Thread: British POW Experiences In Italian and German Camps

Originally Posted by Kyt

An interesting article from the The Second World War Experience Centre Journal:

The Second World War Experience Centre - Not the Image but Reality: British POW Experiences In Italian and German Camps by Peter Liddle&Ian Whitehead

Kyt,
after Tobruk had fallen on the 21st June it took just a week before Mersa Matruh went the same way. The cage at Matruh was as stated rather small but well constructed. The same conditions at Tobruk where the cage was on the Bardia Road just past the N.A.A.F.I. The Germans initially held control at Mersa Matruh but as agreed handed over to the Italians.
Officers were usually flown to Italy as soon as practical,but some O.Rs were in "transit" for almost 6 months. Many makeshift holding camps were constructed in anywhere convenient;Wadis, Graveyards and Dockside warehouses which were the main source of incarceration at Benghazi until early June. Wire was strung around the Oasis at Koefia and up to 8,000 P.O.W. were held there until transport was available to take them to Italy. Our Anzac Comrades still refer to this camp as "The Palms".
About three weeks later a further larger camp had been constructed to the South of Benghazi at Sidi Husein. This was constantly enlarged,and at one time held 24,000 men. Conditions were insanitary and many suffered from Dysentery. August there was an outbreak of Diptheria. It was considered by a South African M.O. that over 60 Prisoners died through lack of medication.
Although huge dumps of food and Medical supplies had been captured the prisoners saw very little of it. Many were like Cpl Bill Mackie of K.O.R.R. and lost up to 30% of their body weight whilst prisoner. There were cases of prisoners being chained to the wire in crucifix fashion, others were chained left hand to right leg and right hand to left leg. The only shelter at these camps was made by buttoning two Italian Groundsheets together to make a two man tent.
Later with the Royal Navy successes most re-supply was made through Tripoli,so most of the prisoners were eventually transported by Lorry and trailer to camps in the Tripoli area. Souani ben Adem,Tarhuna,Trig Tarhuna,Campo Benito and Nahum. Conditions in these camps were little different,the prisoners were still existing with poor sanitation and shelter and on starvation diets.
The Members of the Indian Forces were made to work on the Docks unloading Ammunition and othe War Materials. This was doubly dangerous at night as attacks were made on the Docks by the R.A.F.

Transportation to Italy was also perilous with 7 ships carrying prisoners to Italy were torpedoed by R.N. Submarines. Five were sunk,one was beached off Greece and the other towed to Navarino.

Then there were the Italian Camps!!

Hi my Dad was in the same camp, he is still alive but I'm afraid he doesnt remember names very well as he will be 90 next week.. I will write back if he remembers your Dad.
Regards Angela.