daily schedule. foregoing mail. tory Service at Geneva, Switzerlan I~PP~~t~.~E~ft~~ .bee n two or our mter- fied to all Powers concerned with Germany, and, at Lubeck, German pending receipt of the prisoner's .. . that area in order that these ships freight cars steadily move the food permanent camp address. IS I~ an mformal report on my may proceed without interference. packages to the camps. • t tnp to Europe to each of the Record Shipment Leaves Philadelphia e The Northern Route . At the tu:n of the announ~emen, 0 families of American prison The French Ports It :was decIded that the prIsoner ! war, and an expression of cer Few Americans perhaps realize This was the Saivo's second trip The MIS Saivo, the latest Swedish senal number should not be mad aims which the American Red that the main life line for food to It is difficult to visualize the de vessel to enter the service of the In across the Atlantic. On her maiden rart of the address. In t?e mean in the field of war prisoner re their prisoner kin in' Germany is gree of destruction I found both in ternational Red Cross, left Phila voyage in October she brought time, however, the InternatIOnal R 'ork is endeavoring to fulfill. now through Sweden. Back of this Marseille and Toulon, the, main delphia on December 2 with a record Christmas gifts from the German Cross has. advised that the i~cl~ sion e August 1944 wave of op is a sequence of events. , French ports on the Mediterranean. cargo of food, clothing, athletic Red Cross for German prisoners of o.f the. senal number would aid Id~n. m was not shared by the Ameri A year ago the American Red What Allied aviators had not done in equipment, and other supplies from war in Canada and the United States. tIficatlOn and not cause confusIO Red Cross. At that time we in Cross, backed by the United States destroying the ports while the Ger the American and Canadian Red The outgoing cargo from Phila with the POW number when the f to Prisoners of War decided government and military authorities, mans were still there, the Germans delphia was discharged at Goteborg, Cross societies for prisoners in Ger latter is report~~ to Genev~ by the prepared for at least another sent large reserves of supplies via did at the time of their withdrawal. Sweden, whence arrangements ~ere German authontIes. The senal nu m- of operations in Europe. If the Then the Americans and French per many. The supplies s hip P e d Marseille to Switzerland. That is made to transship it to Lubeck, the ber may therefore be includ \,!d aft~r came earlier, we could only be formed a miracle in quickly getting amounted to nearly 6,000 tons, and why, though Switzerland was cut north German port. International the prisoner's name and rank, but It! ful. 'With a substantial capital off from France for five months last these ports into usable condition. included over 650,000 American Red Red Cross Delegates take charge of should be clearly indicated as th y from R ed Cross funds, a summer and fall, we were able to As there was at the time (in No Cross standard food packages, and the relief supplies at Lubeck and serial number, and its use discon packaging center was opened serve the camps in Germany out of vember) a great military movement a large consignment of clothing for handle their distribution to the tinued as soon as the POW number ooklyn early in September 1944. reserves accumulated in Switzerland through Marseille, it was decided to French prisoners. camps in Germany. becomes available. plant has already turned out during the previous winter and make use of Toulon, about 40 miles over one million standard food spring. away, as the main port of entry for ------j ges for prisoners of war. But two roads of relief are always Red Cross prisoner of war supplies nded Americans repatriated on better than one. Therefore, with the on the southern route. Allied military d 'p;);)lUlmm~ Sf q:>fqM lOJ ;).\IlllSO ripsholm last September were aid of both Swiss and Swedes, we authorities have given us unstinted '!'''!ill WlIOil UO l;)PU;)S AJPOU 'UMOU1j Sf sg.iJ>p8 ully interviewed by R ed Cross sta.rted planning as far back as June cooperation in handling shipments M;)U PUl1 P;)AOW;)l Sl1q ;);)SS;)lPPl1 H - ~;)lS1!UQSOd entatives in order to find ou t 1944 the new path via Goteborg, through Toulon, and the heavy-duty means of better serving Ameri Sweden, and north German ports trucks which were shipped by the risoners in Europe during 1945. to the camps in Germany. This has American and Canadian Red Cross SU6JJ at U'nSnv borne results .. So far we have shipped societies last summer have proved eration Between, Governments 40,000 tons of war prisoner relief invaluable in getting the goods from .l~cn't "_9~ JO AUS.le4lCl£l ettiL e Allied invasion of France supplies to Goteborg. Up to Feb shipside to the nearest railhead. t10l~tslt\bOV Sl'e!.IeS ht great changes in our war ruary 1945, nearly 3,000,000 stand With the help of army engineers, it ner relief oper~tion. At any time ard food packages shipped on from was a matter of only a few hours to elivery of a single parcel to a Goteborg have reached American lift the trucks ashore and get them P;);)lue.l1m~ ;)~l!lSOel u.ml;)l1 prisoner in Europe is not as and Allied camps in Germany. rolling. French workers unload sup. l.~ Ie as it may seem to the parents The Baltic Se.a between Goteborg plies from Red Cross ships at Toulon. her relatives on this side. The t8 'ON l!UI.I;}d and Lubeck, Germany, is sown with For several months, therefore, pris .:) 'cr · U01~ U!qS1J.M. ':J 'a '~I U01~U!qSl!M. ery requires the active and al anchored mines. So, when goods are oner of war shipments (British as SSO.I:J P;)'U Il!UOPl!N Ul!:JP;)WV ;)qj. helpful cooperation of many sent over this route, both we and the alVei well as American) have been moving tInents of our own government. Swedish shipowners who provide the simultaneously from Toulon and 3:~V.LS O el -S '.fl I:,q palfsnqnJ 'n '11 ''1 'd (,;9S ':>as ~tv61 A.ICnU'E[ unanng .IlJ A\ JO S.Ianos!Jd ISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN
Marseille to Geneva. On one da} has struggled here~ We should back through the International 93 percent of the goods shipped (N ovember 30) over 1,000 tons of up our Army' in its correct fulfill Cross, the German Red Cross 101 Switzerland to our American go04s left the two ports for Switzer ment of the Geneva Treaty. This is GerI?~n rai~roads, the German' ~on e rs was safely received and de- land, but the average has run about a vital and exemplary part in the admilllstratlOn, the American red to our men. 400 tons a day. The combined op chain of helping your own husband spoke?man, and ends only whe eration of the northern and south or son in an enemy camp. supplIes reach the individual An t The Far East ern routes makes it possible to move can prisoner. m rhe Far Eastern situation is quite -assuming the necessary rolling Question of Camp Reserves The American Red Cross is I erent £r0J? the Eur<;>pean. With stock is available- approximately In August 1944, we had peak percent responsible for lhe fir . 000 Amencans, and ill all nearly 20,050 tons of relief supplies per stocks in all American prison camps in the chain. From the start wsthh ,000. Americans, British, and month. As a matter of fact, the com in Germany, sufficient, for their not failed to anticipate the e ~ ~ teh ill the Far East, we should de- grOWl A' d All' d . bin~d British, Canadian, and Ameri strength at that time, for anywhere needs, and we have moved the re . er to mencan an Ie pnson- can_ Red Cross programs normally from two to four months. . goods well ahead of require h. held by Japan at least 2,000 tons call for the movement of about In this same month of August, Through the neutral Swiss d eFen ,relief every month. Despite all 15,000 tons a month, but for the while optimism ran high on this of the International Red Cro ega r efforts, we have not yet achieved present winter the schedule was side, Germany underwent a period of can talk with the Germans ss, W percent of this figure. , We U h 'd f . d r~ised to 20,000 tons because excep nervous tension. One resul t was that every influence constantly to ac From t e eVl. ence 0 repatnate tIOnally large amounts of clothing the German authorities feared vate all the further links' tld escaped pnsoners, however, we needed t? be moved. troubl~ from their many Allied chain. And we consider o~n . 've been able to establish that the war pnsoners, and thought our camp is never done until the relief r J'j)ds which we have put into Japa , How U. S. Anny Helps reserves might facilitate escape. So a are in the prisoners' hands g°?te hands have thus far actually The greatest single factor which German order was given that supplies Here are some of the ;obl n delivered to our prisoners. But gives us strength in getting relief and must be promptly consumed by pris supply' p ems I, average amounts per person are maintaining regular communication oners, or reserve stocks moved to 1 . . . toO little for their needs. From the with your prisoner kin is the scrup depots outside the camps. Also, Gen ( ) Due to changes m the fTor~partment of State, and from the 'ulous attitude of the American Army evawas told by the German authori a camp may ':e suddenly moved f S. Army and Navy, the Red Cross in fulfilling the Treaty of Geneva to ties to cease or reduce shipments ther .z,,!land zn Germany. As a p . every possible support, in money, ward enemy prisoners. Some have until reserves were consumed. of mzl.ztary strategy, ~he Ger~an ds, and any other facility. lightly called this policy of our Army During my first visit to Switzer thorztzes may sometzmes notify GThere is a small group in the Japa Discharging prisoner of war supplies from fRCC ships to Red Cross trucks at Toulo~, France, iti ·~Nof)ember 1944. "mollycoddling." The truth is that land in early November, I talked neva Oz such movement only afl'se Red Cross and in the Japanese the Army has maintained the high with International Red Cross inspec a certam delay. !hus a tempoT reign Office who look forward to es~ discipline in handling enemy tors going into and out of Germany. shortage of supplies may result ..e future. This group realizes that (1) The Allied occupation of they now go regulqrly, via Switzer pnsoners. It treats these men strictly IRCC officials in Geneva talked daily (2) When sudden movements lI ery life of a prisoner needlessly France has practically cut off German land, to Germany. those of last December occur at tst will cause more bitterness for but fairly, and has obtained from by telephone with their Swiss dele planes that used to fly daily between (3) A II letter mail is now flown to them millions of valuable man-work gate in Berlin to straighten out the front, l.arge numbers of new Am e future than one hundred Ameri Germany and Lisbon carrying air n Switzerland or Sweden, whence it hours. In France, I saw tens of thou reserve problem. Shipments on a cr: p:zsoners ~ay unexpe~tedly.~ men lost in combat. Whether mail. . goes directly O1i to Germany. sands of Gennan prisoners-fed, yes, more normal scale were then grad rzv~ m certam ca,mps, tncre~nese more intelligent Japanese, who many-fold the exzstzng AmeTlc 'e in a small minority, will prevail (2) Surface mail, and next-of-kin The situation inside Germany is but· always working intensively. ually revived. parcels, which Red Cross ships for spotty. Some German camp com The U. S. Army has in its custody The plan worked out, and as it strength. Then stocks of goods er the provincial-minded staff of down rapidly, and t.here may bee Japanese Army, who have had merly carried to Marseille, were manders facilitate the flow of mail, in the United States over 300,000 now operates, permits reserves of one stalled from June to October. Sev- . others are slower. But on the Ameri German prisoners. The control of temporary gap untll Geneva C~tle previous contact with the west to two months-when railroad cars eral months of warfare along the can side everything is done to keep these men is a tremendous .job. To are available, and when the goods ru~h new and larger amounts of s n world, remains to be seen. Our plies to the camp. orts and the efforts of the Swiss Marseille-Switzerland line made it al your mail moving at high speed. those who have been disturbed over can be gotten safely through-but the most impossible to move mail into an occasional sensational report of an Germans have prescribed that re (3) The:e is a ~ontinuous stru~ghom' I saw working day and night The Office of Censorship in New for sufficzent razlroad cars, whIt Geneva and Berne to achieve a or out of Switzerland. York, with a staff of 1,600 in its pris escape, or minor abuse, it may be serves must be stored in depots ad (3) German censorship has been interesting to know that while I was jacent to the camps. These depots are by arrangements betwe~n the S tisfactory solution, will never cease. oner of war department, works long and Germa,ns, are furnzshed by Meanwhile, the people of the swamped by letters from the hun hours to speed the mail for you in in Switzerland I was reminded by under double locks-one controlled dreds of thousands of new German Swiss inspectors of the International by the German Commander, the German razlroads. nited States and the British Com- both directions. (4 ) Up to now, the Germans ha,onwealth should know that, while prisoners and their families, whose Red Cross fresh out of Germany other by the American camp spokes correspondence feeds through the The International Red Cross given first priority after their 0 nstant endeavors are being made that: man. Stocks are then brought peri same channels as your letters to and mi~ita.ry shipments to war prison work out a larger program of ma (1) Th~ control of thousands of odically into the camps and the Should the war in Europe last rel.lef goods. However, these rdtrial relief, these governments are tram A merican prisoners. And A m~rican prison~rs in G~rman camps goods distributed by the American A merican prisoners have tripled in through 1945, over $100,000,000 in is no ~asy matter either. Som~ Ameri spokesman to his fellow Americans. shipments are sometimes delayed rn ing over to the Swiss hundreds relief goods during the year will I number since last June. . cans hav~ ~scaped from their camps, rou~e by mil~tary mo,!ements -and thousands of dollars monthly. move from this country through the An Intricate Business AllIed bombzng of rallyards. Ihile these funds serve to buy little From now on, and uiHil further and aft~rwards been retaken, as changes, mail should go better be IRCC to our prisoners. Another If many as ~ight and nine times. an American prisoner in a Ger In spite of the above factors, ~ cause of low exchange rates and cause: $100,000,000 worth will flow from relief goods in have been e shortage of goods to be bought, (2) The A maican prisoners re ,!Dan prison camp writes home that g~neral (1) Last August the American Red England, Canada, France, and from stocks are getting low, or that they ting through, and we-with the ey do bring some measure of relief. c~iving r~gular R~d Cross food pack Cross, cooperating with the U. S. other countries all over the world. are temporarily exhausted, you may operation of the Swiss and the 0 he only effective solution, however, agu ~at b~tt~r, and have more to Post Office, moved all accumulated These goods will bring supplemen be sure that we, and our office in links in the chain-will do our a constant flow of actual relief bacco, than th~ G~rmans guarding parcels and land mail to Sweden. tary aid to 1,500,000 Allied prisoners. Geneva, already know this, and that to keep them moving. It is pertin ods, and to this end the American th~m. Thus far, too, th~ American Two solid freight trains carried this The International Committee has prison~r with his R~d Cross and pri we are bending every effort to main to recall here that every poun~ ed Cross and the American govern become a vast organization, embrac tain a continuous flow of supplies. supplies received by an AmeTi ent are steadfastly working. A merican mail by land and ferry vat~ parcels ~ats as well as, or b~tt~r from Sweden to Germany in Sep- ing several thousand full time work This is an intricate operation, and camp spokesman is listed and than, th~ av~rag~ G~rman civilian. War Prisoner Mail temb~r . '\- ers in Switzerland and throughout ceipted. IRCC inspectors to So there are public relations prob actually only the first step in it is (2) Th~ U. S. Army Post Office, the world. At the age of 70, and after camps personally verify this aceo If relatives of prisoners held by lems regarding the American prison directly under our control. The chain since S~pt~mb~r, has st~adily bun many years of devoted service, Mr. ing with the spokesmen. For the ermany have been disturbed by er in Germany which are just as great of organization, which begins with moving n~xt-of-kin parcels to Mar Max Huber, the President, passed vear 194~. it has heen established ail delays in recent months, there as the problems with which our Armv the American Red Cross. runs Ire three main reasons: tl'illl' bv Armv transport. Frnm thnp on t.he leadership of thp organiza- 4 pRISON ERS OF WAR BU LLETIi'i
tion to Mr. Carl J. Burckhardt on more crowding as the number of RELEASE PARCELS January I! 1945. While in Geneva, prisoners increased. There was the American Prisoners of War at Oflag 64 accompanied by our American Red flurry over relief reserves, which In January the American R Cross delegate there, I had long and caused anxiety to the men, but which Cross packed release kits to d • (Taken in July 1944 by a Delegate 0/ the International Committee 0/ the Red Cross.) intimate visits with both Mr. Huber h as already mentioned, we have rea given to American prisoners whe and Mr. Burckhardt to lay plans son to believe has been ironed ou t. they are released by. Germany, ann for 'Out future work. There was shortage of fuel in the whenever they are lIberated in thd The Swiss people themselves con camps, as there was for German Far East. A shipment has alread tribute generously both in money civilians. However, health in general gone to the Philippines. Y and services to this work. The IRCC among American prisoners was good. The release kit is being packed b personnel in Germany, including a This shortage of fuel is common valiant worker and his wife living women volunteers at the New Yor ~ to all Europe. Our Red Cross staffs Pack~gin9 Center. Th.e number is in a temporary wooden barracks at in Paris, Toulon, and Marseille live the key port of Lubeck, take bomb sU~Clent for each pnsoner to reo and work in totally unheated quar ceIve one, and every effort will be ing and the discomforts of a fuelless ters. In fact, Germany is possibly winter without a word of complaint. made to get them to the men prompt. better off than France in this respect. ly upon their liberation. Switzerland's Part in Relief What 1945 holds, no one can fore see. I consulted in France with offi Each kit contains a razor, razor blades, shaving cream, a toothbrush Switzerland is a country of 4,200,- cers at Supreme Allied Headquar 000 people. Over 500,000 of its men ters, where my former assistant in toothpaste, a pencil, a comb, socks' are trained in military service; about Washington is now permanently at cigarettes, handkerchiefs, playing half that number have been con tached. Our Army has drawn up the cards, stationery, a book, hard candy stantly on a military footing, with the most detailed plans for the postwar chewing gum, a face cloth, and ~ other half on instant call, to defend care, and earliest possible postwar cigarette case with the American Red any invasion of their soil. repatriation, of our prisoners. U n Cross emblem imprinted on it. Th This small country is sheltering , til that time, the American Red kit bag was made by Red Cross over 100,000 refugees, military in Cross, with the help of the IRCC, Production Corps volunteers, and is ternees, and military escapees, who will continue to do its utmost to of olive drab cloth similar to the , have poured into Switzerland from maintain the flow of supplies through kits, also made by the Production all over Europe. What this burden Switzerland and Sweden to the Corps, given to the men going in food and shelter means can best camps in Germany. overseas. be understood if we visualize the relative pressure of 3,000,000 people USE OF LETTER FORMS LUFT III PICTURE from other lands suddenly pouring into our own country. Recent communications from Numerous inquiries have been re The people of Switzerland feel American prisoners of war in Ger ceived by the BULLETIN for the names very ke_enly the misery of the victims many have stressed the importance of the' American . airmen at Stalag of war in all the countries so close of using the special letter forms Luft III, whose group picture (from to them. In goods from their own (Form No. Ill), which are obtain Lt. Rayford Deal) was published on country, and in services, they have able at post offices and Red Cross page 7 of the October 1944 issue. spent hundreds of millions of francs chapters throughout the United The men have n6w been identified, in relief to their less fortunate Euro States, and which are now dis by First Lt. Donald A. Stine, as fol. pean neighbors. Last month, the patched regularly, postage free, by lows (left to right) : Miller, Thomas, Swiss government voted a further air to Europe. Letter. forms are Copeland, Deal, Wigger, Lazzaro, 100,000,000 francs ($25,000,000) for used almost exclusively by the rel Morgan, Beacham, Coffey, Reichart, relief work in Europe. atives of British prisoners of war, Lamberson, Adamina, Shaljran, who have learned from experience Sinith, Stine, Fergon, McCormick, The Future that letter forms go through much McGinniss, and Effros. One man in I had many talks in Switzerland faster than long letters mailed in the group still remains unidentified. with IRCC delegates who had come envelopes. to Geneva from Germany and Hun The German authorities, more HANDICRAFTS EXHIBITION gary. The morale of our Ameri over, in an official communication can prisoners, they reported, was gen have again pointed out that the The International Red Cross Com· erally good in spite of their long sending "of 10, 16, and even 24 mittee has organized a Prisoners of separation in many cases from the page letters," from the United War Handicrafts Exhibition which outside world. Most of the men do States results in "such letters, dur will be opened at Geneva in April, their best to improve the long hours ing heavy work, being placed aside and later make a tour of Swiss cities. by study, hobbies, and sports. Last by censors for later examination." Prisoners of war of all nationalities fall, the hope of liberation in 1944 German regulations do not f(Jr have sent camp-made articles to t~e was strong, but by November our bid the sending of letters of any exhibition. The articles will remalfl men were philosophically reconciled length in envelopes, nor is resJric the property of the men who made to sticking it out for another winter. tion placed on the number of let them. The camps generally still remain ters that may be sent to individual A first shipment of ten cases of under the administration of more prisoners. The authorities, as well articles, comprising 145 differen; mature German professional military as the prisoners themselves, merely items, made by German prisoners 0 commanders. Conditions in the urge the use of letter forms be war in the United States, went for· camps did not appreciably alter dur cause they are easier than long let ward to Geneva in December. Other ing the year, except that there wa~ ters for the censors to handle. shipments, all made on Red Cross Colonel Drake i" conversa#o" with Capt. Frm,cis M. Smit". Lt. vt'ssels, have left since December. William E. Fabia". a"d Lt. Joseph R. Gree". Pitclti"g "o1'sel"o.s outside barracks...... A c cation of German Camp!> and Hos. als Where American Prisoners of lr and Civilian InternJes Are Held Based on information received to I + Decemher 31, 1944). OflagXH 1 Nienburg A2 PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS 1 Oflag XI (79) , Brunswick 82 MAP Oflag64 Altburgund C2 liP NEAREST TbwN SQUARE / I LAZARETTS (Hospitals) ~glIA N eubrandenburg B2 MAP 19IIB Hammerstein\ CI-2 NEAREST TOWN SQUARE Ig III A Luckenwalde B2 IVA R es_ Laz_ Elsterhorst Ig III B Fiirstenburg/Oder C2 (Hohnstein) C 3 19 III C Altdrewitz I C2 IVG L e ~rig B2 19 III D Berlin-Steglit7 B2 VB Rottenmunster A 4 'gIVA VIC Res. Laz. Lingen A 2 Hohnstein B-C 3 I VIG 19IVB Miihlberg B2 ("""Byd~o",zcz Res. Laz_ Gerresheim A 2 ( (Bromberg)e VilA !gIVC Wistritz B3 Freising B 2-3 r ® O/lag64 IXB gIVD Torgau B2 ,.. __ .1 eAllburgulld Bad Soden/Salmiinster A 3 IXC gIVD/Z Annaburg I B2 ~ + wtnslt'in Obermassfeld B 2-3 gIVF Lund sht';:g Rell- Laz. IX C Meiningen B 3 HartmannsdOl;f B3 " gIVG Oschatz Ille IX C Hildburghausen B 3 .82 • . PoznJ.ln (Posen) X A Res. Laz. II, Schleswig B 1 g VA Ludwigsburg A-B3 X B Sandbostel A.B 2 gVB Villingen A4 xm D Niirnberg-Langwasser B 3 gVIG Bergisch-Neustadl A2 p L XVIII A/Z Spittal/Orau B-C 4 gVIJ Krefeld A2 o • Ltidi' Marine Lazarett Cuxhaven A 1 gVIIA Moosburg B3 Luftwaffen Lazarett 4/11 Wismar B 1 ~VIIB Memmingen B4 Res. Laz. II Vienna ~VIIIB Teschen 03 C3-4 Res_ Laz. Graz ~344 Lamsdorf C3 C4 Res. Laz_ Bilin B-C3 ~VIIIC Sagan C2 Res. Laz. Wollstein ~IXB Bad Orb A-B3 C2 Res_ Laz. II Stargard ;IXC Bad Sulza B2 C2 Res_ Laz_ Schmorkau : XB Bremervorde A-B2 C2 • Mei ningen Res_ Laz. Konigswartha C2, ;XC Nienburg A2 L u f l ~HiLw:arett~b~rgha u senIX C Res_ Laz_ Ebelsbach ;XIA Altengrabow B2 B3 A Bad.O~b • Lw:arett IX C , ; XIB FallingbosteJ B2 CIVILIAN INTERNEE CAMPS Stal:UX B Ha nHn~ lburg ....~.',' ; XIIA Limburg A3 Ilag Biberach B4 ; XIID Wahbreitbach A3 nag Liebenau B~ ' XlIF Freinsheirn I A3 Inag VII/H Laufen B4 ' XIIIC '-j ClIO Hammelburg I 83 3 ',::.-:; +:~~:E:' 3 ; XIII D N iirnberg-Langrwasser B3 Mannhllirn • Nurnburg.La n ~a!l;;;er S L Dllrkhplln • Stalag XIII D 383 Hohenfels 83 o + Lw:arett XIII D XVII A Kaisersteinbruch C4 • Hohf>nff'ls 398 Pupping B-C4 Ludwigsburg r-'--,--" . XVmA WoUsberg C4 . Nancy _/ '--'--'J Key XVIII C(317) Markt-Pongau 8-C4 J 357 Oerbke A2 • Prisoner of War Camps XXA Tarun 02 XX B Marienburg I Ol
RED CROSS DIRECTORY STALAG VII A AT MOOSBURG SERVICE I Repatriates from Germany The International Red Cross The American strength at Stalag The Swedish ship Gripsholm, Committee at Geneva recently es rangements were made by the Ameri VII A increased during last October hich is under charter to the Ameri 'can government and the. American by about 1,300, and by nearly 2,000 tablished a Directory Service n government, left New York on whereby letters could be addressed Red Cross to give all possible aid in November, the number at the end nuary 6 with a large complement of that month being over 5,500. This to newly captured prisoned of war seriousl y sick and seriousl y and comfort to the repatriates. Three as soon as they were officially re figure included officers, noncoms, ~unded German prisoners of war Red Cross workers from national and enlisted men captured in Italy.. ported to be prisoners of ~ar and igible for repatriation. She also headquarters went on the GriNholm Sgt. B. M. Belman was the Ameri without waiting for the 'jpenna fried civilian internees. to assist the returning Americans. nent" camp address. Infonnation can spokesman. At the end of Octo On the return voyage, the Grips- This is the fourth exchange ber, Stalag VII A also contained about the Directory Service was 1m is bringing back seriously sick with Germany carried out by the given in the November 1944, and about 9,000 British prisoners of war, d seriously wounded American Gripsholm. The first took place in as well as prisoners of other nation January 1945 issues of P1soners I isoners of war from Germany, as March 1944. The vVar Department alities. About one-half of the Brit of War Bulletin. ~ II as civilians who had been in announced last October, after the Since the announcement was ish and one-third of the American ~ rued. On the exchange which took completion of the third exchange, prisoners were assigned to work de first made, a large number of in I ace last fall, 234 Arperican prisoners that further repatriations were con tachments, most of the Americans dividu.al inquiries from the war were returned to the U ni ted templated under a policy of seeking being employed on farms. United States about soldiers miss ~ tes. The number of Americans in to make exchanges of seriously sick There have been frequent com ing in action and others who are ill e present exchange is somewhat and seriously wounded prisoners of plaints of overcrowding and inade not officially known to be prison ~ ger. war as continuous a process as pos quate facilities in the Stalag, and it ers of war, have been addressed to Fifteen of the more seriously sible. is likely that the strain on the base the Directory Service. So many, in unded, brought back by air from Besides clothing and other sup camp is being relieved by assigning fact, have been received, according arseille, reached the Walter Reed plies sent by the Red Cross for the more men to work detachments out to a cable from Geneva, that the This work detachment from 8talag III B has its own theater. The stage was made neral Hospital in Washingt-On, American repatriates, the Junior Reel side. service has been overwhelmed. from Red Cross boxes, the props from cardboard. Picture sent by 8/8gt. Charles B. C., on January 23. Cross provided toys for the children The' work it was set up to per Vandermark, second row, extreme right. No other names given. The Gripsholm is due back in New of the civilian internees now being "BABY STATISTICS" fonn has therefore been greatly rk about mid-February, and ar- repatriated on the Gripsholm. hampered, and the International The following communication has . Committee insists that letters been received by the American Red should be sent in care of the Cross from Miss Strahler, head of the Far Eastern Loraiil, Ohio, last July. He added, "We gave Directory Service only whey- a sol our parole that we wouldn't attempt to DELAYED MAILING SENDING PHOTOGRAPHS TO American Service at the Central dier has been officially reported to "Quite strong and healthy now consider· escape while on the swimming party, and For reasons beyond the control of PRISONERS Agency for Prisoners of War oj: the ing weight- 175," wrote a marine corporal be a prisoner of war and whose one guard took I 00 of us down to the river. V' American Red Cross, there was International Committee of the Red at Osaka to his family in Crete, Illinois. His e camp address has not yet been re The water is pretty salty from the Baltic. • nsiderable delay in mailing to some The December BULLETIN, in an Cross at Geneva: letter, dated September 14, went on to say, We refer to this place as our little summer Apart from notifications of cap ceived. "We certainly appreciate our rest days. 'Ve resort at Barth on the Baltic." xt of kin of prisoners of war the answer to a question, stated that read books, sew, wash clothes, and rest up ovember, December, and January photographs sent to prisoners of war ture or decease, which are regularly FAR EASTERN CABLES for the next ten days. Reveille is at 5:30, From an American airman in the South ~ ues of the BULLETIN. Many relatives could be stitched to letter form No. communicated to it, the Agency from taps at 9. We eat mostly rice and soybeans. Compound, Stalag Luft III, dated July 4 On January 29, the first batch of ~ ve written expressing anxiety IlL time to time has occasion also to give We do stevedore work and it's quite pleasant. last: "Paul Revere rode his gunny sack horse more comforting news. Every day collect cablegrams from Aberican if d out their prisoner kin because the It has since transpired that, accord heavy." through Nazi prison blocks for the second now the A merican Service is called prisoners of war in the Far East time early this morning, proclaiming to the LLETIN was late in reaching them, ing to postal regulations, no en reached Washington, D. cJ There A lieutenant at Zentsuji wrote to his fam· world that the last and greatest American t nonreceipt, or delayed receipt, is closures may be sent in letter forms. upon to convey to prisoners of war ily in York, Pa., in October, "Your letters were 41 messages, and all came from Fourth of July qehind barbed wire was un· cause for apprehension. The forms at present in use, more messages informing them of the birth are coming through. I am well. This is my der way. Our Paul Revere of last year, Lt. prisoners in the Tokyo grpup of A new addressing system has now over, are hardly stout enough to of a son or a daughter. "Baby sta 155th Sunday without a funny paper.~ Keep Harold Spires, of Los Angeles, carried the tistics" show that, during 1944, the camps. Information about Ithe ar the home fires burning." en put into effect, and it is hoped stand the stitching on of enclosures. first cry again this Independence Day, arrival of more than 400 youngsters rangements made for sending these mounted on a thoroughbred steed composed, at, from February onward, all Notwithstanding regulations to collect cables was given in PRISONERS A letter dated September 25, 1944, from front and rear, respectively, of Lt. Ellis pies of the BULLETIN will have been was announced to prisoners through Hakodate, received in Wilkesboro, N. C., in Porter, of Providence, R. 1., and Capt. Alex· the contrary, the postal authorities OF WAR BULLETIN last Octo~er. · . ~iled to regular readers by the mid the Agency. The Service entrusted December, said in part, "I am still in ex ander Kisselburgh, of Los Angeles." in many instances have allowed with the transmission of these' mes cellent health and spirits. I hope to see all e of the month of issue. photographs to go forward in letter of you 'ere long." . sages has recently established a spe NEW CAMPS "We got an issue of Red Cross clothes las! forms, but henceforth it would be cial register whose contents recall, Since the material was col. week," wrote a prisoner attached to Kdo. preferable to send photographs in a A short wave broadcast last December, 3989 working out of Stalag VII A, "and they LETTERS FROM CAMPS even more than a Birth Registrar'S lected for the map of German from an American prisoner of war at Osaka sure were great. We get a food parcel every separate envelope without a letter, file, a veritable Nursery Home. Because of extreme pressure on space, Icamps and hospitals published said, "I am in good' ~alth and excellent week from the Red Cross." but with the name, number, and Many anxious prisoners ask the h this issue, it has become spirits. I have received considerable mail, etters from American prisoners of war camp address of the prisoner written j ~ Europe and the Far East had to be Agency to telegraph to their wives to including up to July 1944. I also received a on the back of the photograph. No knowl1 that the following camps cablegram of last April. I have received a In Albany: N. Y., the wif.e of a captain at Imitted entirely from this issue of the find out whether the expected baby also" contain American prison. personal parcel you sent me, and greatly en· Luft III receIved the followmg from her hus· !llletin. Through the kindness of rela- postage is necessary. hqs been born. By consulting the band: "It is a good he~l~hy life and there Yes, many had been received. ers of war, and should therefore joy the many photographs of you and the birth register in the American Serv be added: children. Will you please inform Pitt that are many sports to partICIpate m, as well as It is hoped that space will be available Arnold Prober's two brothers are here in classes in languages, math., dramatics, music, ~ the' March issue for a wide selection THE THEATER AT LUFT III ice, it is often possible to reassure Stalag V C at Offenburg good health (from Salt Lake City). Emmet and even philosophy. Our food is s~fficient f letters, and relatives are requested to the inquirer at once, and to inform southeast of Strasbourg, Provo _ Stoleman, of Cleveland, is also here and well. but not fancy." The letter was receIved De- tontinue sending them to the editor, The December issue of the Ameri him that the announcement of the ince of Bavaria (A 3). Please inform Mrs. Warren A. Mitts, of 219 cember 4 last. risoners 0/ War Bulletin, American can magazine, Theatre Arts Monthly, baby's birth had arrived and had Stalag VI C at Osnabriick, in West Nevada St., El Paso, Texas, that War· ed Cross, Washington 13, D. C., either contained an interesting article by been communicated to him by letter. ren Peers is with them." From Stalag II B, a letter received De irect or through local Red Cross chap the province of Hannover (A 2).. cember 16 in Oroville, Calif., said in part: _ ,rs. When copies are sent, they should Lt. Joe Klaas, an American airman Contrary to the theory that during Stalag XIII B at Weiden, European "You don't know how I would like to see ';Ive the prisoner's name and camp ad who has taken an active part in the wartime birth statistics show a large northeast of Niirnberg, in the you, and I don't think it will be too long be ress. It is also helpful to state the date atrical activities at Stalag Luft III, majority of boys, it has been observed province of Franconia (B 3). "We went swimming the other day," wrote fore I can see you. I can talk for a week e letter was received. and who is still there. The article an officer at Stalag Luft I to his family in when I do see you." that in the U. S. A. there are more was entitled "Barbed Wire Theatre." (Continued on page 11) 10 11 RED REPATRIATES' TOUR Copies of the earlier American repatriated prisoners 01 The Red Cross News, the war from Germany and escapees publication for American from. Japanese. prison camps are of war, were distributed tourIng the U~Ited .States in a group the Japanese official fo~ the ~rst tIme In order to give men in about ten camps, prI~oners relatives throughout the to a recent cable from the natIon a comprehensive picture of tional Red Cross. cinternment camp was closed, American prisoners held by ruary 1, a~d WIll end in Washington, from the Far East. Although many and the civilian population moved or Japan. As distribution from Geneva, copies reach D. C. AprIl 4. The primary purpose of the cards were undated, they ap to Manila, about a year ago. of the flying visits is for the men to peared to have been written between Cards from the Los Banos camp camps much more quickly than address Red ~ross relatives' meetings April and August 1944. Among them (No.2) indicated that it had been reach camps in the Far East. to be held In large auditoriums. were some from civilian internees in enlarged; that more internees, in The Red Cross News con 'Yhenever possible, next of kin, rela the Philippines, and from prisoners cluding some women, had been trans monthly compilation of news home, which must, however, be tIves, and dependents will receive of war in the Philippines, Shanghai, ferred from Santo Tomas; and that special invitations from the Red Formosa, and Japarr: shacks had been built around the fully screened to meet censorship " --'£k©!~'=0d Cross t? attend the meetings, which Most of the cards from civilian in grounds by the internees. quirements here and abroad. American officers at Ollat 64. Sent by First Lt. James R. Shoaf, e:rtreme r; ht. also be open to friends and ternees in the PhHippines were ~Ill A card from Harold W. Graybeal, No other names given. t other Interested persons. marked Philippine IntJrnment Camp PICTURES American Red Cross field director The itinerary follows: No.1, No.2, or No.\ 3. These are who is interned in Philippine Mili claims based on pic· Santo Tomas, Los BanQs, and Baguio, tary Prison Camp No. 11, stated, Identi~Gation Rations at Oflag 64 February 1, New York City; Feb tures pU,hlished in PRISONERS OF W . ruary 4, Boston, Mass.; February 7, respectively_ I "Christmas boxes this year much BULLETIN continue to reach the allOWIng a delegate's visit to Several cards were received from superior to those of last year. Butter 17, 1,524 American Red Cross Christ Buffalo, N. Y.; February 9, Pitts fice of the 'Provost Marshal Gen g 64 on October 11, the Inter- mas parc~l~ arrived at Oflag 64. bur~h, Pa.; February 11, Columbus, civilians formerly intel;ned at Davao and chocolate especially good." and the American Red Cross in v 'anal Red Cross cabled that the In addItIOn, clothing and toilet ar Ohto; February 13, Detroit, Mich.; large numbers. trolled German rations per man February 15, Chicago, Ill.; February Most of these claims are untenab week figured out to: ticles sufficient for 1,500 men were shipped to ' the camp during the 17, St. Paul, Minn.; February 19 bec~use t~e same man is so fH;qu ad- --______slightly over 5 lbs. Rapid S. D.; February 21, Salt "HE DID NO~ FAll.." WOUNDED FROM WESTERN fourth quarter of 1944. C~ty~ FRONT ly ~~entIfie~ by. s~vera~ dIffer. toes ------11Y2 lbs Lake CIty, Utah; February 23 famIlIes, all IdentIfyIng hIm as a t f h' f' l' 2 . According to a statement made by Spokane, Wash.; February 25, Seattle; The following pass ~ge is quoted ferent person. ' res , m erlOr qua tty ___ _ During November and December Colonel Drake, senior officer at Oflag Wa~h . ; February 28, San Francisco, from a speech made recently in last, the number of American pris Even in the best and clearest grou ------____ ab~ut 9 oz. 64, who was repatriated last Septem Caltf· Washington, D. C., by a repatriated oners of war in Stalag XI B at Fall pictures, a mistake in the identifica: etab les, fresh and drted, ber, every American prisoner of war tion of an individual member of largely cabbage ______9Y2 lbs. March 4, Los 'Angeles, Calif.; prisoner of war, befoJ;e a relatives' ingbostel, near Hanover, increased there had received a Red Cross March 6, Denver, Colo.; March 8, meeting: from about 50 to over seven hundred. the group is not uncommon. B ee (burnt grain substitute) standard food package weekly for Omaha, Nebr.; March 9, Kansas City, LETIN pictures, which are taken in ------_____ less than oz. These men had been captured on V:! over a year. An American medical Mo.; March 12, Tulsa, Okla.; March I know that you wonder what the western front. Last December, German and Japanese prison cam garine-______'-_about 80z officer repatriated on the same ex 14, pallas, Texas; March 16, San An caused the capture of your loved Stalag XI B was being used as a tran usually by a ~oca~ photographer' esc __ :... ______about IV:! oz' c~ange has stated that, during the tonto, Texas; March 18, Houston, ones. The prisoners @f war worry sit camp. doors, or outSIde In cloudy weath r a d' 2 • Texas; March 20, New Orleans, La.; ar:e generally "foggy" in the negatiV n sweetenmg_ _about 12 oz. tIme he was at Oflag 64, he examined about that. They are afraid their A substantial number of wounded March 22, Memphis, Tenn.; March all the men and found not a single relatives and friends will not under prisoners from the western front have and still J1lore :'foggy" when rep he health of the American offi 2~ , St. Louis, Mo.; March 25, Louis stand why they were captured. Those been sent to Lager Lazarett XI B at duce~ on the prInted page. at Oflag 64 at the time of the case of malnutrition. vtlle, Ky.; March ' 27, Atlanta, Ga.; men are captives because of being Fallingbostel. When visited by a dele It IS ther~fore not. to be ~onde Was reported to be good. M,!rch. 29, Tamp~, Fla.; April 1, wounded and left on the battlefield, gate of the International Red Cross at that anxIOUS relatIves belIeve . BABY STATISTICS Mtaml, F.la.; Aprtl 2, Charleston, recognize in such pictures faces th e AmerIcan senior officer at or having held positions while their on November 9, the Lazarett con (Continued from page 9) S. C.; Apnl3, Charlotte, N. C.; April comrades withdrew for defense po tained 6lO \ patients, including 26 are looking for even though the ,64 reported to Geneva that the 4, Washington, D. C. sitions, and those of the air corps Americans. The accommodations ture may have ~ome from say St s reserve of standard food pack- girl babies than boys. The babies Personnel is headed by First Lieu. III B in Germany while' the'sol' Was 4,550 on October 1. During · who have been shot down. Those were reported to be satisfactory, and reP?rted during 1944, whose weight tenant. Ragnar Barhaug, of Casper, soldiers are entitled to, ~ nd, of course, the medical treatment excellent. Cer identified may have been repa Illber and October n? ship vaned between 6 and 9 lbs., had WyomIng, chief of the Prisoners of do have the sympathy and under tain drugs and supplies for dressings missing in action in the Far East, Is could be ~ade to thIS camp such romantic names as Carol 'Yar Section, Personal Affairs Divi a flier missing in action in Eur Use of confUSIOn over the Ger- Lynn, Diana, Karen, and Joan. Th; standing of all of their fellow coun which were lacking had been or re 1 . d' SIOn of. the AAF, who was repatriated trymen. We try to put that over to dered from Geneva. The Lazarett, at who would, if taken prisoner, i gu atIOn regar ID~ reser:'es. boy~, ~s a rule, appear to receive the after eIght and a half months in Ger the newly captured mar - It is a ter the time of the visit, was large enough dinarily be assigned to a Luftw u~ N~vember was It pOSSIble C hnstta.n name ot their absent father. man camps. On each program will rible depression that st ikes him. He to accommodate the 610 patients, camp for Americans (Stalag Luf in e shIpments of food packages, T ~e.lnde and JOY of a prisoner re be a Red ~ross speaker, as well as a thinks he is'a failure_ He not only but, the report added, "the constant III, or IV, or Stalag XVII B). sw~hat month, 6,292 were sent cetr:mg th~ following message may representatIve of the American sec b did not fail: he carried, out his mis flow of new arrivals will soon render The War Department has ac Itzerland to Oflag 64. In De- eas!ly be Imagined: "Alexander III t~on of Prisoners of War Infonna Iinn. it inadequate." (C ontinued on paf!e 12) er, 13,032 food packages were arnved stop weighs 8 lbs. stop ador Ped to this camp. On December tIOn Bureau, Provost Marshal Gen nhle like 'Y01J ," eral's Office. l~
Sports at Luft III ~ + A report by cable received on Camp Movements cember 18 from Mr. Hugo Ced This issue of the BULLETIN contains a revised map showing' the location of of the YMCA stated that foot German camps and hospitals where American prisoners of war are held. The map is was the main sports activity at based on information received here to December 31, 1944, but the Russian advances lag Luft III during October in January will have brought many changes. November, and that, in Dece OF WAR BUhLET.IN During December, word was received that Stalag 357, near Torun, had been moved. Stalag XX A was also probably 'moved from Torun. These camps contained the men were waiting for frost 'shed by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees mainly British prisoners. The men at OHag 64, the principal camp for American begin the ice hockey season. />i. ground force offiCers, at Szubin (Altburgund), which was in the general vicinity of quate sports materials were on JlaJIL------Stalag XX A and Stalag 357, were presumably moved to the interior of Germany in January, although they were still at Szubin on January 5. Hammerstein, the town to meet the camp's requirements .3, NO.3 WASHINGTON, D. C. MARCH 1945 nearest to Stalag II B, one of the largest camps for Americans, appeared to be in til next summer, if necessary. '"_------Russian hands when this was written on January 27. A ?e.w. American compound, i It must be expected that some, if not all, of the prisoners of war at Stalag VIII B, an adJommg camp known as Belari Stalag 344, B.A.B. 20, B.A.B. 21, Stalag Luft VII, and at other camps in and around was expected to open shortly. Silesia, were moved. These, also, were largely British camps, but some of them con. foj tained Americans. There were other camps and work detachments scattered through. Permission had been obtained out eastern Europe containing Allied prisoners of various nationalities. Grosstychow, Mr. Soederberg of War Prisonetj Transportation Crisis in Germany in Pomerania, where Stalag Luft IV with its large complement of British and Amer. Aid to visit .Luft IlIon Christina! ican airmen was located, was close to the combat zone in late January. Eve and Chnstmas Day a~ th~ for American and Allied prison they could be moved on to Lubeck For four years the Germans main While under reasonably quiet' conditions it is easy for the German authorities to move an OHag or a Stalag Luft, where all the prisoners are behind barbed wire, the of General Vanaman, semor Ainl held by Germany, the American in two days' time. In Switzerland tained a rather unusual record in orderly transfer of scores of thousands of nien from Stalags with far Hung work can officer, and Col. Delmar T. S Cross at the end of February and in southern European ports we delivering punctiliously the relief detachments would need much advance preparation. A camp like 344 at Lamsdorf, vey, at the c~nter compound. C $40,000,000 in supplies in have 4,000,000 packages, and this supplies for war prisoners in Ger for instance, had about 30,000 men (principally British) on work detachments over a mas decoratIOns sent by the. itzerland or in various European total of 7,000,000 food packages many. Whether the particular Ger large area. So, too, had Stalag II B. Before these men could be moved in anything had reached t~e camp early itS. British Commonwealth Red like orderly fashion, they would first have to be assembled at the base camp. amply foresees the needs of our own man officials who established this It will probably be some weeks yet before a full report is received on camp cember. Am~~lcan morale w34 ss societies also had adjacent to prisoners, as well as those of our Al record will have the strength to changes which have taken place during January, but, as authoritative information ported to be good and hoper many similar supplies lepresent lies. prevail over present less organized comes through, it will be promptly released to the public. Every effort is being made ,a total of many millions of dol The work of relief to prisoners conditions remains to be seen. by the American authorities and the Red Cross to obtain this information. Arrange. PICTURES of war in German camps is today ments were made well ahead so that the needs of any Allied prisoners falling into . While these goods are available The greater the difficulties, how Russian hands during the present advance would be met. (Continued from page 10) immediate shipment to German confronted by grave transportation ever, the greater will be our efforts Until next of kin are advised by the Office of the Provost Marshal General of ps, hundreds of thousands of difficulties. Progressively through to overcome them. The fact that a change of address, they should continue sending mail to the old address. ingly ruled that it cannot a claims of identification based erican ·and Allied prisoners have the months of December, January, over 1,000,000 food packages have Up to late January, the German authorities had given no indication of the n or are now being moved on and February there has been a tre been placed in German hands at camps to which American prisoners captured on the western front in the second grou p pictures taken in enemy half of December had been assigned, but seriously wounded Americans who were ritory. t across Germany. We are con mendous movement of populations, Lubeck by the American Red Cross repatriated by air in the latter part of January stated that several hundred officers Whenever the individuals . nted with a real problem to get of goods, and of military supplies on and the International Red Cross is had reached OHag 64 early in the month, and that about 1,500 additional enlisted men group picture are identified by ief supplies to our men now caught a railroad system that, day and night, but one instance of the steps that are had reached Stalag II B. Several thousand newly captured Americans also reached this unprecedented westward is being bombarded: In consequence, being taken, even at some risk, to Stalag IV B at Miihlberg in January. Large shipments of Red Cross supplies were prisoner who sends the picture h made last November and December to German camps and hespitals containing the BULLETIN always publishes k. Our ability to get relief sup shipments that formerly went to maintain the supply line. Interna Americans, so that the needs of the men captured in the December action on the names as given. In the case 0£1 'es moved to prison camps, and prison camps from Switzerland or tional Red Cross representatives in western front had been in large part anticipated. If some of these men now show up tures of Americans taken by to the hands of our prisoners, de Lubeck in a few days now require Geneva, in Berlin, and at the port of at camps not already serviced, the International Committee of the Red Cross at gates of the International Com nds solely on whether the German weeks. Lubeck are struggling continuously Geneva has standing instructions to forward supplies instantly word is received of In December 1944, 330,248 Red to get a sufficient number of German new camps for Americans. There is also a pooling arrangement, which has worked of the Red Cross, or by repr thorities move to the camps the admirably, between the American and British Commonwealth Red Cross societies tives of War Prisoners Aid or. ds which we and the Interna Cross food packages, including the railroad cars in order to keep goods whereby our prisoners receive British food and clothing when American supplies YMCA, every effort is now m nal Committee of the Red Cross special Christmas parcels, were moving to the camps. are not immediately available, and vice versa. obtain the names of the indi ace in German hands at the Ger- moved to German camps and hos prisoners. an frontier. An indication of the pitals for American prisoners. But Use of Trucks ______... .avity of the transportation crisis there was a serious falling off in de In addition to moving goods on s the report some days ago that the liveries to camps during January, railroad cars, the American Red rman railroads had evacuated and late dispatches from Geneva Cross and other Allied Red Cross so rman women and children from state that the situation was equally cieties are placing a number of trucks wns in the east in open coal cars grave in February. 'p;»;)lutUlm~ S! qJ!qM ~OJ at the disposal of the International 't.J>!l!\ W'HO'{ uo ~;)PU;)S AJPOU 'UAWUl S! ring sub-zero weather. Red Cross for use in Germany. The M;}U pUR P;}AOUI;)~ SRq ;};)SS;)~PPR n-~;}lSVllQlMPd Prelude to Victory Packages at Lubeck American Army is furnishing gaso The plain fact we must face is that line in order that the trucks may con The American Red,Cross has gone the better the war goes for the Allies stantly operate in Germany. the limit in laying down relief in Germany, the more difficult it Both the Swiss and Swedish gov pplies, not simply at the frontiers will be to continue to serve prisoners ernments and people are giving un f Germany, but in Germany itself of war with Red Cross supplies. The stinted cooperation in meeting the t the port of Lubeck. Over 1,000, men themselves in the prison camps present transportation crisis. No pos- o food packages, shipped through are fully aware of this. They know ,sibility, including the use of planes, l.~ nternational Red Cross channels that the progressive disorganization ia Sweden, are today in Lubeck, and ultimate breakdown of the Ger has been overlooked, but the great ':J 'U '~I U01~U!qs~M 'here we have constantly main man state will probably precede the volume of supplies needed for over a , tS 'oN l!w.lad SSO.l:J pa1[ I~UO!l~ N u~:>!.lawy aq lained stocks since last October. An· Allied victory, and that this disor million American and Allied prison ':J 'U 'U01~U!qs~M Other 2,000,000 packages are in the ~q p;}1JsnqncI ganization will mean additional ers cannot be moved otherwise than Iwedish port of G6teborg, whence privations for them. by rail and auto trucks. GIVd aZfII gt61 AlIV[nnI3:.!I 3DV.LSOd 'S .[l unanng .IlJA\ JO s.lauo