Pushed to the back of our documents collection and overlooked by me till now lay a selection of magazines. Entitled "The Prisoner Of War" I had presumed these were items worth recording but of limited value to the story at large. How wrong I was.
For the record the collection consists of 12 editions from Volume 3 No26 to Volume 4 No38 as listed below:
Volume 3, No 26 - June 1944
Volume 3, No 27 - July 1944
Volume 3, No 28 - August 1944
Volume 3, No 29 - September 1944
Volume 3, No 31- November 1944
Volume 3, No 32 - December 1944
Volume 3, No 33 - January 1945
Volume 3, No 34 - February 1945
Volume 3, No 35 - March 1945
Volume 3, No 36 - April 1945
Volume 4, No 37 - May 1945
Volume 4, No 38 - June 1945
The magazine (or Journal) was published and distributed by the International Red Cross during the conflict. Published monthly the magazines were sent out to the families (next of kin) of prisoners of war who had been registered as such by the Red Cross as Edward had been (See blog post 10/02/21). The first issue was released in May 1942 (Volume 1, No 1) and it continued throughout the war, with its final magazine being sent out to families, one issue after our last available during July 1945.
Whilst each issue differed in its make up and layout they roughly contained the same key sections. Each begins with a cover story in which the editor writes a piece introducing the reader to the particular edition focusing on a key event of the time. One interesting story of note features a report on "The Prisoners of War Exhibition" being held in the grounds of Clarence House, St James Palace.
Editions then feature that months reports from the Red Cross visits to prisoner of war camps across Europe. Interestingly these include not just details of the camps themselves but also of any work camps attributed to those camps.
A section named "The Brighter Side" tends to then provide fun, positively themed stories and anecdotes from prisoners in the camps usually accompanied by what appear to be heavily staged photographs related to the piece.
In addition to these key sections, a number of smaller features are consistently presented to the reader such as exam results of those studying whilst imprisoned, letters from the prisoners themselves and readers questions answered by the Red Cross. Finally towards the end there are suggested items of clothing to be knitted for the troops with instructions. This appears to have been popular with my family as someone has marked a selection of these in pencil with the note, "To Do" accompanied by a number.
Maybe these were actually knitted and sent. The letter dated 5th January 1945 (See blog 02/02/21) certainly suggested one pair of gloves had been sent to Edward though the likelihood he will have received them is low.
It is clear the editions in our possession correlate with Edwards time in the prisoner of war camp, and represent a key period of the conflict in which the war reaches both its height and its conclusion. The editions are representative of this also becoming both more limited in content as camps become liberated and adding new features such as camp transfers and liberation stories.
Having read each of the twelve editions, one thing which is striking is the tone of the writing. Its stories and photos are very positive in their content with subject matters very rarely touching on the hardships faced by the prisoners. They appear to serve more as a form of propaganda rather than an accurate record and heavily contradict the many post war accounts I have read. This is not surprising given the governments premise to ensure the morale of the British population remained high. Furthermore I myself would not see any value in making an already difficult time for the prisoners parents worse with accounts of their daily challenges.
It is important as a reader to consider this is the case when exploring their content.I understand the photos for example were provided by the German, then Swiss authorities for publication and also rarely represent what is being referenced in the accompanying piece. Despite this, the magazines do provide a lot of accurate information and records not readily available elsewhere. As you examine their pages you are forced to read between the lines and give consideration to what we now know post war to fully and accurately utilise them as a source of information.
With their inaccuracies apparent they do still provide some detail of both Edwards camp, and his experience within it. Each edition contains details dependant on the Red Cross's own activities across many hundreds of sights. Therefore information on your spouses specific camp was dictated by chance alone. Yet Edwards camp did feature and I have recorded some such times below.
In the July edition of 1944 Stalag VIII C is featured in the magazines camp visit reports and offers a small insight into camp conditions. Furthermore it notes the work camps associated with Stalag VIII C further commenting on their findings.
I note with interest the reference to a dentist given the family story in my previous post. Whilst noted as French rather than German, I feel it's the confirmation that there was one at all which provides some small credibility to the story.
In Novembers edition of 1944 there is a small lighter piece related to the camp which speaks of the films they have been watching. True or not this will have no doubt brought some reassurance to the family reading it, that Edward is at least experiencing moments of pleasure.
In December 1944, The Prisoner of War magazine featured just over a page of details in relation to Stalag VIII C. Whats more; much of its details relate to the labour detachments or work camps Edward was likely sent to as a Private.
The article starts at the bottom of one page (as above) then continues to cover the next page in its entirety as below.
This article represents the most detail of Edwards camp we hold at present. Detachment number E4020 at Stroebel naturally interests me a great deal. The activities fall very much in line with those referred to in one of the stories noted in my last blog post (Family Stories). Whilst I am not yet able to confirm this was in fact the site Edward was put to work at, its very existence as a quarry certainly suggests some truth in the story presented.
These extracts provide a good summary of the camp, its actives and therefore some idea of Edwards experiences however accurate. References to the camp do continue in subsequent editions, but in the interests of chronology I will hold these back for now. I will therefore at this point only provide a small nod towards the next chapter of Edwards story.
If nothing more the previous editions of Prisoner Of War will have provided some comfort to family in knowing Edward is likely safe. However a small article in March 1945 may have raised their concern somewhat.
For at this stage of the conflict Stalag VIII C finds itself at the very centre of an incoming invasion by Soviet forces from the East.
What this meant for Edward and his comrades will be explored in future blog posts but the below article suggests he's on the move.
Note: Whilst I have no plans at this time to digitise all 12 magazines in their entirety I will upload a copy of all 12 front pages to the gallery section of this site for reference.