The Horrors Of Stalag 7B: Bavarian Pow Camp Secrets

Stalag 7B was a Prisoner of War camp during World War II, located in Memmingen, Bavaria. It was a place where thousands of prisoners of war, including those from the US Air Force, were imprisoned. The camp was liberated by US ground forces in 1945. The prisoners of the camp were subjected to harsh living conditions, overcrowding, and mistreatment by the Germans. The camp is now a memorial site, with only a few of the old prisoners' barracks remaining.

Stalag 7B was a Prisoner of War camp during World War II

The conditions in the camp were harsh, with overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and a lack of sufficient food and medical supplies. Prisoners were frequently mistreated by the guards, and there were instances of bayonet jabbing, rifle-butt hitting, and shooting. However, some prisoners also reported acts of kindness from German guards, such as being provided with a coat to stay warm.

The camp was liberated in 1945 by US troops, and until 1948, it served as a Civilian Internment Camp for German prisoners accused of supporting the Nazi dictatorship. Today, only a few of the old prisoners' barracks remain, but there is a memorial on the former POW cemetery and a Stalag fountain in the new town.

It was located in Memmingen, Bavaria, Germany

Stalag 7B was a prisoner of war camp located in Memmingen, Bavaria, Germany, during World War II. The camp held prisoners of war from various nationalities, including French, Polish, Yugoslav, British, and American. It is known that some prisoners were forced to work in labour kommandos or work camps outside the main camp. For example, some prisoners were sent to a cheese factory in Bavaria, while others were assigned to farm work or labour details in Munich, Augsburg, and Landshut.

The conditions in Stalag 7B were harsh and overcrowded, with instances of mistreatment by the German guards. Prisoners slept on triple-deck wooden bunks and gunny-sack mattresses, and the number of men per barracks increased from 180 to 400, leading some to sleep on tables, floors, and the ground. The camp's population was constantly shifting, and leaders were changed frequently. The German treatment was barely correct, and instances of mistreatment occurred, such as jabbing prisoners with bayonets and hitting them with rifle butts.

The food situation in Stalag 7B was dependent on Red Cross food parcels, and at times, the prisoners feared a complete collapse in the delivery of these rations. However, this fear never materialized, and the Red Cross food kept coming through. The prisoners also had to cook their meals using improvised utensils and small stoves provided in the barracks.

The latrines and sanitary facilities were a constant source of contention between the prisoners and camp authorities, with complaints about the lack of cleanliness and infrequent emptying of the pits. The prisoners also suffered from skin diseases due to the unsanitary conditions and had limited access to showers.

Overall, Stalag 7B in Memmingen, Bavaria, Germany, was a difficult and challenging environment for the prisoners of war during World War II. The camp was characterised by harsh conditions, overcrowding, and instances of mistreatment by the German guards. However, the prisoners persevered and survived thanks to the Red Cross food rations and their resilience.

Stalag 7A was a POW camp near Moosburg, Bavaria

Stalag 7A was a prisoner-of-war camp located just north of Moosburg in southern Bavaria. It was established shortly after the beginning of World War II in September 1939 and was designed to house up to 10,000 prisoners. However, by the end of the war, the number of prisoners had exceeded 70,000, with an additional 40,000 or more working in factories, repairing railroads, or on farms. In total, 150,000 POWs passed through Stalag 7A during its existence.

The camp was divided into three main compounds: the Nordlager, the Suedlager, and the Hauptlager. The Nordlager held newly arrived prisoners for two days while they underwent searches, medical examinations, and delousing. The Suedlager housed only Russians, while the Hauptlager accommodated prisoners of other nationalities, including French, Polish, Yugoslavian, British, and American. The camp was surrounded by a double barbed wire fence and seven guard towers.

The living conditions in Stalag 7A were harsh due to extreme overcrowding. Prisoners slept on triple-deck wooden bunks or even on tables, floors, and the ground. There was a constant shortage of clothing, and the washing and sanitation facilities were inadequate. The food rations were poor, and prisoners relied heavily on Red Cross food parcels for sustenance. Despite the presence of medical personnel from various nationalities, there was a shortage of medical supplies, and diseases such as typhus and skin infections were prevalent.

Stalag 7A also served as a transit camp, processing prisoners, including officers, before transferring them to other camps. British, French, Belgian, and Dutch soldiers captured during the Battle of France arrived in May 1940, and close to 40,000 French prisoners remained at the camp throughout the war. British, Greek, and Yugoslavian prisoners arrived in May and June 1941, followed by Soviet prisoners, mostly officers. The first American prisoners arrived after the Tunisia Campaign in 1942 and the Italian Campaign in 1943.

On April 29, 1945, Stalag 7A was liberated by Combat Command A of the 14th Armored Division. The camp was then turned into Civilian Internment Camp #6, holding up to 12,000 German prisoners accused of supporting the Nazi regime. Today, only a few of the old prisoners' barracks remain, along with a memorial on the former POW cemetery in Oberreit and the Stalag fountain in the new town.

Stalag VIII-B was a German-administered POW camp during World War II

After the Treaty of Versailles, the camp was decommissioned, but it was recommissioned in 1939 at the outset of World War II to imprison Polish prisoners from the German invasion of Poland. Throughout the war, Stalag VIII-B held prisoners from a diverse range of countries, including Australia, Belgium, British India, British Palestine, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, the United States, and Yugoslavia.

In 1941, a separate camp, Stalag VIII-F, was established nearby specifically for Soviet POWs. The Lamsdorf camp population was later divided, and many prisoners were transferred to two new base camps: Stalag VIII-C Sagan (modern Żagań) and Stalag VIII-D Teschen (modern Český Těšín). The base camp at Lamsdorf was then renumbered Stalag 344.

Stalag VIII-B had a reputation for having some of the best hospital facilities among all the Stalags. The medical facilities, known as Lazarett, were set up on a separate site with eleven concrete buildings, including wards, treatment blocks, operating theatres, and accommodation for medical staff. The staff consisted entirely of POWs and included general physicians, surgeons, a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a radiologist.

In January 1945, as Soviet armies advanced into Germany, many prisoners from Stalag VIII-B were forced to march westward in what became known as the Death March. Those who encountered Western Allies were liberated by American forces or the Scots Guards, while those overtaken by the Soviets were often held for several more months.

Stalag VII-A was liberated by US ground forces on 9 April 1945

Stalag VII-A was the largest prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany during World War II. It was located just north of the town of Moosburg in southern Bavaria. The camp covered an area of 35 hectares (86 acres) and was designed to house up to 10,000 prisoners. However, at the time of its liberation on April 29, 1945, there were 76,248 prisoners in the main camp and 40,000 or more in Arbeitskommando working in factories, repairing railroads, or on farms. The liberation of Stalag VII-A was carried out by Combat Command A of the 14th Armored Division, led by BG Charles H. Karlstad.

On April 28, 1945, the 14th Armored Division crossed the Danube River at Ingolstadt and advanced towards Moosburg, with the mission of securing crossings of the Isar River. Among the German troops falling back on Moosburg were the remnants of the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier and 719th Infantry Divisions. The American forces included the 47th Tank Battalion, the 500th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, D Troop of the 94th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, and infantry and engineer companies.

As the American forces approached Moosburg, they encountered sporadic resistance from the retreating German troops. On the morning of April 29, a delegation from Stalag VII-A, including a representative of the Swiss Red Cross, an SS major, and Allied officers COL Paul S. Goode (USA) and Group Captain Willets (RAF), approached the Americans under a flag of truce. The delegation carried a German proposal for an armistice in the area around Moosburg, citing the presence of the large prisoner-of-war camp. The proposal was rejected by MG Albert C. Smith, the commander of the 14th Armored Division.

BG Karlstad then led the attack on Moosburg, with the primary objective of seizing a bridge across the Isar River. The American forces advanced towards the town, encountering resistance from SS troops dug in on the eastern bank of the Amper River, about a mile northwest of Moosburg. The American tanks and infantry quickly overcame the German defensive positions, and the Germans surrendered as the Americans reached the edge of Moosburg.

While the main force advanced towards the Isar River, BG Karlstad led a small convoy towards Stalag VII-A, guided by a German captain. As they approached the camp gate, they encountered a large number of armed German guards but successfully disarmed and captured them. BG Karlstad received the unconditional surrender of the camp commander, Colonel Otto Burger, and the liberation of Stalag VII-A was achieved. The prisoners, who included Americans, British, French, Russians, Italians, and many other nationalities, rejoiced and celebrated their liberation.

The liberation of Stalag VII-A was a significant event, not only because of the large number of prisoners involved but also because it represented the end of their ordeal and the restoration of their freedom. The American forces had demonstrated their determination to secure the bridge at Moosburg and, in the process, had liberated over 110,000 Allied prisoners of war. The story of Stalag VII-A and its liberation is a testament to the resilience of those who endured captivity and the courage of the American forces who fought to secure their freedom.

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