Work Camp  10620 GW or 10020/GW

There is some confusion as to the correct number of this camp. Two Red Cross reports on the camp give different numbers. One may be a typographical error.

Location: Klagenfurt (South)

Type of work: Timber mill/factory (Brodnig owners)

Man of Confidence: Dvr Stanley Swift, POW 3433

Number of Men: 20 - 30

Known to be present

W. Haynes	Donald Munns	C. Armstrong	Matthew Ellis
Peter Hook	E. Larkin	John Pearce	J.B. Smith
G. White	N.A. Spittle	Joe Britton	Ronald de Knock
Bill Everness	E.S. Bates	? Gillies	Reg Foster
J. Fulcher	P. Reavill	H. Griffiths	D.E. Dawkins
Stan Swift	F.J. Palmer	Dennis Lambert	Jim Cuthbertson
J. Grice	Jimmy Ingham	Beaton Cowan	W.J. Pitt
Frank Hill	Frank Mulroy	Bruce Maxwell	Henry Novis
Jim Reid	Unknown	Unknown

Location of 10620/GW or 10020/GW

With the help of local historian Paul Angerer and Ann Plumb, daughter of Paul Lavalee, it has been possible to identify the location of the POW camp and Brodnig's timber yard. The two locations are close to each other, close to the main railway line in south Klagenfurt.

	Google Earth view of south Klagenfurt, showing Sonnwendgasse, the street where Brodnig's timber mill was located, and Seegasse, the street where the POW camp was located.
	House on Sonnwendgasse on the site of the timber yard. Sign reads 'Brodnig Sohn'.
	The house behind the POWs in the old photo is No. 40 Seegasse, which still stands.
	USAAF aerial photograph of the camp, December 1944.

Date of visit: 24 May 1943 (In this report, the camp is designated 10620/GW)

Man of Confidence: L/Cpl D. T. Lambert, POW No. 2743

21 men.

These men do all kinds of timber work, make barracks, etc. The Man of Confidence has no complaint about conditions in his camp but rather regarding the treatment they receive on the part of their employer who pays, it would appear, little attention to whatever the military authorities order but rather wants his own way. For instance, he will not stick to any agreement regarding contract work and is loath to let the prisoners have the time off due to them. When discussing these points with the Camp Commander and the Accompanying Officer, they both instructed the Lagerfuhrer to keep an eye on the working conditions in this camp and to ensure that military orders are strictly obeyed.

Date of visit: 16 August 1943 (In this report, the camp is designated 10020/GW)

Man of Confidence: Dvr Stanley Swift, POW No. 3433

19 men.

The prisoners of this Detachment, who are engaged in industrial work, work principally on a contract basis. When the work set out in the contract is finished, the prisoners are made to undertake other work, if any time remains available to them. The officer in charge, who is benevolently disposed to the prisoners, makes it his business to see that the contracts are faithfully observed.

Date of visit: 19 November 1943

Man of Confidence: Pte S. Swift

30 men

These men are engaged with a saw-mill and the Man of Confidence made strong complaints regarding treatments. The Delegate visited the works and decided to request the immediate dissolution of the Kommando. The request has been met by the Stalag Commander, Oberstlt. von Reckow. The prisoners will now go back to Stalag pending the removal to another Kommando.

(Despite the above entry, there is another reference to 10620/GW being visited by the Red Cross on 26 June 1944. Stan Swift is still MOC and the strength was 26 men.)