First Camps Photos. Page 34
When prisoners reached the first prison camps for induction after capture they were in a sorry state. Boots and uniforms were worn and dirty after a long, sometimes up to a 300 mile march, to the trains that would then take them into the camps. Soon after induction they would be photographed and allowed to send the photo back home, The photograph would show they were still alive after capture and they were being treated correctly according to the Geneva Convention on prisoners.
For the photograph, the men were given clean uniforms from a motley collection, some Polish, some French and other nations. The uniforms were taken back after the photograph and given to the next group waiting. The men would sit on a bench with a second row standing behind, up to eighteen men could be photographed in each group. The bench was permanent, placed in front of a small tree which in turn was in front of a hut. many hundreds of men were photographed on that bench.
The photographs below were all taken at Stalag XX1B [21B]
This first photograph shows Christopher Wilson. Front row 1st Left.
Christopher filled in his details on this sheet and was assigned the POW number 3366
This Red Cross Attestation sheet shows the camps he was assigned to
during his incarceration.
The sheet shows a movement order dated 20.11.1944. It was meant to move the men from BAB21 to Stalag 344 [Lamsdorf]
It appears on all Attestation Sheets for the prisoners at BAB21. On this date the Russians were advancing and Russian artillery could be heard by the men in camp. This order was never carried out, the men evacuated the camp on the 21st January 1945 with the Russians now very close, but due to heavy snow could not get through. They returned to camp and set off successfully the next day 22nd January.
Another group
This photograph shows J Crouch sitting front row extreme right, he was assigned the POW number 4308.
Also in the picture sitting front row third in from the left is Cyril Bond. He took part in many theatre productions in BAB21. He went to Australia after the war and became prominent in TV and Film.
Front - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reverse
For the photograph, the men were given clean uniforms from a motley collection, some Polish, some French and other nations. The uniforms were taken back after the photograph and given to the next group waiting. The men would sit on a bench with a second row standing behind, up to eighteen men could be photographed in each group. The bench was permanent, placed in front of a small tree which in turn was in front of a hut. many hundreds of men were photographed on that bench.
The photographs below were all taken at Stalag XX1B [21B]
during his incarceration.
The sheet shows a movement order dated 20.11.1944. It was meant to move the men from BAB21 to Stalag 344 [Lamsdorf]
It appears on all Attestation Sheets for the prisoners at BAB21. On this date the Russians were advancing and Russian artillery could be heard by the men in camp. This order was never carried out, the men evacuated the camp on the 21st January 1945 with the Russians now very close, but due to heavy snow could not get through. They returned to camp and set off successfully the next day 22nd January.
Another group
Also in the picture sitting front row third in from the left is Cyril Bond. He took part in many theatre productions in BAB21. He went to Australia after the war and became prominent in TV and Film.
Front - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reverse
Comments
Post a Comment