Work Camp  945 GW

Location: Selztal

Type of work: Railway

Man of Confidence: Alfred Oborne, 1811

Number of Men: 45

Known to be present

Date of visit: 16 February 1943

General Description

The British prisoners of war live in a wooden barrack of the average type near the railway station of Selztal in the Enns valley, where they work for the Reichsbahn.

Interior arrangement

The men sleep in 2 rooms, 25 to 26 in each. The beds are two-storied.

Bathing and washing facilities

Showers can be had once in a week in the station building. The washing is adequate. In summer the men go swimming in the Enns.

Toilet facilities

Adequate.

Food and Cooking

The food is done in the canteen of the Reichsbahn from where the men have to fetch. A proper control of the rations is not possible. But the food seems to be adequate. Private food can be cooked in the barrack.

Medical attention and sickness

Medical attention is given by a British medical orderly. In case of need a very good civil doctor is available within a very short reach. There are 3 patients lying in bed at the time of our visit, suffering from colds. Dental treatment is very satisfactory here. It is given by a civil dentist. The men receive every kind of treatment they require, including dentures.

Clothing

The same regulations as for the other work camps of Stalag XVIIIA are on the way of execution here.

Laundry

The laundry is done by the men themselves.

Money and Pay

Adequate.

Canteen

No canteen. For any articles the Stalag has to be applied to.

Religious activity

None.

Recreation and exercise

The men can play football.

Mail

Mail is very irregular.

Welfare work

In order.

Complaints

a) The men complain that the British Red Cross underwear is stocked and given out by the German guard company. This will be changed as the responsible man for these stocks is the British Man of Confidence in Stalag XVIIIA, who is in contact with the different Men of Confidence in the work camps who are also responsible.
b) The men wish that the YMCA shouls be informed that the following musical instruments would be welcome in this camp: accordeon, trumpet, saxophone, drum. Also some gramophone records and a new gramophone.
Games: Cricket bats and balls should be asked from the YMCA.

General impression

This is a good camp. Its spirit is exceptionally high.