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

The Wehrmacht established Stalag XXI A (map 4c) on January 6, 1940, in Schildberg (today Ostrzeszów, Poland), in Defense District (Wehrkreis) XXI.¹ It was under the Commander of Prisoners of War in Defense District XXI (Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis XXI).

The camp was located on the site of a former prison and forced labor camp for Polish civilians, or possibly a temporary prisoner of war (POW) compound (see Dulag Schildberg), which had been established in September 1939, shortly after the invasion of Poland. At first, Stalag XXI A only held Polish prisoners. In late May 1940, the first transport of French prisoners arrived (including some French colonial soldiers). The first transport of British prisoners, most of whom had been captured at Dunkirk, arrived in early August of that year. In December 1940, the majority of the Polish prisoners were transferred to other camps.²

In December 1940, there were about 2,500 prisoners in the camp. The 1,200 French prisoners resided in what was known as “Camp Seminar,” a former school building. The 670 Poles still in the camp at that time lived in “Camp Gymnasium,” also previously a school building. The 630 British prisoners lived in an old factory, known as “Camp Fabrik.” The Germans planned to switch the locations of the French and British prisoners when the number of British prisoners exceeded [End Page 498] that of the French. Two hundred of the British prisoners were divided into two equal work details deployed at sites that were 50 and 70 kilometers (31 and 43.5 miles) from the camp, respectively. Eight hundred French prisoners were also assigned to work details.³

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Stalag XXI A at Schildberg. ICRC delegate Dr. Roulet visits the camp, December 1940.

COURTESY OF ICRC.

Camp Hospital (Reserve lazarett) 5 was located next to “Camp Seminar,” while Camp Hospital 2, which was attended by British physicians, was located near “Camp Fabrik.” The British prisoners lived in a large room on the ground floor of the factory. There was also a loft with bunks, but it was unoccupied because the main sleeping quarters in the factory were adequate for the number of prisoners at that time. The British prisoners’ clothing had begun to deteriorate, but the Australian Red Cross Legation noted that they were planning to order more. The British also had a small library containing 45 books, and they had received a radio and soccer balls. Health was generally good, but some cases of diphtheria had emerged among the British prisoners.⁴

From 1941 until the closure of the camp, almost all of the prisoners were British. Conditions were generally satisfactory and in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1929). However, illnesses were present in the camp, with the most common being dysentery; cases of typhus were also reported. The prisoners had some access to recreational and cultural activities in the camp. Religious services were held in the camp every Sunday, and the camp library had been expanded and held 5,586 books as of February 1943. Twenty-seven educational courses were taught in the camp, covering diverse subjects including English, German, French, biology, music, art, mathematics, first aid, and technical courses; a total of 537 prisoners participated. The most popular course was French, with 75 participants in two classes. A camp theater group performed plays regularly, including George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion around Christmas 1942.⁵ The order to disband the camp was dated March 15, 1943.