Work Camp  10487 GW

Location: Villach

Type of work: Corporation work

Man of Confidence: Spr W. Broughton, POW 5085 (Sept. 1942); E.V. Holman, POW 5762 (May 1943)

Number of Men: 24 (1942); 22 (1943)

Known to be present

(Photographs kindly sent by Val Shergold, daughter of Sgmn Roy Shergold, and David Payne, son of Albert Payne. If you have any further information about this camp, please contact David Payne.)

Dates of visit: 12 September 1942 & 21 May 1943

General Description

This camp is installed in a pleasant brick building owned by the Villach Town Corporation. It is situated just outside the town. There is a small but well-kept lawn in front of the house where prisoners do their sunbathing or generally spend their free time. The work consists of stone-breaking, roadwork, street-cleaning, etc. Work is 8 hours daily with the usual pay of 70 pfg. a day.

Interior arrangement

There are two sleeping rooms, one of them holding 15 and the other 7 men. Heating and lighting are satisfactory. Also enough tables and benches. Each man has 3 blankets, some even 4. They sleep in iron beds of the double tier type. A smaller room is used as a store room for the Red Cross parcels and other stuff belonging to the prisoners.

Bathing and washing facilities

1942: A washroom with 8 spigots and as many basins is quite adequate. Also a boiler for hot water. Cold showers are to be had daily but no hot showers. The accompanying officer promised to take this matter up with the City authorities so that the men shall be able to get at least one hot shower a week.
1943: Cold showers are available and the arrangements for washing in general are adequate but the Man of Confidence pointed out that the fuel question for heating water was rather serious. The control officer for this area, being present, told the Delegate of the Protecting Power that a new attribution of firewood had taken place the same day and so this point was straightened out.

Toilet facilities

Adequate.

Food and Cooking

1942: The food as a whole is sufficient and well-cooked. Each man gets Heavy Worker rations. There was some trouble at the present time concerning the quantity of food. Through a mistake made by the German Camp Commander, the men received for a month too high rations. When this came out, orders were given that this amount had to be saved in again. For a few weeks therefore, the prisoners, as well as the German soldiers will get about 20% less that they are entitled to. This is unfortunate but no representations will be made as the saving time is almost past.
1943:The prisoners have their meals at an old-age pensioners home belonging to the town of Villach. They describe the food as being well-cooked. As to the cooking of private food in the camp, it is adequate.

Medical attention and sickness

1942: The health among the prisoners is quite good. One man is in the City Hospital to be operated, as he still has some shell splinters in one of the legs. Another man is suffering from an ulcer of the stomach. As he does not want to return to Stalag he can stay here. He is not working but stays in the barrack and keeps everything in order. He receives from Stalag invalid comfort parcels.
1943:There is no recognised sanitator in this camp, one of the men acting as such. If medical attention is needed the man are looked after by the staff-surgeon of one of the military units stationed at Villach. There are adequate supplies of medicaments.

Clothing

In order. Every prisoner has two pairs of trousers, while not all of them as yet possess two tunics.

Laundry

The laundry is done by a civilian woman.

Money and Pay

In order.

Canteen

There is no canteen in the camp; the Kommandofuehrer goes out for errands. Beer is on sale.

Religious activity

1942: No religious services were held so far, but it was promised by the accompanying officer that the Catholic prisoners would be taken to a Mass in town occasionally. He also agreed to send a Padre here for the non-Catholic men.
1943: A visit by the padre from Stalag XVIII A/Z will be arranged shortly.

Recreation and exercise

1942: It was asked to send some games here such as Cards, Chess, Dartboard and, if possible, a football, as a football field is available.
1943: There is no sports-ground within the compound of the camp but there is a small field near the Gail river. The prisoners also ask for permission to go swimming. This was granted.

Mail

No complaint.

Welfare work

In order.

Complaints

1942: There was only one complaint which concerns disciplinary punishments. It seems that the foreman likes too much to show his power over the prisoners by recommending them to the Guard Captain for punishments. This matter was taken care of by the accompanying officer, but it will also be discussed with the Commander of Stalag XVIIIA.
1943:None.

General impression

Good camp.