A Prisoner of War’s Diary from Stalag VIIIB — January to June - 1941

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A Prisoner of War’s Diary from Stalag VIIIB — January to June - 1941
By
George Irving Beck

New Years Day Menu 1941
Breakfast — Porridge and two slices of bread.

Dinner — Mashed spuds and one rissole.

Tea — Soup, dry bread and coffee.

Courage
It is easy to be nice boys, when everything’s OK
It is easy to be cheerful when you’re having things your way
But can you hold your head up, and take it in the chin
When your hart is nearly breaking and you feel like giving in

It was easy back in England, amongst the friends and folks
But now you miss the friendly hand, the joys, the songs and jokes
The road ahead is stony, and unless you’re strong in mind
You’ll find it is not long before you’re lagging far behind

You have got to clime the hill boys, its no use turning back
There’s only one way home, and that is off the beaten track
Remember, you are British, and that when you reach the crest
You’ll see a valley cool and green, dear England at its best.

You know there is a saying that sunshine follows rain
And sure enough you’ll realise that joy will follow again
Let courage be your password, make fortitude your guide
And then instead of grousing, just remember those who died.

They died to earn your freedom, was not too great a price
If only you are worthy, of so great a sacrifice
They bore their cross in silence; they sought not wealth nor fame
And you must try to emulate and glorify their name.

By L/Cpl Farrer — Prisoner of War

January 05, 1941
Out on snow shifting, clearing the main roads. Nearly freezing to death. Roll on. Twelve months ago to day I was on leave.

January 22, 1941
Reveille 4:30 am snowing like hell and freezing. Train journey to a place called Ramsau in the mountains. Clearing the railway lines as a train is snowed up by blizzard.

January 30, 1941
Old socks issued and boots. Still on the railway job. Up early on a morning. Men suffering from frostbite in the ears and feet, for its terribly cold in the mountains, practically in the clouds. Snow about thirty feet high in places, four men standing above one another, and shovelling over each other’s heads. Pea soup issued 11:30 am.

February 01, 1941 — Saturday
Melted icicles from outside to have a wash with. Some loaves of bread have been stolen from food store so our rations have been cut down to five men in a loaf instead of four. Soup also thinner so God help us because we are just about starving now.

February 05, 1941
Not a deal to put down except to say I received a letter from Ron wrote October 9, 1940. How it cheers one up to receive a letter from anyone.

February 09, 1941 - Sunday
Issue of twenty ‘Gold Dollar’ cigarettes from Red Cross and one tin of milk. How nice to get a decent smoke, ate the tin of milk straight away. Still showing on and off. Don’t hear much news lately.

February 21, 1941
Received letter from the wife wrote November 22, 1940, my birthday. Hope to God something unforeseen happens soon for this life is enough to send one mad. Same routine day in day out.

February 23, 1941 - Sunday
First individual Red Cross parcel issued. Nearly everyone went mad. Some ate the lot straight away and were dashing backwards and forwards from the lavatory. Brewed our tea over candles. Weather improving, working on usual job again. Italy said to be getting a tousing in the east.

March 06, 1941
Received one letter from dad wrote November 23. 1940 and one from Alice wrote October 23, 1940. Roll on peace. No news to put down, Hope everything OK back in England.

March 09, 1941
Letter from Alice wrote October 31, 1940.

March 19, 1941 - Wednesday
Nothing new to report, what a life. We just have to be content with memories, and even these fade after a time, and become small consolations in a place like this.

March 21, 1941 - Friday
All Irishmen in camp sent back to Stalag. Rumour goes that trouble has broke out between Ireland and England, they are to be asked who they will fight for if this is right, Jerry is up to all kinds of tricks. Snowing again, we’ve had about five months of it up to now.

March 26, 1941 - Wednesday
Still snowing. Been ill in bed for the last four days. Got to look after ourselves here, even little scratches turn septic owing to lack of vitamins.

April 15, 1941 — Monday
Today is Easter Monday and what a holiday for us nothing to do for its terribly cold outside and still snowing, never seen a country like this in my life. Suppose we shall be on the railway job again before long. Things said to be looking bad for us in this war, never mind we must hope for the best. Latest rumour “Severe fighting round Tobruk.”

May 02, 1941
A few days break and started snowing again. They say they get nine months winter and three months summer and it seems like it. Roll on Civvy Street and my dear wife. I wonder what she’s doing now at this moment.

Give and Take
‘Give and Take’, a motto grand —
Give and shake an offered hand,
It’s so easy to be friends —
Simple too, to make amends!
Human nature makes us fight,
Only when we think we’re right,
When your fight or quarrels o’er,
You forget and think no more,
Now compare the world today,
Let it be for me to say,
Friendship, sacrificed for power,
Death, disaster every hour,
God knows how it all will end,
Will it be as foe or friend
In my wish I hope to see
England linked with Germany,
Two great nations, hands that clasp,
Now we may feel full of spite,
Just because we think we’re right,
Every soldier thinks the same,
But who will take all the blame?
We can hope just for the best,
Diplomats must do the rest,
God gives them that something grand,
A verdict soon, an outstretched hand,
May each nation find the way?
To be peaceful, and say:
Brothers all, my hand shake,
That’s the motto ‘Give and Take’
By
Pte. A. Nash — Prisoner of War

May 02, 1941
Germans allowed us to listen to ‘Lord Haw Haw’ on the wireless. According to his propaganda we are still retreating, there must be some motive for it. We’re practically finished the way he talks but we’ll have to wait and see. Propaganda doesn’t kill the old English spirit.

May 14, 1941 - Wednesday
Great Change in the weather. Not too soon. Just like a midsummer’s day, really hot. How I wish I was back home now. Latest news. ‘Hitler’s right hand man ‘Hess’ disappeared.

May 16, 1941 - Friday
Unbelievable, its snowing again. Roll on Blighty. Ordered to bed by medical officer. Frost bitten toe.

May 17, 1941 - Saturday
In bed all day, weather lovely. Chatted with mate, Bob Ford about England and the wife. How I used to look forward to Saturday night in Blighty, can’t help but wonder how long this war is going to last. Thought about escaping once or twice but what’s the use. Don’t know whether Russia is against us or not. Latest news Germans evacuated Greece and Yugoslavia.

May 18, 1941
Had a needle injection in my toe, froze it and cut the nail in two. Still resting.

May 20, 1941 - Tuesday
Still in bed. Big troop movements around Niklasdorfe. Polish refugees flocking through here by train, guns and vehicles heading in direction of Russian frontier’ Whether Russia is coming in against Germany we don’t know but it looks like it. Latest rumour ‘Five to six million English and American troops in Russia’

May 22, 1941 - Thursday
Out of bed today but still not working. Weather lovely. Latest rumour to hand ‘Fifty thousand Italians captured by us. Italy capitulated. Germany blaming Italy for loss of lives in the east.

May 23, 1941 - Sunday
Glorious weather. Made a collection of musical instruments in the camp. Already got a few. Listened to band in the evening. Received letter from Alice dater October. Latest rumour ‘Sinking of the Hood’.

May 26, 1941 - Monday
Still off work with my foot. Received second parcel from wife. Got everything I need now except under shorts. Roll on peace and the wife. Wonder what the home is like now.

May 27, 1941 — Tuesday
Latest news ‘Sinking of the German battle ship Bismarck. America said to be in the war. Things seem to be brightening up a bit if what we hear is true. Still browned off. May the great day be near.

June 01, 1941 — Whit Sunday
Scorching hot weather. Grand National sweepstake in camp winner receives 110 marks, 50 marks 2nd, 25 marks 3rd, and 100 cigarettes for each runner. Drew a horse named ‘Flannagan’ so I hope it wins. No news to put down whatsoever. We generally hear when Germany is doing well.

June 02, 1941 — Whit Monday
Holiday times like these always bring back memories. The last one I spent in England I went to Derby races with Alice, Kit and Cliff. Here’s hoping this is the last one I spend out of Blighty. Roll on. Weather Grand.

June 03, 1941
Our rations have been cut down again and we get no breakfast all this week. Potato shortage also bread. What a state Germany is in wish something would happen to end this war.

June 06 1941 - Friday
Weather lovely. Latest news ‘Germany have given Russia twenty four hours to let them through or they’re taking action’. People of Holland set fire to cargo of flour destined for Germany.

June 08, 1941
News just received that trouble broke out in Lamsdorf with the Serbians. Thousands of them were brought in as prisoners. They were given our lads cigarettes etc. when the guards opened fire on them with machine guns and rifles. Our lads put on punishment through it for a month.

June 09, 1941
Weather lovely. Latest propaganda ‘Five thousand Germans laid down their arms and marched into Russia’. Inoculated by German medical officer. Guards leaving tomorrow and new ones arriving.

June 12, 1941 - Thursday
Death of one comrade, Collected for wreath. Latest rumour ‘ British recaptured the island of Crete’. Polish rations been cut down again.

June 15, 1941 - Sunday
Search in camp for tobacco. Lost two packets given me by the Poles. Hid them under the bed but they were found. No news. What a life, same routine day in day out.

June 22, 1941 - Sunday
Latest rumour confirmed. ‘Russia declared war on Germany at six am this morning’. Guards are as worried as hell but for us it means excitement. In all probabilities, we shall be moved from here, as we’re not far from Russia.

June 03, 1941Tuesday
Events moving rapid of late. Germans lost a division against Russia. Russia captured Rumania.

June 25, 1941 - Wednesday
Russia doing well. German news and newspapers stopped. Heavy casualties. Four hospital trains passed through here today with wounded, Secret pact said to have been past between Britain and Russia in 1939.

June 29, 1941 — Sunday
Another weekend round again roll on a long time. Wrote a letter to wife, there isn’t a day passes but what I think of here and the folks at home, wonder what they’re doing now. Mail as stopped this last fortnight. German officer stopped us from singing National Anthem sergeant had trouble over it. Germans in Russia said to have laid down their arms and surrender.

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