Accounts -274th - Paul Durbin
The following account by Paul Durbin (Hqs/3d Bn./274)
is taken from the Spring 2000 issue of the "Trailblazer", pp. 12-13.
Stalag XIIA
One of the Division's most unusual assignments was to take over
and run Stalag 12A - one of Germany's largest prisoner of war camps
located in Limburg, German. The camp had been liberated by the rapid
advance of allied armor in March and April 1945. There were more
than 15,000 allied prisoners in the camp when it was liberated.
The American, British and French took off to join their own
commands, but the remaining population, including the German guards,
were kept in the camp and awaited my arrival with one of the Rifle
companies of the third Battalion, 274th Infantry. There were at
least 5,0000 Russian soldiers, a large number of Polish, two
separate groups of Yugoslavs (the King Peter followers and those of
Tito), and a number of "other" troops, including two British
colonials from Cyprus.
The German guards were utilized to perform work details such as
handling the mess for the American personnel. The Allied prisoners
were entitled to American rations and we drew the ten-in-one rations
to feed our approximately 7,500 Allied prisoners.
Stalag 12A had apparently been the camp where newly captured
prisoners were processed. Apparently United States personnel
captured at the Bulge had been taken there as there were more than
15,000 American helmets strewn around the camp. We had those helmets
brought together in a gigantic pyramid at the entrance to the camp.
Photos of what was probably the largest collection of GI helmets in
history were widely published.
Each day at the camp was an adventure and brought its problems.
Although there were Russians of senior rank in the camp, I was
intrigued by the fact that a dynamic young Captain seemed to be In
command of the Russian prisoners. I had a "Council" of
representatives from each national contingent and the Russian
Captain was definitely representing the Russians. At one of our
daily "council" meetings he posed the question, "Are we still
prisoners?" I, of course, advised that they were no longer prisoners
of war but "Allied prisoners" awaiting repatriation. He pointed to
the American guards posted in the guard posts on the fence
surrounding the camp and suggested the Russians would feel better if
Russian guards were posted along with the Americans. He added, "We
don't have to give them any ammunition." After that, a Russian was
posted at each guard post with the Trailblazer soldier.
The Russians found the ten-in-one ration excellent. Although I
doubt that anyone ever intended or even dreamed that most of the
contents would be merged in one enormous pot and the resulting
rations served as a form of "Ten-in-One Stew." The Russians missed
their normal dark bread. The Captain knew of a nearby German bakery
and we soon made arrangements for a daily ration of black bread.
Interestingly enough, several years later some enterprising American
military government official forwarded to me in the United States a
bill for a gigantic quantity of black bread I had allegedly signed
for to be delivered to the camp.
Amazingly, most of the prisoners had managed to keep a
presentable uniform through their years of captivity. In late April
I became aware of the Russian Captain conducting inspections of his
Russian soldiers and marching them around the camp. He advised that
May I was a noted Russian holiday and that the Russians would like
to hold a parade in nearby Limburg on that occasion. Being a little
naive, I saw nothing to be upset about that our Russian allies would
like to parade in the captured German city on their holiday and even
suggested that I would try to get our regimental band for the
occasion. After my request to the Regiment for a band for the
Russians to parade on May 1 in Limburg was made, there was a steady
stream of high-ranking officers to our Stalag 12A. The Russians did
not parade on May Day.
As stated, every day was a new adventure. Our American mess
sergeant disappeared with one of our German cooks one day.
Apparently there were no potatoes and the German cook did not
understand how a meal could be put out without potatoes and
volunteered to take the mess Sergeant to his home in a nearby town
and obtain German potatoes. The two apparently celebrated in a big
way and on the return trip they wrecked the American truck and the
German cook was killed. Of all the German soldiers killed in World
War II, explaining that death was one of the more difficult.
At our daily Council meeting I found that I had appointed one of
the Yugoslavia "King Peter" men as the Yugoslav representative. I
was informed that this was a big mistake as the other Yugoslavs did
not want to be represented even in this minor way by a "King Peter"
man and I was advised he would just disappear if left as the
Yugoslav representative. I saved face by advising that I had a
special job for the man I had mistakenly appointed and had the Tito
people elect their proper representative. My previous appointee
showed up at about 4 a.m. the next morning for his "duty
assignment." I put him in charge of the German guards and was
astonished to find him later that day busily engaging in conducting
close order drill for the German prisoners.
Preparing the daily meals for our thousands of allied prisoners
using the ten-in-one rations was a job. We had to use the tiny GI
can openers and you can imagine the number of fingers we wore out
each day opening the thousands of tin cans.
It has been over 50 years ago, but I still have vivid memories of
our daily experiences caring for and looking after those thousands
of Allied prisoners of war. We were known as Allied Prisoner Camp
No. 2. 1 always wondered where Allied Prisoners of War Camp No. I
was located.
After the end of hostilities, arrangements were made for the
return of the allied prisoners to their own countries. We returned
to our duties, all richer in experiences for having these
interesting days with our allied prisoners of war friends.
Each day brought new experiences and adventures. Even 50 years
later I remember many of the details. I often wondered what happened
to the "Captain" who assumed command of the Russian contingent at
the camp. I can't believe he returned to some subordinate role in
his homeland. The way he "took charge" and the concern he had for
the welfare of his men, I have to believe he probably became a
prominent figure when he returned to his native Russia.
Other 70th Division personnel were involved in the eventual
repatriation of the Allied prisoners of war to their homelands and
may add to this account.
Related
General Orders - 274th Honor Roll
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