Amazing story of capture and imprisonment
Dec 28, 2013 20:34:59 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 28, 2013 20:34:59 GMT 12
From The Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 37, 31 December 1943, Page 5
LIFE IN A PRISON CAMP
EXPERIENCES OF LOCAL MAN
TREATMENT BY GERMAN GUARDS
UNIVERSAL FOOD SHORTAGE
After two and a half years in German hands, Pte Andrew Kinnaird, of Whakatane, is now home again, and in happy reunion with his family in Salonika Street.
Captured in Crete, when he had been severely wounded in the left shoulder and leg, he has some remarkable experiences to relate and to a BEACON representative recently gave a brief outline of some of his sojournings in Greece and in Silesia.
On the 25th of May the fighting in Crete had assumed a cowboy and Indian aspect. There was desperate hand to hand fighting amongst the olive groves and vineyards, with death stalking the unwary on both sides. The death roll must have been tremendous, especially amongst invading parachutists, who fell incessantly by the hundred.
In the fierce fighting round Galatos he received his wounds, and was unable to walk as a result. He was taken prisoner by a German patrol, who forced other Kiwi prisoners to carry him two miles to the Malame aerodrome. There he was left for two days without medical attention until room was found for him in one of the returning transport planes, which flew him to Athens;
There he was: put into the 5th Australian General Hospital, which had been captured with all its staff, save for the nursing sisters who at the last moment had been relieved by Greek sisters; in order to; allow them to escape.
Hospital in Athens
Treatment in this hospital was harsh, the German conquerors lording it over the wounded and the Greek orderlies, but shortage of food was the greatest problem, and many died of sheer starvation. The Greeks did all they could to smuggle food into the men but even this was little enough.
For four months hundreds lay in this hospital, and then were informed, that they were about to be transferred as they became well enough to travel. Several hundreds, including himself were transferred to an Italian hospital ship and taken to Salonika, where they were herded into an old Turkish barracks. The four days endured in these surroundings will live with them for a lifetime, as the place was alive with vermin, which could be scooped up by the handfull. This after the wonderful treatment of the Italian sisters on the hospital ship was like acute torture. Here were gathered some 1500 Kiwi, Aussie, Tommy and Cypriot troops, most of them wounded.
Nine Days in Cattle Trucks
One morning they were paraded and told that they were about to be transferred to Germany, and that the journey would occupy approximately five days. A train drew up and they were herded into cattle trucks, which were labelled '30 men or 6 horses.' To last them the whole journey they were given one loaf and two-thirds and two tins of swine meat (pork).
The journey actually took nine days, and its memories was something like a nightmare. There were no facilities for washing or for personal hygiene, and all the wounded men could do was lie on the bottom of the trucks in either the streaming hot sun or the bitterly cold nights. Many of the men had still the battle dressings on their wounds which they received when first treated, while others had improvised splints and bandages.
Nevertheless some of the more adventurous endeavoured to escape and with a pocket knife cut through the planking until they were able to reach the outside lock and open the door. In this manner fifty eaeaped, but when the guards found, out, they opened fire, indiscriminately through all the carriages, forcing the occupants to hug the floor in order to escape the bullets.
German Officer's Act
One or two of the escapees were shot, but the German officer commanding the. train ordered a stop, and calling out the men left in the carriage from which the escape had been made, most of whom could only hobble, proceeded to belabour them with a heavy branch which he cut from a tree.
The journey continued on through Greece, Bulgaria, Austria, Yugoslavia, until finally they reached Upper Sileria, stopping at a concentration centre at Lamsdorf.
It was strange says Pte Kinnaird to note the difference in the attitude of the civilians towards us. Through Greece we had as our train passed been shown every sympathy by the peasantry, but in the Axis countries, the people were openly hostile, making the sign of cutting our throats, as we crawled miserably past them.
There was only one, stop for refreshments on the whole journey, and that was at Belgrade, when the Yugoslav Red Cross provided us with a plate of hot soup and a cup of English tea with sugar in it. It was like a gift from heaven.
45,000 Prisoners At Lamsdorf.
There were roughly 45,000 prisoners, wounded and fit. They were drawn from all the fighting units of the anti-Axis countries and embraced Australians. New Zealanders, Indians. Palestinians, Greeks, Russians and dozens of Empire troops. There were 12,500 in the inner camp and 33,000 attached to it as working gangs. It was under full German control and for the first 18 months when the Germans appeared to have the upper hand the harshness and disciplinary measures were terribly hard.
Men would be shot on the slightest approach to the outside wires. An Air Force officer who was trying to peel a piece of bark off a nearby tree to start his fire was killed in this fashion.
Later however with the tide of war against them the guards became more considerate, and seemed to be endeavouring to curry favour with the prisoners.
Dire Food Shortage
The diet offered by the German food ration was barely enough to keep body and soul together, and even then was often uneatable. Half rotted vegetables, or cabbage soup (saurkraut), with squares of horse flesh were deemed sufficient for them, but later as the Red Cross parcels came to hand the whole position was changed, and the regular arrival of these luxuries in the midst of the prison routine was a veritable gala event. It was the common belief in the camp that the German prison authorities transported all the horse flesh killed on the Russian front to the concentration camps where it was served to the prisoners.
Bitterly Cold Winter
The weather in November became bitterly cold and although the prisoners had only two blankets apiece, they kept reasonably warm on their palliases of wood wool, or scuffed wooden fibre. The men who were deemed fit left daily for work in the fields, in factories, coal and salt
mines, quarries and railway lines. Their work kept them reasonably warm but the men left in camp - the wounded found that their coal ration was barely enough to keep the chill out of their bones.
There were also at this camp large batches of Russian, Greek and Yugoslav women who were forced to work under armed guards on the roads and in timber mills.
Recreations in the camp there were several good orchestras and bands, the instruments having been supplied by the international Red Cross Society. There was also an excellent concert party, and entertainments were regularly given during the interval between 5 and 8 p.m. Cricket and football matches assumed international proportions, and teams from different compounds competed in very keen games in which the Germans themselves were, always interested spectators.
The guards, in many instances had become fairly friendly, particularly just before he left, with the certainty of an Allied victory looming up. They used their rifle butts freely, but only when it was actually warranted.
Ill-treatment of Russians.
It was common knowledge in the camp however that the Russian prisoners suffered very badly at the hands of their captors. For some reason the average German soldier took a delight in torturing the Russians. They were made to sing songs derogatory to their own nation before they were given their meagre rations, while they were abused and beaten on the slightest pretext. Some of the other captives also received unruiv harsh and brutal treatment.
The Daily Menu
New Zealanders who grumble at the meagre nature of sugar, tea and butter ration should take stock of the following which comprises the total meals of the day:
7 a.m. Rise and wash
7.30 Breakfast — one cup of mint tea without sugar.
8 a.m. Work.
12 neon. Lunch — litre of soup and a few potatoes.
1 p.m. Work.
6 p.m. Tea 1-7th loaf of bread (rye and. potato flour) spoonful margarine, spoonful of jam. Evenings free or in library.
10 p.m. Lights out. After lights out the guards made their rounds with a couple of alsatians who attacked any one found out-of-doors.
Six-day Week Work
For the fit men work went on for six days, though those on seasonal occupations were forced to work all the time, without even the Sunday break. On the whole the men did not complain, and only once refused to work, that being when a batch found that they were posted to a factory turning out shell cases for use by the German army. About 25 per cent of the guards spoke English and could make themselves fully understood.
He had often been thankful that he was in the English compounds,, and not in the nearby Russian enclosure where men were dying by the hundreds from typhus.
The Repatriation
News that 900 men were to be transferred sent the boys concerned delirious with joy. They included the badly wounded men and the hospital orderlies. The time of departure came all too slowly, but at least they boarded a beautifully equipped hospital ship, after a tumultuous send off from the men left in camp. The train was splendidly fitted with a theatre, dispensary and cots. They travelled through the Ruhr and Rhine valleys, where is to be seen some of the finest European scenery. Through Alsace-Lorraine and through France to Marsailles. The French Red Cross again came to the rescue with a cup of coffee and gingerbread for the men.
Frenchmen all through France could, be secn guardedly making the Victory sign as the train went by. At Marsailles they boarded the Italian hospital ship Acquilia, took them to Barcelona in Spain. The Spanish branch of the Red Cross Society did the honours here in line style, giving the men the finest feed they had had for over two years. Beer and wine were in abundance as well as chocolates and cakes. When they left every man also received a parcel of food with the compliments of the Society.
Spanish Sympathies
"Talk of Spanish enthusiasm," said Pte Kinnaird. "They lined the pier in thousands as our boat pulled out next day and cheered us to the echo. The sheds were placarded with signs such as. 'Viva Churchill' and there was no doubt in any of our minds that the Spaniards or at least a big section of them were wholeheartedly with the Allies."
Their ship continued on to Alexandria, where the. men entrained for Cairo and later entered the Helwan Hospital. The story from then on relates mainly to the passage home to New Zealand, which, was mainly without incident.
LIFE IN A PRISON CAMP
EXPERIENCES OF LOCAL MAN
TREATMENT BY GERMAN GUARDS
UNIVERSAL FOOD SHORTAGE
After two and a half years in German hands, Pte Andrew Kinnaird, of Whakatane, is now home again, and in happy reunion with his family in Salonika Street.
Captured in Crete, when he had been severely wounded in the left shoulder and leg, he has some remarkable experiences to relate and to a BEACON representative recently gave a brief outline of some of his sojournings in Greece and in Silesia.
On the 25th of May the fighting in Crete had assumed a cowboy and Indian aspect. There was desperate hand to hand fighting amongst the olive groves and vineyards, with death stalking the unwary on both sides. The death roll must have been tremendous, especially amongst invading parachutists, who fell incessantly by the hundred.
In the fierce fighting round Galatos he received his wounds, and was unable to walk as a result. He was taken prisoner by a German patrol, who forced other Kiwi prisoners to carry him two miles to the Malame aerodrome. There he was left for two days without medical attention until room was found for him in one of the returning transport planes, which flew him to Athens;
There he was: put into the 5th Australian General Hospital, which had been captured with all its staff, save for the nursing sisters who at the last moment had been relieved by Greek sisters; in order to; allow them to escape.
Hospital in Athens
Treatment in this hospital was harsh, the German conquerors lording it over the wounded and the Greek orderlies, but shortage of food was the greatest problem, and many died of sheer starvation. The Greeks did all they could to smuggle food into the men but even this was little enough.
For four months hundreds lay in this hospital, and then were informed, that they were about to be transferred as they became well enough to travel. Several hundreds, including himself were transferred to an Italian hospital ship and taken to Salonika, where they were herded into an old Turkish barracks. The four days endured in these surroundings will live with them for a lifetime, as the place was alive with vermin, which could be scooped up by the handfull. This after the wonderful treatment of the Italian sisters on the hospital ship was like acute torture. Here were gathered some 1500 Kiwi, Aussie, Tommy and Cypriot troops, most of them wounded.
Nine Days in Cattle Trucks
One morning they were paraded and told that they were about to be transferred to Germany, and that the journey would occupy approximately five days. A train drew up and they were herded into cattle trucks, which were labelled '30 men or 6 horses.' To last them the whole journey they were given one loaf and two-thirds and two tins of swine meat (pork).
The journey actually took nine days, and its memories was something like a nightmare. There were no facilities for washing or for personal hygiene, and all the wounded men could do was lie on the bottom of the trucks in either the streaming hot sun or the bitterly cold nights. Many of the men had still the battle dressings on their wounds which they received when first treated, while others had improvised splints and bandages.
Nevertheless some of the more adventurous endeavoured to escape and with a pocket knife cut through the planking until they were able to reach the outside lock and open the door. In this manner fifty eaeaped, but when the guards found, out, they opened fire, indiscriminately through all the carriages, forcing the occupants to hug the floor in order to escape the bullets.
German Officer's Act
One or two of the escapees were shot, but the German officer commanding the. train ordered a stop, and calling out the men left in the carriage from which the escape had been made, most of whom could only hobble, proceeded to belabour them with a heavy branch which he cut from a tree.
The journey continued on through Greece, Bulgaria, Austria, Yugoslavia, until finally they reached Upper Sileria, stopping at a concentration centre at Lamsdorf.
It was strange says Pte Kinnaird to note the difference in the attitude of the civilians towards us. Through Greece we had as our train passed been shown every sympathy by the peasantry, but in the Axis countries, the people were openly hostile, making the sign of cutting our throats, as we crawled miserably past them.
There was only one, stop for refreshments on the whole journey, and that was at Belgrade, when the Yugoslav Red Cross provided us with a plate of hot soup and a cup of English tea with sugar in it. It was like a gift from heaven.
45,000 Prisoners At Lamsdorf.
There were roughly 45,000 prisoners, wounded and fit. They were drawn from all the fighting units of the anti-Axis countries and embraced Australians. New Zealanders, Indians. Palestinians, Greeks, Russians and dozens of Empire troops. There were 12,500 in the inner camp and 33,000 attached to it as working gangs. It was under full German control and for the first 18 months when the Germans appeared to have the upper hand the harshness and disciplinary measures were terribly hard.
Men would be shot on the slightest approach to the outside wires. An Air Force officer who was trying to peel a piece of bark off a nearby tree to start his fire was killed in this fashion.
Later however with the tide of war against them the guards became more considerate, and seemed to be endeavouring to curry favour with the prisoners.
Dire Food Shortage
The diet offered by the German food ration was barely enough to keep body and soul together, and even then was often uneatable. Half rotted vegetables, or cabbage soup (saurkraut), with squares of horse flesh were deemed sufficient for them, but later as the Red Cross parcels came to hand the whole position was changed, and the regular arrival of these luxuries in the midst of the prison routine was a veritable gala event. It was the common belief in the camp that the German prison authorities transported all the horse flesh killed on the Russian front to the concentration camps where it was served to the prisoners.
Bitterly Cold Winter
The weather in November became bitterly cold and although the prisoners had only two blankets apiece, they kept reasonably warm on their palliases of wood wool, or scuffed wooden fibre. The men who were deemed fit left daily for work in the fields, in factories, coal and salt
mines, quarries and railway lines. Their work kept them reasonably warm but the men left in camp - the wounded found that their coal ration was barely enough to keep the chill out of their bones.
There were also at this camp large batches of Russian, Greek and Yugoslav women who were forced to work under armed guards on the roads and in timber mills.
Recreations in the camp there were several good orchestras and bands, the instruments having been supplied by the international Red Cross Society. There was also an excellent concert party, and entertainments were regularly given during the interval between 5 and 8 p.m. Cricket and football matches assumed international proportions, and teams from different compounds competed in very keen games in which the Germans themselves were, always interested spectators.
The guards, in many instances had become fairly friendly, particularly just before he left, with the certainty of an Allied victory looming up. They used their rifle butts freely, but only when it was actually warranted.
Ill-treatment of Russians.
It was common knowledge in the camp however that the Russian prisoners suffered very badly at the hands of their captors. For some reason the average German soldier took a delight in torturing the Russians. They were made to sing songs derogatory to their own nation before they were given their meagre rations, while they were abused and beaten on the slightest pretext. Some of the other captives also received unruiv harsh and brutal treatment.
The Daily Menu
New Zealanders who grumble at the meagre nature of sugar, tea and butter ration should take stock of the following which comprises the total meals of the day:
7 a.m. Rise and wash
7.30 Breakfast — one cup of mint tea without sugar.
8 a.m. Work.
12 neon. Lunch — litre of soup and a few potatoes.
1 p.m. Work.
6 p.m. Tea 1-7th loaf of bread (rye and. potato flour) spoonful margarine, spoonful of jam. Evenings free or in library.
10 p.m. Lights out. After lights out the guards made their rounds with a couple of alsatians who attacked any one found out-of-doors.
Six-day Week Work
For the fit men work went on for six days, though those on seasonal occupations were forced to work all the time, without even the Sunday break. On the whole the men did not complain, and only once refused to work, that being when a batch found that they were posted to a factory turning out shell cases for use by the German army. About 25 per cent of the guards spoke English and could make themselves fully understood.
He had often been thankful that he was in the English compounds,, and not in the nearby Russian enclosure where men were dying by the hundreds from typhus.
The Repatriation
News that 900 men were to be transferred sent the boys concerned delirious with joy. They included the badly wounded men and the hospital orderlies. The time of departure came all too slowly, but at least they boarded a beautifully equipped hospital ship, after a tumultuous send off from the men left in camp. The train was splendidly fitted with a theatre, dispensary and cots. They travelled through the Ruhr and Rhine valleys, where is to be seen some of the finest European scenery. Through Alsace-Lorraine and through France to Marsailles. The French Red Cross again came to the rescue with a cup of coffee and gingerbread for the men.
Frenchmen all through France could, be secn guardedly making the Victory sign as the train went by. At Marsailles they boarded the Italian hospital ship Acquilia, took them to Barcelona in Spain. The Spanish branch of the Red Cross Society did the honours here in line style, giving the men the finest feed they had had for over two years. Beer and wine were in abundance as well as chocolates and cakes. When they left every man also received a parcel of food with the compliments of the Society.
Spanish Sympathies
"Talk of Spanish enthusiasm," said Pte Kinnaird. "They lined the pier in thousands as our boat pulled out next day and cheered us to the echo. The sheds were placarded with signs such as. 'Viva Churchill' and there was no doubt in any of our minds that the Spaniards or at least a big section of them were wholeheartedly with the Allies."
Their ship continued on to Alexandria, where the. men entrained for Cairo and later entered the Helwan Hospital. The story from then on relates mainly to the passage home to New Zealand, which, was mainly without incident.
