Hitler's British Slaves by Sean Longden

the rigours of countryside life most experienced an existence that showed them a world they had never previously experienced. Their lives were governed by the seasons not the petty dictates of politicians or army officers. Their boss was the rain and the sunlight – nature itself was both their friend and their enemy, their teacher and their taskmaster. They learned how the cycle of the natural world was unforgiving yet how life on farms offered prisoners a peace far removed from the drudgery experienced by their comrades forced into industry. It was an experience that changed them, both mentally and physically – a change that would help sustain many in the harsh days ahead as the Reich collapsed around them. As Ken Willats recalled: ‘We did all the manual labour. I learnt an awful lot. It was all new. I’d never been on a farm in my life. It was hard work but I grew fit and strong and was able to cope with it.’ 19

Sources
    UNPUBLISHED SOURCES
Gordon Barber – Royal Horse Artillery. Interview
George Marsden – Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. Letter to author.
Alex Reynolds – Royal Artillery. Interview
Jim Sims – Parachute Regiment. Letter to author
Eric ‘Bill’ Sykes – Parachute Regiment. Letter to author
Ken Wilats – 2/5th Queens Regiment. Interview
Bryan Willoughby – Parachute Regiment. Interview
    Public Record Office
WO219/5044
SHAEF Court of Enquiry on treatment of American and British Prisoners of War
WO32/11125
Rehabilitation of Returned POWs
WO32/11129
Rehabilitation of Ex Prisoners of War Returning to Civil Life
WO32/15543
SHAEF Board of Enquiry on the Treatment of American and British P.O.Ws
WO32/18489   
Reports on treatment of POWs
FO916/14
Welfare of POWs in Germany 1941
FO916/15
Welfare of POWs in Germany 1941
FO916/15
Welfare of POWs in Germany 1941
FO916/16
Welfare of POWs in Germany 1941
FO916/34
Conditions of Labour in POW camps 1941
FO916/57
Ill treatment of POWs in Germany 1941
FO916/241
Red Cross reports on Stalag XXB 1942
FO916/250
Letters from International Red Cross Committee enclosing camp reports.
FO916/252
Conditions of Labour in POW camps 1942
FO916/266
Ill treatment of prisoners of war in Germany 1942
FO916/167
Welfare of RAMC prisoners of war in Germany 1942
FO916/519
Conditions of Labour in POW camps 1943
FO916/520
Conditions of Labour in POW camps 1943
FO916/544
Ill treatment of POWs in Germany 1943
FO916/613
Activities of IRCC 1943
FO916/844
Conditions of Labour in POW camps 1944
FO916/871
Ill treatment of prisoners of war in Germany 1944
FO916/889
Bombing of POW camps in Germany 1944
FO916/898
Treatment Of 1st Airborne Division taken POW at Arnhem
FO916/950
Welfare of Indian Prisoners of War in France 1944
FO916/1166
Ill treatment of prisoners in German hands 1945
FO916/1184
Bombing of Prisoner of War camps 1945
FO916/1202
Treatment of British Prisoners of War and Internees by the Russians in Austria and Czechoslovakia 1945
WO224/9
Red Cross reports on Stalag IIID Sept 1941 to Dec 1944
WO224/11
Red Cross reports on Stalag IVa April 1941 to Feb 1945
WO224/13
Red Cross reports on Stalag IVC May 1941 to March 1945
WO224/16
Red Cross reports on Stalag IVG Jan 1944 to April 1945
WO224/26
Red Cross reports on Stalag VIIIA Oct 1943 to Nov 1944
WO224/27
Red Cross reports on Stalag VIIIB
WO224/31
Red Cross reports on Stalag IXC April 1941 to April 1942
WO224/33
Red Cross reports on Stalag XB August 1942 to May 1945
WO224/34
Red Cross reports on Stalag XIa Jan 1944 to April 1945
WO224/35
Red Cross reports on Stalag XIb Jan 1944 to Feb 1945
WO22437
Red Cross reports on Stalag XIId July 1944 to Feb 1945
WO224/47
Red Cross reports on Stalag XVIIIC November 1943 to Feb 1945
WO224/48
Red Cross reports on Stalag XXA 1941 to 1945
WO224/51
Red Cross reports on Stalag XXID 1941 to 1944
WO224/102
Red Cross report on Bau und Arbeitsbattallion No 20 Dec 1941 to Sept 44
WO224/103
Red Cross report on Bau und Arbeitsbattallion No 21 Oct 1941 to Sept 44
WO224/104
Red Cross report on Bau und