The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933-1945

The Wehrmacht established Stalag III E (map 4b) on February 1, 1941, in Kirchhain, in Defense District (Wehrkreis) III. On June 4, 1942, the camp was reorganized as a subcamp (Zweiglager) of Stalag III B.¹ The camp was subordinated to the Commander of Prisoners of War in Defense District III (Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis III).

Stalag III E held American, British, and Commonwealth prisoners of war (POWs), including noncommissioned officers of the Royal Air Force. It was a small camp; the population never exceeded 200 prisoners.² The Germans treated the prisoners decently and the conditions in the camp were in compliance with the main provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1929); however, at least one prisoner was shot while trying to escape from the camp.

According to YMCA representatives who visited the camp in March 1942, the camp buildings were well built and in good shape. The men had minimal opportunities for recreational and educational activities due to the small size of the camp; only a few musical instruments were available to the prisoners. Spiritual guidance and religious services were conducted by a theology student, Sergeant N. D. Hennesy, and a small choir was set up.³