大象传媒

The Beginning of the End 鈥� Part One

The following is an account by the late Mr. John Lesley Sorsby of the 1st Parachute Regiment of the march undertaken by 2000 troops from Stalag 8C near Breslau on the border with Silesia to freedom. This march took place between 8th February 鈥� 10th March 1945. Their march ended at a P.O.W. camp at Bad Orb. They were liberated by the Americans on 2nd April 1945. Mr. Sorsby arrived home at Orgreave, Yorkshire in the early morning of 13th April 1945.

These memories have been submitted with the permission of Mrs. W. E. Sorsby.

鈥淭he month of February always brings back memories of the day when our march (if that it is what it can be called) to freedom - from our prison camp, began. The date was the 8th February 1945. Roll call was due at 08.30am. We had heard that the Russian troops were advancing towards our P.O.W. camp which was Stalag 8C, near Breslau on the border of Silesia. Next to our camp was the Luftag, which was the Air Force Officer鈥檚 camp from where the 鈥淲ooden Horse鈥� escape had been organised. Some years after the war I learned that Ken Liversedge, a friend of mine who many will also remember, was a prisoner in that same camp of 鈥榃ooden Horse鈥� fame.

When we stumbled out for roll call it was bitterly cold, there had been about three foot of snow. My boots were in tatters and I dare not wear them, but I had a Dutch style pair of wooden clogs and I put them on. About 2,000 men assembled in various parts of the camp, all standing shivering, feeling uneasy about the future. No one knew what was going to happen. A high ranking German officer than told us officially about the Russian advance and that we must keep ahead of them. Panic soon developed. We had about ten minutes to gather together what few possessions we had and then set off on our journey across Germany. The time was about ten minutes to nine. Quite a bit of bullying took place to get us on the move and commence this nightmare trek.

The first day was far from pleasant. We covered about 23 kilometres, not a long way under normal circumstances but walking in Dutch clogs that were too big, over feet already sore, you can imagine the result. In a strange way the snow slopping in the clogs acted as a kind of lubrication, even if it was cold. The day was very dull and overcast, the clouds seemed to hang very low. Eventually, about 3.30pm we approached a place with a name something like Marmsdorf. There we were ushered into what appeared to be a brickyard. There were quite a few kilns around. The Germans left us to fend for ourselves. I remember that some of the kilns were too hot, but at least it was much better than being out in the snow. I can鈥檛 remember if we had any rations that night.

Next morning we were up and about early, milling around hoping for something to eat. The German guards were shouting and rushing about amongst us. After a while we received about a twelfth of a loaf of German bread. It was supposed to last all day. Needless to say we had finished our ration by mid-day. It was much the same weather-wise. We walked through quite a lot of woodland, hearing the occasional gunfire. That day we covered about 25 Kilometres, by which time everyone was exhausted. No one seemed to know where we were going to spend the night. The guards were getting very bad tempered. Finally we had to bed down in a small wood. A lot of trees had been cut down and sawn up into 4ft props. We made good use of these to keep our bodies clear of the ground, even though they were very hard to lie on. I think the nearest place was Freibus.

The weather deteriorated by the time we set off the next morning. As well as the twelfth of a loaf we managed to get a small mug of coffee, others had different names for it, (not suitable to repeat here). But it was hot. So again we set off on the day鈥檚 march, not feeling very cheerful and not knowing where or how the day was going to end. On this third day we marched for an hour before we had the usual ten minute breather. The rain had stopped, the sun glancing through the trees made things take on a brighter look. I picked up a stick; I thought it would help me along it was nice and straight. (I still have the very same stick at home now). It was a great help, in fact it was magic as at the next stop we were informed that we should only be going 16 Kilometres and then would be reaching a deserted P.O.W. camp. Our spirits rose at the news, which didn鈥檛 take much considering how low they had been. There was quite a lot of talking going on as we went along, everyone hoping the 10th of February would be the last day on the road.

We reached Muskua, the place where the P.O.W. camp was situated, at about 2pm. More snow about. There were six of us who tried to stick together and share what little extras we could scrounge, if any. There were the usual three tier bunks, with flat and hard palliasses which needed a good shaking up to loosen the straw contents. With everyone shaking them up at the same time, it made a hell of a dust and at the same time disturbed all the parasites from their dwellings. It took quite a time for the dust and parasites to settle. We then had to assemble outside for what was termed an inspection. It was, however, the means of me getting footwear changed. I acquired a brand new pair of Navy type boots, only one size too big. They were nice and supple and very light. I felt as If I could jump over the moon.

Back in the hut, as daylight was fading, a number of men were detailed to fetch the rations, everyone waiting expectantly. Most of us had tin cans; I remember mine was about the size of a 500 gramme soup tin and by rubbing them inside and out with sand, it scoured them and they used to shine. We fashioned a type of handle on them. The lads who had the rations for our hut came struggling through the door carrying a dustbin-like container which was steaming hot. I can鈥檛 remember what it was, but someone shouted 鈥楽killy Up鈥�, that鈥檚 what we called it. The mixture was like potatoes boiled and boiled until they fell in the water and that was the thickening part. Salt also seemed scarce in Germany as well. Anyway it was hot and with a thick slice of bread we all felt much better.

There wasn鈥檛 much light in the hut as I remember, there was only about four bulbs for a hut which must have been all of twenty yards long. Most of us got into our bunk beds. We had to sleep two to each tier, so there wasn鈥檛 a great deal of room to move about, especially when our friends the parasites started to bite. (It makes me itch and scratch now writing about it). As I said before the mattresses were alive with parasites. (My polite name for them), but in spite of them we managed to get some sleep.

Early next morning the Boche stamped in shouting 鈥楻ouse!! Rouse!!鈥� that鈥檚 what it sounded like. Everyone jumping out of their flea pits. A look through the window confirmed our worst fears - it had snowed during the night. Worse was to come, we were informed that we were leaving again and to be on the road within the hour. We managed a cup of so-called coffee, a slice of bread and a piece of margarine. We all had a grumble. We would rather have stopped where we were 鈥� parasites and all!

We set off just after nine o鈥檆lock. Once on the road the going was a little better and with my new footwear I felt as though I was walking on air. It had stopped snowing by this time as trudged along: people came out of their houses; I am sure in some cases we had their sympathy. Our hourly stop was always away from built up areas. I remember if ever we approached a town of any size the guards were increased and in some cases SS guards drafted in. They weren鈥檛 very popular as you can imagine.

Eventually after walking about 24 kilometres we stopped on the outskirts of Spremberg or something like that. There weren鈥檛 any sign of a shelter and we were kept hanging around for a while until we were herded into what appeared to be playing fields. We could see the top of goalposts and the snow was at least three feet deep. We soon found out that to keep warm we had to keep together. We felt a bit like Eskimos. Between the six of us we had a couple of groundsheets and six Gas Capes. Everyone was trying their best to flatten down the snow. When we were more or less successful, we laid the two groundsheets down and then three of the gas capes, which left three gas capes to put over us. A gas cape, by the way, is rather like an oversized oilskin. They were intended to entirely cover a soldier and equipment in case of gas attack. Anyhow, after a drop of 鈥楽killy鈥�, no bread that night, we all huddled up together and made the best of it.

The next day鈥檚 march wasn鈥檛 very pleasant, it kept snowing on and off. After another 24 kilometres we then reached a place something like Seidlitz (unless I鈥檓 thinking of the powders.) The same type of superior accommodation again the next day. This meant that for the 11th, 12th and 13th nights we had slept out in the snow and in those three days we had covered just over 70 kilometres. As we set off on the morning of the 14th February someone remarked that he was expecting a Valentine card. He said that he鈥檇 been forgotten. It caused a laugh, which goes to show that the spirit was still there, if not in liquid form. The snow by now was turning to sleet. I always think that sleet is colder than snow. I don鈥檛 know how long our column was, but from time to time someone had to drop out because of illness or fatigue. Dysentery was becoming rife amongst us. I was hoping to steer clear of that. The leader of the column enquired as to what would happen to the ones who fell out. He was told that they would be taken to the nearest hospital, what really happened we never knew.

We got through the day alright and after just over 20 kilometres we were called to a halt. Someone said, 鈥業 think this place looks like a pottery鈥�. There was always someone who guessed it right. Anyway, it was under cover, everyone moving around to find the best places. Some of them were satisfied, some grumbling. One thing we all agreed on was that we would all like a good meal. It鈥檚 amazing what sort of meals one can imagine when you have an empty stomach. The 鈥楽killy鈥� came up after a while. I can鈥檛 remember just what it was but at least it was hot, rather different from the weather outside.

It was a dismal morning when we set off on the 15th. We鈥檇 had out slice of bread and 鈥榗offee鈥�, this as I鈥檝e said before had to last all day; not exactly over-faced were we?

The sound of gunfire had been left behind after a week on the road. We never travelled on a direct route, we seemed to be by-passing a lot of built-up areas. After a further 20 kilometres we arrived at a big farmstead. We sat on the grass verge. It was fine by now. Most of us were put into a big barn type building, the rest found accommodation nearby. The guards in most cases were changed at the end of the day鈥檚 march and I suppose were sent back to their own unit. If it so happened that they weren鈥檛 changed they were not so tolerant the next day. The barn proved warm, plenty of straw and after the usual 鈥楽killy鈥� and bread we bedded down with the usual amount of chatter. When silence reigned you could feel the nostalgia, as though everyone was thinking of Home and what their loved ones and families were doing.鈥�

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