Before continuing to explore the documents further i believe at first it is worth examining where Edward now found himself. As confirmed in my last post Edwards location was noted as Camp 8C. Camp 8C is the name given to his Prisoner of War camp by the British through its own designation system. To the Germans it was known as Stalag VIII - C, part of its military district VIII (Breslau).
(Source - https://muzeum.zagan.pl/)
Having read a number of war diaries written by those who had been sent to Stalag VIII-C (from Italy) during this period of time, it is likely Edward, following processing and interrogation, will have been transported there by train in cattle trucks. This could have taken up to three days and conditions and food provision were very poor. Those who survived the journey will have disembarked at a local station (likely Zagan) and been marched along the road leading to the camps entrance itself.
(Source: https://muzeum.zagan.pl)
Located 20 miles from the German boarder in Western Poland near Sagan (Zagan), Stalag VIII-C was a 120 acre site situated adjacent to the more famous, recently added Stalag Luft III (for airmen), location of "the great escape".
(Source: https://muzeum.zagan.pl)
In the above ariel photography from the time, Stalag VIII-C where Edward was held is the rectangle site to the left of the photo. The rectangle to the right of the photo is Stalag Luft III. The site of the current museum and also the great escape tunnel (Harry) are also marked on it for reference. The camp was one of about 1000 prisoner of war camps (Kriegsgefangenenlager) operated by the Nazis during World War 2.
Built in 1939, it was originally used for Polish prisoners of war during the Polish invasion, followed by French prisoners during the invasion of France only beginning to accept British prisoners during September 1943. These were largely from the Mediterranean theatre of war with British prisoners first arriving from Africa followed by Italy as the conflict progressed.
(Source: Trip advisor photo of site information board)
Having arrived, been recorded, and possibly cleaned, Edward will have been issued to a long wooden hut where inhabitants will have been subject once more to their own countries military ranking system. Built of stilts to make escape holes more obvious to their captures, the hut will have contained wooden slat bunk beds in rows (with hay filled mattress), and a burner for heat in the centre.
The site at large contained basic amenities when use by the prisoners was allowed including a bath house, cook house and sports field all surrounded by barbed wire, fencing, guard huts and guard towers. Other structures of note out of reach of the prisoners were the sick quarters, coal sheds and parcel rooms.
(Source: https://www.porta-polonica.de An extract from the current museums file)
This would likely be home to Edward for sometime and surrounded by other British troops, away from the fighting possibly offered some short term relief. Edward was now far from his original drop point in Anzio Italy. Whilst his route across Europe's remaining rail system is unknown at this time he has travelled approximately 1000 miles north to the much harsher climate of Poland. He also more interestingly found himself a mere 120 miles south east of Berlin itself, though how aware of this he would have been is unknown.
I will continue to explore Edwards experience in the camp further through the documents collection in future posts. However, i will end this post by recording with interest how the site progressed post war.
After years of neglect the site finally had a monument erected in 1961. Furthermore, in 1971 a museum was built on the site of Stalag VIII-C possibly due to renewed interest in its story following the release of the film "The Great Escape" in 1963 set in neighbouring Stalag Luft III (Photos Below).
(Source: Trip Advisor -Various posts)
Final Note:
I do like a museum
and i do love to travel.
Watch this space post Covid.
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