A Prisoner of War’s Diary from Stalag VIIIB — 1944 January to March

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Mrs. J. Broomhead and has been added to the site with the author’s permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and condition

A Prisoner of War’s Diary from Stalag VIIIB — 1944 January to March
By
George Irving Beck

January 01, 1944 — Saturday — New Years Day
Today I received a letter from the wife stating that these last few months she has been fed up, and was wondering what would happen when I got home and found out how cool she was. Since my friend Roberts called she wants me home badly. Rather dispiriting letter, wrote one back, don’t know what will happen.

January 03, 1944 — Monday
Today I had a bottle of wine given, shared it with one of the lads. It was so strong I was half dazed, what a happy feeling it gave me, couldn’t stop laughing. Roll on England; hope to God this year brings success. Bed 7 pm.

January 05, 1944 — Wednesday
The German news isn’t so good but information, which we get from other sources, is great. The Russians are well into Poland and are only eighty kilometres from the German Front. They’re doing marvellous, and the Germans are sweating on the second front, which they know must come sooner than later. Roll on. Berlin had such a heavy bombing by our air force that it burned for a week. The zoo suffered also wild animals ran amok killing civilians. An elephant was not killed but wounded by a bad shot from the police and it went mad killing people.

January 06, 1944 — Thursday
Once again I’m working on the ‘Seumen’ machine. The old job is O.K. for I’m on my own gaffer with another chap under me but its terrible cold to the feet. I’ve been working machines practically since I came here so I’ve been very fortunate. No news regarding the war. Bed 7 p.m.

January 09, 1944 — Sunday
Another usual Sunday, nothing to do but sit and think, its enough to drive a fellow mad. I write and tell folks everything is O.K. and I’m contented but one has to do. The only link we have with the outside world is with letters and even these have stopped. I’ve practically forgot what the wife looks like now. When one is a prisoner it’s queer what strange things enter a man’s head whilst thinking, my thoughts run away with me sometimes and passages stated in the wife’s letters make things worse, for God’s sake roll on. Bed 8 p.m.

January 12, 1944 — Wednesday
Visited the doctor with my stomach, said it is through the appendicitis operation; it comes on regular and bends me double. Today’s news says that 1125 of our planes were brought down in middle Germany yesterday afternoon. Our troops in Italy are attacking strongly and the Russians are still throwing in attacks.

January 13, 1944 — Thursday
Inside information says that some Englishmen were walking around Berlin posing as German civilians. Some have been put in jail but nothing can be proved against them as their papers are in order and they speak good German. They came through with Romanians leaving the country. One English officer in Politschka near here walks into the town offices and volunteered for work in Belgium. All papers were in order and he spoke good Czech so got away O.K.

January 16, 1944 — Sunday
Wrote letter to wife but had to destroy it, too bad to send. Don’t know what is the matter with her lately; she’s got me worried. Latest news “1,200 planes over Berlin, refugees living not far from here, they had to leave in a hurry, some of them had to leave in their night things for they had to come straight from air raid shelters into the trains. Bed p.m.

January 17, 1944 — Monday
Today bring us good news from Russia “Germans give out on the wireless that the Russians are now over the Polish border”. They’re doing marvellous.

January 21, 1944 — Friday
Tonight I have seen the Guard Commander about a change of party, two of us made a complaint. Absolutely browned off, what with the wife’s letters and one thing or another we’ve to wait for the Germans S/Major.

January 24, 1944 — Monday
Today’s news “British troops made a further landing in the north of Italy at the other side of Rome”. This morning the German S/Major had a talk to us about changing working parties, and said it is better to stop here for we may get worse.

January 27, 1944 — Thursday
No news today. Got three boils, one on my face and two on my neck, what luck? Its surprising what one does get in prison life, roll on, what I want is a woman.

January 29, 1944 — Saturday
Got drenching wet today working over wagon loading. Just finished reading a fine book, one of the best I’ve ever read called “The Citadel” by author of “Keys of the Kingdom”.

January 30, 1944 — Sunday
Studying whether to tear the wife’s letter up again, just can’t think.

January 31, 1944 — Monday
British troops attacking on a wide front in Italy. Germans evacuated another mountain position. Russians still doing well, they have taken two more towns near Leningrad. Big air raid over Berlin lasting 24 hours, flares dropped all over and mines dropped, forty buildings destroyed by one alone, heavy casualties. Left my job on the machine, now working outdoors on the Platz.

February 02, 1944 — Wednesday
One of our old workmates committed suicide today, hung himself German or no German he was a grand old chap, lost his son in Russia and his wife was sent out to work. No war news.

February 03, 1944 — Thursday
The newspaper headlines run down Alexandre commander of our troops out east. His speech was given running down the Germans. Berlin was bombed again and a couple of other towns.

February 04, 1944 — Friday
Latest news from a good source “Ten divisions of Germans wiped out in Russia”. Newspaper admits that three towns have been evacuated. Our troops are steadily advancing in Italy. Roll on.

February 06, 1944 — Sunday
English parachute troops landed few miles from here. Two parachutes were found in trees but the men were missing. A few papers were picked up written in English. Precautions are being taken in the town.

February 08, 1944 — Tuesday
Two English barrage balloons drifted over here and dropped in Wilterschwert, few miles from Zwittau. Nobody knows where they came from.

February 09, 1944 — Wednesday
Arrival of bulk issue. No war news to put down. Snowing like blazes. Roll on.

February 13, 1944 — Sunday
Another one of our lads has lost his wife, this makes over half of us married men to have lost their women, there’s divorce cases all over. I’m lucky myself. A rumour goes that we are to be allowed to go to the pictures but we think it is all bunkum it remains to be seen. Weather terrible, over the knees in snow.

February 20, 1944 — Sunday
Received yesterday two letters from wife, one states that at times she has been ready to give in, the rest is blacked out by censoring officer, no idea what it can be. Well, this war goes on but I can’t see the end in sight yet although the Russians still continue their advance and attacks. Lets hope that this spring sees some big happenings. A couple of months and I shall have been a prisoner four years, how time passes. Nothing but snow here lately.

To by Wife (An apology and a Promise)

I’ve not been a very good husband, in fact as husbands go,
I seem to have broken all records, in giving my wife cause for woe,
I use to stop out of an evening, in a pub playing darts with the boys,
And never at anytime troubled that my wife wasn’t sharing my Joys.

I’d drink and I’d curse and I’d gamble, and sometime I’d rave and I’d shout,
My dinners were left in a saucepan, till most of the taste had boiled out,
I joined the army against her advice, was stationed a long way from home,
Had four days leave before going abroad, was captured and no more could roam.

I wrote to my wife when a prisoner, half fearing she’d ignore my pleas,
Requesting to send me cigarettes, clothing and other necessities,
Back came the reply as soon as could be, full of loving and tender thoughts,
Saying the goods I required were on the way, with others of various sorts.

Now there’s one thing captivity’s taught me, the worth of my wife and son,
And when I get back to Blighty, I’ll see that they join in my fun,
They tell me there are model husbands; I don’t think they’ll call me that,
But if I don’t make a better job this time, just call me a bloody rat.

By prisoner of war.

February 25, 1944 — Friday
An English parachute troop was traced to a house near here in the town of Hornstadt. Armed police were sent out to capture him, they riddled him with a machine gun but he killed two policemen first and wounded one. The owner of the house hung himself and his wife was taken away under escort. The guards tell us it was an English prisoner who escaped but we get information from good sources. Today’s newspaper news “We have lost 36,000 troops up to date in Italy”. The Americans keep getting pushed back by Nettund and the British are being sent forward. Everything going well in Russia.

February 27, 1944 — Sunday
No news to report. Wrote a letter to wife. Don’t know what is happening to my cigarette parcels for I’m receiving none. Same old routine day in day out, proper war weary. What a lot to make up for when I get back.

March 01, 1944 — Wednesday
Nothing to put down. The paper comprises of Churchill’s speech. Wonder when this aimless existence is going to end. Still working the cutting machine.

March 05, 1944 — Sunday
Today we’ve been talking to a civilian who visits here, he comes from Berlin. He’s lost one son in Russia and his other one is missing by Nettund in Italy. On the on top of this his house has been blown up in Berlin. Says its nothing to be in air raid shelter all day and night. No war news at all. Won 37 marks at pontoon.

March 06, 1944 — Monday
Today’s weather snowed like blazes and windy. No news. As I sit here tonight and look round the room I can’t help but notice the worn out look on men’s faces, they just sit there thinking. Everyone is proper war weary. Four years prison life. Roll on.

March 07, 1944 — Tuesday
Today one of our lads met an English officer down the town. He told him that the war is going great for us; they can get the BBC news somehow. Finland is asking Russia for an armistice. The Russians are still advancing. Chap on other working party received letter saying negotiations are going on for exchange of prisoners. The Germans have also got the same news, source not known. Hope there’s something in it.

March 08, 1944 — Wednesday
Quite a bit of excitement here today. Fellow that used to work here on leave from front. All the workpeople turned out to greet him for he has been awarded Ritter Karux (Knight’s Cross) what a honour, cars escorted him here, photographers were there and flags were flying in the town. Seven p.m. tonight brought news that he’s in prison for he’s been bluffing. What a sensation. Other news another chat down road hung himself. Shopkeeper.

March 10, 1944 — Friday
The chap supposed to have got the Knight’s Cross is a deserter from his company since November, his fiancée has been put in prison also she bought him the ribbon. Newspaper states that a woman got, three years for saying another woman’s son wasn’t an Unter Officer. The chap was killed at the front and he was the said rank. What a country, three years for stating a falsehood. Russia still advancing.

March 12, 1944 — Sunday
News direct from Lamsdorf “170 of our lads escaped from the camp and not been seen since”. Another underground tunnel been found by Germans in near by woods. Trapdoor was found under bushes, Germans dropped into tunnel and found themselves under the lavatories and coming out in the main camp. Even electric lights installed, work of engineers, five thousand bed boards were used. Even Germans say it was marvellous work.
Another nearing completion but Jerries can’t find it. It appears dirt was taken away in boxes covered by rubbish. Couple of wireless sets also in camp cannot be found.
Canadian Air Force chap travelling by here to Labsdorf threw himself through window of train, killed instantly. Witnessed by chap here in same compartment. One of the fellows pal’s remarked, “East come, easy go”, the spirit of comrades was marvellous considering what had happened. Proper war time American, joking about it. Russia still advancing. Three Stukas crashed near here from flying school, stunting and shortage of petrol. Won forty marks at pontoon.

March 13, 1944 — Monday
Two men (English) shot at working camp by guards. One turned round with cigarette in his mouth and guard shot him through the head, smoking forbidden. The other chap was shot through using obscene language at the guard. Both were dragged on the side. Representatives from Switzerland investigated. They were given a marvellous funeral. Today’s war news “The Russians are only 160 kilometres from Slovakian border”. The town of Uman evacuated by Germans.

March 14, 1944 — Tuesday
Russians doing great. Heavy fighting around Kherson. Advanced as far as Tarnapol and well into Poland. They are nearing the boarders of Hungary, Rumania, Slovakia so giving the Germans a bigger front still. No parcels. Typhus in Lamsdorf, Russians are dying as many as sixty a day and our lads are now suspected. The new guard we have here was wounded three times in Russia; he also stepped on a mine and was blown 15 metres. His face is blue and he wakes up in the night screaming, his nerves are gone. Cannot help but feel sorry for him.

March 16, 1944 — Thursday
One of our lads came back from Berlin today. What news. The town is 70% finished. 39 air raids in just over 40 days. The last visit was 1,500 planes. Brought two pamphlets back dropped by our air force. Head lines says ‘Luftpost’. One of them is about Stalingrad, the Russians are still advancing. Roll on.

March 18, 1944 — Saturday
Played pontoon at night and won 43 marks. My favourite game and having a good memory for following the cards puts me in pocket nearly every time. Today’s news “Russian troops said to be now in Romania. Snowing Heavily.

March 21, 1944 — Tuesday
Today’s news goes that the Hungarian troops have been demobilised, Germany taken over. Finland and other small countries are shaking, Russia doing great. Yesterday’s newspaper headlines said “Grotzschnautz Montgomery” “Invasion wird einfach sein”. Snowing heavily.

March 22, 1944 — Wednesday
In bed at dinnertime. Done hardly any work all morning through bad stomach, sick as a dog and sweating. Kept running to the lavatory to be sick what a condition my stomach is in, God knows what it will be like when I get back. Paper states today that Finish government as rejected Russia’s terms.

March 23, 1944 — Thursday
News came in tonight that German troops have taken over Slovakia. Germans have evacuated another town near Lemburg. Russians still advancing day by day.

March 25, 1944 — Saturday
Working till six o’clock at nights now. No parcels for months now. No cigarettes after Monday.

March 26, 1944 — Sunday
Eighteen English officers escaped in French clothes, report come through that prisoners must be watched. Today martial law came into effect in this area, extra police are patrolling the streets. Bombs have been thrown out of train windows and bridges blown up also a factory. No letter cards so cannot write to wife.

March 27, 1944 — Monday
Two aeroplanes passed here tonight by train, they had been smashed up somewhere. Nothing special to report regarding war.

March 28, 1944 — Tuesday
Four of the officers who escaped were captured, it appears two guards were killed and a couple of officers (English) also. Police report received today “Woman Gave information that one of the prisoners here was seen masturbating himself last Sunday behind some logs. What a lot of rot, even the manager says it’s silly, the fellow must have been urinating. War news “Germans evacuating two more towns in Russia”.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.