Sault Ste. Marie 2008

In Rememberance

Corporal Alfred Zabratynski, friends in camp (internment)

Your Stalag friends wish today Fred, that God will allow you freedom from internment.

We will be happy and will remember him because our friends brother played tricks on us.

Anger got the better of him at supper when he had little soup in the bowl.

Today your friends from internment wish you good luck. For your quick greetings with your close family in Lwów (Poland)

My dearest sunshine. The caregiver of my children in my dearest memory and appreciation for a token offering. Your dearest Kariena.

For your names day. A.Z.

"Boruta" Everyone in my camp knew me by this name.

Friends in prison ( officers) camp Allemagne Stalag VII/ A

Marseille 15th July 1941

A drawing of Alfred Zabratynski, by   *** Miller

May 24th 1941.

After only a short time in the camp, life there is taking its toll.

A History of Stalag V11/A  (Stalag 7A)

 Shortly after the beginning of World War II in September of 1939, a POW camp called Kriegsgefangenen - Mannschafts - Stammlager (Stalag) VII A was established north of Moosburg in southern Bavaria, Germany in Luckenwaalde, near Bankau. (today Bąków) 6 kilometers from Kreuzburg.

The camp was built in September 1939 to house Polish prisoners from the German September 1939 offensive. They arrived while the wooden barracks were under construction and for several weeks lived in tents. By July 1944, the camp held 230 prisoners, all RAF flying crews until they were joined by members of the Glider Pilot Regiment captured at the Battle of Arnhem, (Holland) September 1944 other camps further east and by 1 January 1945, the camp held 1578: a complete mix of British, Americans, Russian, Polish and Canadian troops.

Stalag 7A

Originally it was planned for 10,000 prisoners, but at the end of the war some 80,000 Allied soldiers were detained in the main camp and its labour Kommandos.

Aerial view of Stalag 7 A    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The tent encampment whilst the barracks were under construction.

The camp covered an area of around 85 acres and served also as a transit camp through which prisoners, including officers, were processed on their way to other camps.

At some time during the war prisoners from every nation fighting against Germany passed through it and at the time of its liberation on 29 April 1945, there were 130,000 prisoners from at least 26 nations on the camp roster.

Polish prisoners of war

 Stalag VII/A, was the largest prisoner of war camp in Germany during the war years. However at any time up to 60,000 were located in Arbeitskommando working in factories, repairing railroads or labouring on farms. In the Stammlager (the main camp) over 40,000 men were crowded into a space designed for 10,000.

Stalag VII A was liberated on 29 April 1945 by Combat Command A of the 14th Armored Division after a pitched battle with a large defending force of 5,000-7,000 German troops.

Except from a POW Diary Dated:

7.2.45

My last slice of bread has gone. Train never seems to travel for more than an hour before grinding to a halt. Half cup coffee per man. Protests about shortage of food to Germans, 30 trains ahead of us waiting to pass through a large town ahead. Many men being taken to hospital truck. Medical Officer and Staff unable to cope. Now eating flour and oats - a sickening concoction.

8.2.45

In a siding at Luckenwalde. The end of the line for us - confirmed by Camp Leader.

A glorious morning - Spring is here. Rumours - 20,000 prisoners already in the camp. We are not expected. No food parcels.

11.30 Marched the 2 Km. to Stalag IIIA and searched as we passed through the gates. 400 of us to be housed in Barrack 9 North. No bunks - straw bales on the floor. Find a space and stake your claim. Food soon available - barley soup and potatoes and small ration of bread. All nationalities here in separate compounds. - Americans, Poles, French, Yugoslavs, Russians.

So begins life in my third camp but the end must be near.

A Superlative Reference Web Site:    POW Camp Stalag VII A