大象传媒

There were a group of men in the camp, whom I admired very much, but I never knew them. They were the very select number, who listened each day to radio broadcasts from the 大象传媒. They memorised the news, and then passed it on to a slightly larger group, who would visit each hut in the camp.

The huts were visited at different times each day, to lessen any possible interest by the camp guards. As soon as the messenger was spotted approaching, all the occupants of a hut would drift inside. When the visitor arrived, the door would be closed and guarded. Windows would be covered by hut occupants to warn of any guards in the vicinity. These precautions were necessary, just in case a guard stumbled into the assembled listeners, and picked up the gist of the report that was being given.

For, having anything to do with a radio, or being found in possession of any equipment connected with a radio, attracted immediate and heavy punishment. I had heard, but was unable to verify, that a few P.O.W's had been caught with radio parts on them, and had suffered the consequences. Certainly, from time to time, sudden spot checks were made without warning on various huts. I can remember a rather prolonged roll-call taking place. The reason was believed to be to allow some members of the Gestapo, who had arrived in the camp, to make a detailed investigation of each hut, and the occupants' possessions. It was said that they were searching for illegal radios and radio equipment.

A fear which I had, and was I believe unfounded, was that a member of the select group, who listened to the broadcasts, would be unexpectedly surprised. In his haste to dispose of the incriminating evidence, I was worried that a piece of the equipment would be hidden in my bed. No excuses were accepted by the Germans for this forbidden activity.

The regular dissemination of the news was a strong morale booster. Each day's information was analysed and added to previous knowledge, so that a fairly accurate picture of how things were going on the fighting fronts was obtained. This was useful to combat the obviously false reports being posted up by the camp authorities. The radio reports would encourage us to expect early release, and lead us to experience the "THE SLEEPLESS NIGHT".

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