Red Cross. Page 25

Red Cross parcels became important in many ways to prisoners of war.  The contents, which were badly needed to supplement the food rations in the camps could also be used to barter, not only among themselves but also with the guards.

The two biggest bartering items were chocolate and cigarettes.  Prisoners who did not smoke were in a good position to trade, often boosting supplies by asking for cigarette parcels from home.

Even the string from the parcels was used along with empty cans when the contents had been used.  Blowers and small cookers of all designs were manufactured out of the cans and it became a competition to see which cooker could reach the highest temperature the quickest.

Also used to barter and could only be spent in camp was the  'Kriegsgefangenen Lagergeld'   the money used to pay the prisoners for any work carried out, usually 15 Riechspfennigs per day..  Even  camp guards would accept this money in payment for all sorts of transactions.  Once a camp guard took payment of any kind whether chocolate, cigarettes or Lagergeld the prisoners then had a hold on him,  punishment could often meant the guard being sent to the front.

     

Lagergeld. Courtesy J Crouch.

Lagergeld, brought back by and saved in his war diary which he kept
throughout captivity.

Courtesy D Hobbs.