Ince, Stanley B (Oral history)

British private served with Royal Corps of Signals in North Africa, 1942; captured at Tobruk, Libya, 6/1942 and POW in Camp 78, Sulmona, Italy and various camps in Germany including Stalag VIII-B, Lamsdorf, 1942-1945

REEL 1: Aspects of period as POW in Camp 78, Sulmona, Italy, 1942-1943: description of camp, inmates and accommodation; reaction to news of repatriation; description of train journey to Rome; story of train being stopped by Germans at Brenner and subsequent journey to Stalag VIII-B, Lamsdorf, Germany. Aspects of period as POW in Stalag VIII-B, Lamsdorf, Germany, 1943-1945: first impressions of camp; reason for not being repatriated after Italian surrender; description of camp and inmates; recreational facilities in camp; worked as electrician in various camps including Auschwitz-Birkenau. Aspects of operations with Royal Corps of Signals in North Africa, 1942: description of retreat along coast to Tobruk in 3-ton Austin truck; arrived at Fort; number of men and variety of units; armed only with .303 rifle; opinion of padre. REEL 2 Continues: role of unit delaying German advance; description of trenches and sleeping arrangements; opinion of firing on German tanks with rifles; attitude to surrendering; story of escaping in 15-cwt truck and pursuit by German tanks; description of tank shell hitting truck and casualties; story of surrendering to German officer at Tobruk, 6/1942; reaction to Germans shooting soldier attempting to escape; transported on tank to join other POWs; description of 5 day journey to Derna in truck; problem of water tasting of petrol; bartered goods for water with Italian guards; sleeping arrangements; opinion of food; story of drinking contaminated water and contracting dysentery; problem of lack of medical care; description of journey in truck to Tripoli; physical condition; story of Italian civilians spitting and throwing stones at POWs in Tripoli; interned in temporary POW camp in desert for three weeks; description of voyage on cargo boat across Mediterranean to Naples, Italy; further description of period as POW in Camp 78, Sulmona, Italy, 1942-1943. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1943-1945: comparison of conditions at Camp 78, Sulmona and Stalag VIII-B; opinion of German guards and use of violence against POWs; daily routine including reveille, lights out and inspections; relations with German civilians; story of POWs being spat on by German girls; further description of work as electrician in various camps including Auschwitz-Birkenau. REEL 3 Continues: story of being taken by German guard to South African POW camp; description of camp and opinion of living conditions; reaction of South African POWs to arrival; description of medical treatment for feet by German doctor; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; story of working at cigar factor in Czechoslovakia; description of factory and workforce; opinion of living conditions and accommodation; reason for POWs not trying to escape; opinion of food; story of factory being closed and POWs marched eastwards; reaction of local civilians to departure of POWs; description of work as electrician at petro-chemical factory in Brux; story of watching Allied bombing of Dresden, 2/1945; story of escaping from work camp with friends Bill and Jan. REEL 4 Continues: story of being recaptured and beaten with rifle butts; hostile attitude of German guards and civilians following Allied bombing of Dresden; reason for remaining in camp following end of war, 5/1945; story of attempting to retrieve electric testing meter from factory; story of killing chicken and asking local civilian to cook it; description of fighting between Russians and SS units; story of leaving camp following destruction by artillery shells; reason for not hiding in mine; description of journey to Karlsbad with friends Bill and Jan; problem of roads blocked by civilians and troops; story of obtaining lift with German couple in three-wheel truck. REEL 5 Continues: story of picking up German girl and various encounters with Russian soldiers; attitude to German girl and relationship with friend Jan; story of driving into Karlsbad and argument with American Military Policeman over taking German girl to Displaced Persons camp; drove to airfield at Nuremberg; reaction to German girl and friend Jan disappearing; description of journey to Brussels and flight on RAF Blenheim to GB; reaction to reception on landing; physical condition and medical treatment. Story of receiving letter from friend Jan.