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This story was submitted to the Peopleā€™s War site by Roger Marsh of the ā€˜Action Desk ā€” Sheffieldā€™ Team on behalf of Mrs. J. Broomhead and has been added to the site with the authorā€™s permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and condition

A Prisoner of Warā€™s Diary from Stalag VIIIB ā€” 1945
By
George Irving Beck

1945
January 09, 1945
Went down to hospital for sperm test by Major McCloud.

January 13, 1945 - Saturday
Medical Officer says I have no T.B., awaiting interview by specialist. Up to now Iā€™m on the list for next commission.

January 16, 1945 - Monday
Said goodbye to some of the repatriated who left today for England. Sent message home with one of the lads who lives at Castleford. Hope ??? doesnā€™t call or he will frighten the wife.

January 18, 1945 - Wednesday
Weather freezing received new pair of boots from Q.M.s. Missed my dinner through having bath. Played darts at night against Leicester. Russians advancing rapidly towards here.

January 22, 1945 - Monday
Today I am happy but have rather a strange feeling. The Russians are very near now, just a few miles and anything may happen will it be release or shall we be moved, soon it will be too late.

Todayā€™s communiquĆ© from the Bridal front. After a short engagement the Bridegroom landed a strong attack against the Breast works and the whole front according to plan.
Following a hard encounter the Bride retired to a new position. After a strong show of resistance the Bridegroom made a great surprise attack from the rear. Followed by a pincer movement coupled with a strong frontal attack. The Bridegroom made a hard stand and several thrusts were made into the Brides centre section. After a prolonged struggle the Bridegroom forced a narrow passage deep into the gap at the central sector. Having penetrated the Brides inner defences he made a strategic withdrawal with some loss of material. Mopping up operations are now in progress.

To be unmoved. This is nearly ten oā€™clock and the big guns can be heard in the distance signifying distress to lots of people, but to us it means a lot for weā€™ve waited or this great moment for nearly five years. Hundreds of our lads have set out on the trek today and now we await our turn, we hope we shall be left for weā€™re sick.
Happiness is very near now and yet who knows what awaits us, let us hope for just the best and may I spell all that we have dreamed of in this prison life, namely release. All my kit is packed and the camp is upside down with people dashing about.

January 23, 1945 - Tuesday
The German guards are evacuating today. The Russians must be advancing pretty quick. It is shameful here to see clothes and everything strewn about by the prisoners, tables turned etc.
News has just come in that when the guards took five thousand of our lads away from here they left them to look after themselves; some were shot by the civilians. The food situation will be pretty bad here before long but never mind with a bit of luck we may get home before long, Iā€™ve nearly forgotten what that is. French and Serbian evacuees now coming in camp.

January 27, 1945 - Saturday
No water whatsoever in camp. Using snow to wash and make tea with. Russian guns can be heard in distance.

January 28, 1945 - Sunday
News just received from some of our lads who have returned, nine shot by civilians outside and lots of the poor chaps have died through exposure. Three hundred sick and volunteers have gone out to aid them. Women and children are lying dead by the roadside all over. What a state things are in, we are practically cut off. The Russians are certainly moving.

January 31, 1945 - Wednesday
This is the first time since Sunday Iā€™ve been able to write for Iā€™ve been terribly ill, its bronchial trouble. Thank the Lord I havenā€™t to go on the march for I would not last it, since my operation Iā€™m a broken man. This is the last part of journey and I prey to God that everything will come out O.K. Anytime now shells may be flying round here. Roll on. Latest report from men that have been on the march. Capt. Robertson M.O. dead by the way side. One German woman took in eighty four sick men till volunteers came out from here.

February 03, 1945 - Saturday
Ten thousand prisoners in Stalag IA East Prussia liberated and now in Paris. Today we were told there is neither bread nor biscuits to eat. The Russians want to come soon as we look like starving, it takes us hours to get a drop of water. What an existence. Roll on home and Alice.

February 05, 1945 - Monday
Russians seem to be closing in very quickly now, from the top of the camp German fighters and bombers can be seen strafing in the distance. Two Russian planes passed over the town yesterday A.A. defences opened up.

February 08, 1945 - Thursday
Tonight as I sit here I canā€™t help but wonder when I shall get home. Russian planes once again raided the aerodrome outside the camp. Firing of guns continues and it grows louder with the passing hours, we are practically cut off now, Germans wanted to know if we wanted to evacuate with them while thereā€™s time, but weā€™re stopping and taking a chance. No doubt there will be casualties but it will be just as bad outside.

February 09, 1945 ā€” Friday
This period of waiting is the most trying time of my prison life, although it has been a very active day. Russian Air Force visited here four times bombing and machine gunning. Were patiently awaiting this great moment of release, we must take a chance on being shelled and killed. It doesnā€™t seem possible weā€™re so near to freedom and yet so far, roll on.

February 10, 1945 - Saturday
I was just thinking, it seems years and years since I saw anyone especially Dad, heā€™s getting on now and the good times I promised myself to give him have been denied. Heā€™s the best pal Iā€™ve ever had roll on the reunion and Alice, God bless them both.

February 11, 1945 - Sunday
We certainly saw action today by the Russian Air Force, whole squadrons of bombers were over, they were bombing all round the camp and machine gunning, our lads were running all over to get under cover.

February 14, 1945 ā€” Wednesday
Still waiting for liberation. Last nights radio report mentioned this Stalag being in the path of the Russians. Some of out lads names been given out on the Lubland Station (wireless in Poland) as already liberated. Gunfire all round us.

February 16, 1945 - Friday
This life is getting more monotonous now than it has been ever since Iā€™ve been a prisoner. Still waiting and just existing on potatoes, no bread. God knows what it will be like before long. Roll on.

February 18, 1945 - Sunday
Camp is upside down once again weā€™re prepared to move everybody panicking. Geneva wants us moving to a safer area, the question is ā€œCan the Germans provide transport for us sick men and can we get out by rail? The Russians are defiantly pushing in this area and it appears they capturing most of the railway junctions. It is just as dangerous outside as it is staying here.

February 20, 1945 - Tuesday
Swiss representatives pressed the case that we must be removed from this dangerous. We leave Thursday according to news to Nuremberg near the Swiss border, five-day train journey.

February 21, 1945 - Wednesday
Over two thousand left here for the Bavarian Alps, we follow on tomorrow or Thursday and we are the last batch. It appears our hopes have been dashed regarding liberation so we must continue to the end of the war. Roll on England and home, Alice must have forgot what I look like now, I canā€™t blame her choose what course she takes after all this time.

February 23, 1945 - Friday
Out of the two thousand that left here by rail fifty odd are reported seriously ill and have to return, the rest had to get out at Meissen and march. God help us if we have to do the same.

February 24, 1945 - Saturday
It is quite a long time since I dedicated a page to dear old Alice but tonight I just feel like that. Nearly five years have elapsed since I was taken prisoner and more than that since I was home during this time no doubt I shall practically be forgotten after all I could not expect a girl to be thinking of a chap away from him so long. These can never be recaptured, I trust Alice but even so, if she done any wrong I only hope she tells me and may be I can forgive her, I donā€™t expect her to be no angel for we are all human beings, but if she holds anything back and I find out, well, who knows what will happen. Iā€™ve always been straight. Roll on. God knows I love her.

March 02, 1945 ā€” Friday
Left Lamsdorf by cattle truck for unknown destination.

March 10, 1945 ā€” Saturday
Arrived at Stalag XVIIA after spending eight unforgettable days in the wagon. Three days without water, bread or bowel movement and just a little ventilation. Forty-six men cramped up and couldnā€™t lie down to sleep, and we are all sick men.

March 11, 1945 ā€” Sunday
Spent the whole night naked with one blanket to keep us warm while clothes were deloused. Dropping asleep stood up but dare not lie down on the cold stone floor. Everybody just about all in, so many days without sleep.

March 13, 1945 ā€” Tuesday
Saw the English M.O. and told him that I want to go before the war commission, which comes here next month, donā€™t know how Iā€™ve gone on.

EAST SUDETENLAND, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, BAVARIA, AUSTRIA, KEISERSTEINBRUCH.

March 15, 1945 ā€” Thursday
Saw the German Medical Office in preparation for the next board. Just got to wait and see now. I do know this much that we are practically starving here, just a drop of watery soup everyday and ninth of a loaf. Getting weak on the legs already. Roll on. Nothing to smoke using oak leaves. Watched the Russians drawing their soup yesterday, fighting to scrape the tub out and some of them scrapping off the floor. At least ten are dying daily and they just throw their naked bodies on a cart.

March 21, 1945 ā€” Wednesday
Just about starving here hardly any food, nine to a loaf and nothing to smoke, roll on a long time. Cannot walk round for thereā€™s barbed wire everywhere one looks, impossible to escape, this was a Jewish concentration camp, all nationalities here now.

March 26, 1945 ā€” Monday
Our air force visited here today in hundreds and we watched the next village go up in flames through bombing; direct hits were scored on targets. The railway lines and trucks were blown sky high. I saw the English Medical Officer regarding the commission and full particulars were taken down. Swiss commission comes on the 10th of next month hope I pass. News is getting marvellous on the Western Front.

March 29, 1945 ā€” Thursday
Rumanian and Russian prisoners pouring in the camp and dying like flies through lack of food. Watched two men just slinging the dead into a cart hardly any meat on these bones. The Red Army is only 25 miles away from here so it looks as if weā€™ve landed in another danger zone. The Commission is supposed to come in ten days time but fate steps in again, regarding repatriation Iā€™ve had it.

April 04, 1945
Today is the greatest day of my life as I watched the Russian ride in with flags flying to liberate us, what a day. Handshaking and cheering. Iā€™m so excited Iā€™ve been to the lavatory four times the last half hour.

April 08, 1945 ā€” Sunday
Today is the first time I have had chance to write, we marched out from the camp three days ago and we are now on the Hungarian boarder. At present my mate and I are living in a house with an old lady and two daughters. Itā€™s a shame what war has done and even to see their homes wrecked by liberated prisoners.

April 10, 1945 ā€” Tuesday
Arrived Budapest. Walked by the Danube wonderful sight. Stopped night with English people. Sieurd.
Address 260 kilometres trip.

April 11, 1945 ā€” Wednesday
Had a decent time with Budapest students, went to a cinema at night slept in a civvy house just like being at home, wonderful place this.

April 14, 1945 ā€” Saturday
Went to cinema today to see Spencer Tracy and Clarke Gable yesterday saw three Ritz brothers. Donā€™t know when we shall be going home, nobody seems to be doing anything for us, even British Council can do nothing.

April 17, 1945 ā€” Tuesday
Riding on top of a railway wagon and well on the way through Hungary and nearing Romania. Donā€™t know whether we shall touch Bucharest or not on-route for Odessa.

April 22, 1945 ā€” Sunday
Arrived at Gassy in Romania. Go from here on the main Russian train line straight to Odessa. No sleep at night in these cattle trucks for weā€™ve no blankets or kit at all not even a razor or comb.

Tuesday
Kitshchen.

April 25, 1945 ā€” Wednesday
Arrived Odessa. Latest news, ā€œLeaving for England today or tomorrowā€.

April 28, 1945 ā€” Saturday
Waiting for the boat. Received new clothes yesterday. Listened last night to Odessa opera singers. Getting impatient now to get back to dear old Alice.

May 02, 1945 ā€” Wednesday
On Board the ā€˜Bergenfeldā€™ at Odessa. Latest news ā€œLeaving for Naples or Marseillesā€, must wait and see. Wrote letter to Alice to send by Mrs Churchill but we left just after for boat.

May 06, 1945 ā€” Sunday
Leros, Dodecanese sailing along at 19 knots an hour. Nearing Italy, Thursday passed Istanbul, Constantinople and Dardanelleā€™s. Yesterday passed Leros.

May 07, 1945 ā€” Monday
Arrived Naples and was billeted in city.

May 08, 1945 ā€” Tuesday
Received three inoculations and vaccinations together. Listened to Churchillā€™s broadcast on declaration of peace in Europe. Iā€™ve been free for about five weeks now and am still not home, waiting for a boat. Medical Officer made a report out ā€œNot fit to fly by airā€.

May 13, 1945 ā€” Sunday
Left Naples by convoy, 13th day and thirteen ships. Good sailing seven destroyers doing escort.

May 16, 1945 ā€” Wednesday
Arrived Gibraltar morning. Left Thursday for Scotland.

May 21, 1945 ā€” Whit Monday
Arrived Scotland received information we must stay here till Thursday night. Itā€™s a bad show, everywhere weā€™ve been weā€™ve been held up. Canā€™t send telegrams home, only for leave troops, says a lot of us have been bombed out.

May 24, 1945 ā€” Thursday
Disembarked in Glasgow 7.15 pm and moved off by train 9 pm for south of England.

May 25, 1945 ā€” Friday
Passed through Sheffield about 6am. Leicester breakfasted and carried on, destination said to be near Brighton.

With this entry the diaries ended.

On November 01, 1945 from York he was notified that on the expiration of his leave he should report for duty and further medical examination on November 08, 1954 at West Hartlepool detraining station.

His war service ended on November 13, 1945.

He applied for a resettlement grant to start a Sole Ownership Fruit and Vegetable business and was awarded a War Gratuity of Ā£37 and a Service Post ā€”War Credit of Ā£38-8-6 (Thirty eight pounds eight shillings and six pence). His disability was described as:
Operation ā€” Right Renal Calculus, whilst a five year prisoner.

Date of termination of furlough March 17, 1946.

On November 13, 1946 he received a Hawkers License at a cost of Ā£2.

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