大象传媒

We had been incarcerated at Stalag 1VB since Septemder 1942 with hundreds of other POWs.from Italy. When that country surrendered to the Allies and following their landing at Salerno we had been ordered to stay put at our POW Camp No.70 near Fermo on the Adriatic coast until Allied troops arrived.
Alas, they did not, and after a week or so of 'freedom'during which we were free to wander out of the camp returning at night,we were awakened one morning to see the steel grey helmets of the Wehrmacht (German Army)surrounding the perimeter.Within a day or so we were ordered to pack up our few belongings then marched down to the nearest railway station where the Germans proceeded to pack us in the usual cattle trucks so beloved by them -(40 men or 6 horses). In our case nearer 60 entered the dark interiors . We were given some bread and rounds of cheese,plus some jerricans of water with promises of further food during the journey. In fact apart from being let out to relieve ourselves these rations lasted until we reached Trentino at the border with Austria. At least there some Italian Red Cross personnel provided some hot soup and bread. This was to be our last food until we reached our destination - Muehlberg-am-Elbe. From whose railway station we marched or rather staggered to the gates and barbed wire of Stalag 1VB a mile or two distant.We had been in the cattle trucks for three days on a journey that though only of about 1000 miles nevertheless with many frequent delays and holdups some due to bombing raids by the RAF and USAAF impeding our progress.
At any rate we yearned for a bed, warmth, and something to eat. These comforts though were delayed as at the entrance to the camp, sheep shearing implements were brought outside and everybody's hair was cut off to the scalp (for hygiene) we were informed , then we were photographed-a number draped round our necks, and a more villainous looking bunch of desperados sould hardly be imagined. Finally off to the showers for a welcome clean up. This all took place at night and at last I was allocated with Norman Millson (of whom more later) hut No 36 which held when full over 120 persons . Containing a coal or wood burning stove, a hotplate to brew up or warm up any food that came mainly from Rd Cross food parcels -German rations -mainly bread of a dark consistency that gave no clue to its composition , a little ersatz margarine -made from coal it was widely believed. Soup provided once a day with ingredients it was better not to know. It is worth noting here that in the two and a half years as a POW both in Italy and Germany , not once did I taste fresh meat,fish, eggs, butter,cheese or fresh fruit and vegetables.Red Cross parcels containing tinned Spam, meat and veg(good old Maconnachie's) corned beef,sausages,margarine, powdered milk,jam/marmalade,chocolate, really saved our lives and fortunately ,when we left Italy where they had been sparse,in Germany they continued to arrive regularly (approximately one parcel between two or three)until just a few weeks before our liberation
The hut was equipped with three- tiered bunks, each with planks of wood and a straw-filled palliase to rest our weary limbs, but which felt like feather beds on that first night! Later,as the straw became pulverised and some of the wooden planks removed for the stove when fuel supplies decreased , sleeping to say the least was difficult.
But we survived. I will not go into great detail of our camp life, millions of words have been written by better authors than me. Suffice to record that with Norman Millson who was the Captain of the aircraft that had been shot down over Tobruk in September 1942, though a sergeant as all our crew was, nevertheless had great leadership qualities, a decidedly phlegmatic disposition. little disturbed his philosophy that eventually we would return to England, home and beauty.We shared everything received, including personal parcels from home that did get through at times.They were allowed to contain toilet articles (toothbrushes etc, articles of apparel,socks, handkerchiefs,but no food except strangely bars of chocolate were permitted.,and there were prisoners who boasted that mum had sent a parcel containing two pairs of socks and Nine Pounds of chocolate )Ten Pounds maximum weight)All parcels went to Geneva where the Red Cross whose organisation was truly formidable and efficient,made sure they were directed to the camps.One other service they provided proved priceless to thousands,books on almost any subject, classical fiction,all hardback editions and I can well remember asking for and receiving the great Tolstoy novel WAR and Peace which with over 1000 pages kept me enthralled for many a long day.This one book instilled in me a love of literature that has remained for the past sixty years.
Other interests in camp included joining the Camp Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS)playing a variety of parts including that of Eliza Doolittle in G.B. Shaw's PYGMALION,later to be a resounding musical MY FAIR LADY.
Gradually, the sounds of war approached, as the Russians in the East plus the British and American armies in the West wore down the German armies on both fronts. We could see more and more Allied aircraft flying high over us as they bombed towns nearby such as Chemnitz,Leipzig, and during February/March hundreds attacking Dresdennot far to the East. As April approached rumours swept the camp that the Americans had reached the Elbe meeting the Russians at Torgau.A few days later the sounds of gunfire became more and more pronounced ,we were in a fever of excitement and expectation.Then all went quiet,(Camp guards had disappeared overnight) and someone shouted "Look, the Russians are coming!" We gazed down the Muehlberg road. Instead of the masses of infantrymen we expected to welcome,four tired looking horses carrying four more lethargic Cossacks entered the gates. WE were FREE. Phil Green 27/10/04

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