Lamsdorf Pow Camp, Silesia

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have searched the subject on the forum, but little mention is made of Lamsdorf.

My aim is primarily to gain information about my Grandfather, RSM Sherriff -- the Lamsdorf Camp Leader. He was there from shortly after Dunkirk through to war end.

My knowledge of his role, events etc is limited. He gained an MBE for his work there, and we have a photoalbum made for him by the Polish POWs -- but thats about it!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hope that I can also assist others, as my knowledge grows.

Thanks.

 

The camp name rings a bell. I'll have to look in my New Zealand Official Histories, which have good maps and listings of the POW camps. I'll get back to you.

 

Thanks. That is very much appreciated.

 

Try to ask for help the museum office, perhaps they can do some search in archives
http://www.uni.opole.pl/cmjw/eindex.html

regards

 

Many thanks for that info & link. I have just e-mailed them! Hope they have something.

Much appreciated.

 

I think the camp designation may be Stalag 344 from 1943 and Stalag VIIIB before then.

 

Thanks Angie, That will really help my searching.

 

If you visit:

http://www.norfolkbc.fsnet.co.uk/archive_c...ed_allen_turner

you may be put in touch with seven surviving former prisoners at Stalag Lamsdorf.

Belville

 

Got it. Lamsdorf was Stalag VIIIB, and had its name changed to Stalag 344. It was for other ranks. By 1944, it was extremely overcrowded and lacked decent sanitation, jammed with 19,000 POWs, 10,000 of the British, enerally shot-down airmen. It was evacuated on 22 January 1945 with two hours notice, with 1,000 men marched across the snow to Stalag VIIIA at Gorlitz, getting their 14 days later...only 600 in number. The rest were stuck behind with illness and exhaustion in the cold. There are a LOT of details in the New Zealand Official History volume "Prisoners of War," which is now on the web. Also get "The Last Escape," about the last year of POWs in Germany. That should help.

 

My very many thanks to both Belville & Kiwi Writer for the information. Really valuable. I am currently following-up on both.
Many thanks again & apologies for the delay in responding.

 

My Dad got to Lamsdorf in September 1943, via POW camps in Libya (Benghazi) and Italy (Capua and Chiavari), after capture at Gazala in June 1942. The Italians capitulated in 1943 and the remaining Allied POWs were rounded up in the Juventus football stadium and moved by cattle truck across the Alps to Germany. The camp was very crowded with the new influx and Dad was put in the Annexe with some French Canadiens who had been captured at Dieppe. They had managed to slit the throat of a guard and, in reprisal, all POWs were put in chains for some weeks. It was a grim place and my Dad was glad to get out on a Working Party which took him to Silesia and Stalag VIIIB...but that's another story.

Douglas Bader, the RAF ace, was in the bag at Lamsdorf.

 

Hi Macgormain. Good to hear from you. Lamsdorf sounds a hell of a place. The more I learn, the worse it sounds.

Have you looked at Lamsdorf Reunited web site yet? http://www.lamsdorfreunited.co.uk/newbook.htm

There is a new book "Digging Around" out by the end of the year -- with particular reference to the work camps.

I will gladly share my web links I have found on the subjects with you, if you like. Please e-mail me directly for these. Sadly, the knowledge & history is reducing rapidly, with the survivors.

All the best.

 

There is a wealth of information concerning LKamsdorf which is held by the National Ex-Prisoner of War Association (NEXPOWA). There website is:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/prisonerofwar/faq.htm

Last time I looked they had a collection of photos, submited by members, from Stalag VIIIB/344.

 

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have searched the subject on the forum, but little mention is made of Lamsdorf.

My aim is primarily to gain information about my Grandfather, RSM Sherriff -- the Lamsdorf Camp Leader. He was there from shortly after Dunkirk through to war end.

My knowledge of his role, events etc is limited. He gained an MBE for his work there, and we have a photoalbum made for him by the Polish POWs -- but thats about it!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hope that I can also assist others, as my knowledge grows.

Thanks.


Have you visited Lamsdorf: Stalag VIIIB 344 Prisoner of War Camp 1940 - 1945 - Home ?

 

Hi Philip and welcome.
FYI Lamsdorf last logged in on the forum on 06-07-2005 09:37 AM
So you might not get a reply
Is this your website?

For anyone interested there is another good site regarding this large POW Camp with many photographs and personal accounts.

The Wartime Memories Project - STALAG 8b POW Camp (344)

Regards
Tom

 

I am looking for information on Stalag V111B camp hospital during the period September 1942 and October 1943. My father , Michael Ewanyshyn , was a wounded prisoner at this time. He was wounded and captured during the Dieppe, France raid on August 1942 on the nearby beach at Puys. He was an army private with The Royal Regiment of Canada.

 

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have searched the subject on the forum, but little mention is made of Lamsdorf.

My aim is primarily to gain information about my Grandfather, RSM Sherriff -- the Lamsdorf Camp Leader. He was there from shortly after Dunkirk through to war end.

My knowledge of his role, events etc is limited. He gained an MBE for his work there, and we have a photoalbum made for him by the Polish POWs -- but thats about it!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hope that I can also assist others, as my knowledge grows.

Thanks.

Hi Lamsdorf,
I'm new to the forum and just picked up this thread. I have been researching the British Freikorps - particularly the involvement of an NZ POW. During my research I met and talked with an ex-POW named Colin Power (now sadly deceased). He went to Genshagen "Holiday Camp" on the instruction of your grandfather, Sid Sherriff, to recuperate following a beating by guards with the instruction while there to gather information on those POW's who had volunteered to join this organisation.
While at Genshagen, Colin kept a coded diary on the activities and people he saw and was later taken to the UK to be ready to give evidence in their trials but in the event was not called on.
What I want to share with you is Colin's description of your grandfather who he described to me as "the essence of man".
Colin's diaries are now held at the NZ Army Museum in Waiouru.
Pete

 

Hi Kiwi,

Very many thanks for this info. Those are seriously kind words Colin said about the RSM. Perhaps one day I may have the opportunity of reading his diaries in full.

From what I am reading, the camp was a hell of a place. There must be hundreds of other stories out there waiting to be revealed.

Cheers, Andy.

 

My aim is primarily to gain information about my Grandfather, RSM Sherriff

He gained an MBE for his work there, and we have a photoalbum made for him by the Polish POWs -- but thats about it!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Let me know if you want to see the original citation and I'll post it for you:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details