German POW's

Hello,

For some years now I've been researching the battles around Lommel (Belgium) and Valkenswaard (Holland) from the 10th of septmeber 1944 untill the 18th.
During this research I found many interesting information, but I still get stuck on a few things.
One of these is the part about the German prisoners of these battles.
I know they were taken to Bourg Leopoldsburg where there was a POW cage, but who garded them and what happened next?

Are there any documents around that I overlooked during the research that would be interesting to look up?

Any one any clues?

All the best,

Ray

 

There are German PoW Liberation reports at the National Archives, interviews translated into English. The only problem is they are not really in that much of a searchable order which is a shame as the ones I've seen are excellent.

 

Thank you Drew,

The ones you saw where were they hidden?

Ray

 

Hidden?

There's a whole series of reports, about a 800 to 1,000 pages in each file at a guess covering PoWs from North Africa to the end of the war if I remember correctly. A very rough guess would say between 8,000 and 10,000 pages in total.

They are all available for public viewing at the National Archives.

 

Thank you both...... again!

Now the next step will be to find a way to get a hold of them

Ray

 

Yes, you've reminded me that was another problem with copying them. I did ask if they could be rebound and was told they restoration dept would probably refuse.

 

Drew

I've been looking at, and copying, these files for the Market Garden period. They have been moved into tagged files so that they are now a bit easier to copy but some of the individual reports are still stapled in the corner which can make it a bit difficult.
The reports are in no specific order - the dates relate to the date of the SIR report (Subject Interrogation Report) an interview which could be several months after the person was taken POW.
It seems that most of those interviewed were brought to the London Cage, where the interviews were conducted, because they had some information of specific military value to provide. If you want to look for POWs taken in a specific campaign I'm afraid that it will be a long slog of looking at all of the reports after the date of the campaign in which they were captured to see if there might be one from somebody that fits the bill

John

 

Cheers John - That's good to know, I love the sketch maps in them. I just need to find someone interested in getting the lot copied. I'm sure I could offer them a deal if anyone is interested

 

Any example of what to find in these files? Like is there an Unit and capture date listed?

 

See post 5 by DBF. She's added a couple of links to some of the pages I sent her after kindly offering to transcribe for the forum.

I don't have any of the pages I copied anymore after a hard drive malfunction