My Dad told me that when he was a POW in Stalag 8C he used to feign illness to get into the sick bay, where he managed to get some bread from a kind orderly, and sneak it back to his hut. I remember him telling me he was on work parties loading sugar for the German troops on the Eastern front, and of course they used to sabotage as much as they could by relieving themselves in it! (and worse)!! When the Russians were advancing, he managed, with a few others, to escape from a work party, they were eventually rounded up by the advancing Russians, who lined them up to shoot them as they thought they were Germans. He told me that a French, or French speaking woman managed to persuade the Russians that they were British soldiers, and she kissed my Dad and hung a cross around his neck, which saved their lives. (Bless her)! I still have that cross. Now here I become confused. I have read reports about the forced march from POW camps across Germany. But my Dad told me he was forced to march by the Russians, and that eventually he ended up in Odessa, where he was eventually shipped back to the UK! Can anyone shed any light on this story? I would be most grateful for any info / confirmation that troops were repatriated by the Russians from Odessa Many thanks for the advice already received! Brian
Hi Brian It is true that many Allied prisoners were 'liberated' by the Russians as they advanced westwards, and that they were eventually repatriated via the port of Odessa. This process took place mainly between late Feb 1945 until July Aug 1945. I have been trying to obtain a definitive list (which I know exists) of the POW's that went through Odessa, but have not found it yet, and there are many files in TNA to check out. Both the British and International Red Cross have said they do not hold records. The MOD have said records are held at TNA, and the FCO have reiterated that point in an FOI request. I do not know if this list will ever be found, but I hope Psy.war.org is skimming through some files for me. The control of POW's and their repatriation was basically controlled by 30 Mission Moscow, and involved obtaining visa for them to exit Russia. Most of the troops were brought back on boats (UK, Norwegian, American) that had transported Russians liberated by the Allies - all as the Yalta Agreement, unfortunately many of the Russians did not want to return. If you need some links on stories then PM me, also if you search the site for Odessa then there are some threads on it. TD
Hi Brian, and others interested Just for information at the moment, and for the scale of the problem, I have noted all the ships arriving and departing Odessa port from 20 Feb 1945 until 30 Aug 1945, and one of these ships 'Bergensfjord' a Norwegian vessel, departed Odessa for Marseilles on 2 Apr (2388 ex POW's), 18 Apr (2362 ex POW's), 3 May (2264 ex POW's) - so a total of 7014, just in 3 trips. These may have been Allied, French, Belgian, Dutch etc ex POW's but it does start to provide a handle on the number of them. TD
Another update - after reading part of another file from TNA. Message dated 30 May 1945: Precis : 15,597 US POW's and 8,462 British POW's are in Russian hands and they intend to evacuate via Odessa So the numbers even after evacuations had taken place since Feb 1945 and as late May 1945 are large. TD
I'm trying to find the name of the ship that carried a Dutch Auschwitz survivor that traveled with the Red Army To Odessa and the departed there on 5/21/1945 to arrive in Marseilles on 5/27/1945. Any ideas where to find that information?
For this very special occasion and specifically for you Ezus Allied Warships of WWII - Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Arawa - uboat.net Arawa from my records departed Odessa on 21 May 1945 and arrived at Marseilles on 24 May 1945 Good luck with your continuing searches And no this is not my return just providing a helping hand to a new member who needs it TD
I appreciate your gracious response. I had thought maybe the Monowai who had the same dates and carried repatriated victims. I have not been able to find any sources with other possibilities or manifests. From his telling and the docs he saved, the ship left Odessa and went through the Bosporus Straight – around Greece and Italy to Marseille in France. Thank you so much for your information.
