| Except from Barbed Boredom, a souvenir book of Stalag Luft IV
by Charles G. Janis THE BLACK MARCH
On February 5, 1945, the German camp officials were forced to evacuate
Stalag Luft IV before the rapidly advancing Russian Army could reach the
camp. This decision transformed the routine of camp into a bedlam of
confusion.
Previous to the official declaration, rumors run rampant among the
prisoners. Under the uncertain conditions and with no definite word, the
men surrendered their rationality to wild conjecture. Some predicted a
mass desertion by the Germans, abandoning the Kriegies to fend for
themselves until they could be liberated by the Russians; or forced to
fight their would-be liberators or possibly being backed to the wall and
mowed down like just so much grass. At any rate, the Kriegies were left to
draw their own conclusions us the frenzied guards and leaders scurried
mysteriously about the camp. The suspense was finally relieved when, on
the night of February 3rd, word was passed that the order for evacuation
of camp had been received. The time designated was eight o'clock on the
morning of the fifth. This news started an orgy of preparation for both
the prisoners and guards.
Each prisoner hastily prepared for the trip. Some expected a march of a
month or two at most, while others predicted a short jaunt of ten days.
The camp was a beehive of activity as the prisoners raced about scraping
together provisions for the march. Every scrap of food and clothing was
packed. The Germans frantically organized schedules for the marching
formations of all those physically able to move. The warehouse was opened
and Red Cross food parcels were distributed to the Kriegies just before
the March began. Only the hospital cases, along with a few padres were
being left behind. They were left with no provisions and only the most
meager rations.
February 5th dawned cold, wet and gray. The 'big day' had come, that
mythical day all had dreamed about and planned for had finally arrived and
it was a solemn one.
Prisoners were torn between elation at leaving the discomforts of camp and
the uncertainty of prospects of hardships yet to be endured on the march.
It was a motley crew indeed that started out that day. Many of the
Kriegies were wearing two or three complete outfits of pants, shirts and
sweaters, and carrying several extra food parcels, which had been begged,
borrowed or stolen from the Bed Cross warehouse.
At the onset of the march, the prisoners rejoiced in the mere freedom of
motion after long months and, in some cases, years in the apathetic
atmosphere of temp where no one indulged in exercise more strenuous than
that required in attending to his daily needs. However, after a short
time, muscles unused for long periods, collapsed under the strain of hours
o£ marching in the cold, wet weather of the German winter. Bones and
joints ached mercilessly and all were seized with fierce attacks of cramps
when a halt was called and tired, pain-wracked bodies were finally allowed
to rest. The men’s distress was increased by the numbness and swelling of
frostbite. And, due to the lack o£ sanitation facilities, the ever-present
lice which infested every man, introduced typhus. Dysentery marched along
with them to add more misery to the already unbearably miserable men. Some
unfortunates were plagued with all simultaneously - men who straggled to
keep up the pace with bodies weakened by the fevers of typhus, the bodily
disorders of dysentery, the pains end cramps of frostbite and, exposure
and complete fatigue. It was a fight uphill in a stiff wind all the way. |
B26.COM
