Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 20

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2024.6.7
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

ERWIN POPPER 121 PROCOOS
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30 2
MittKI 8.2. SepEURt MHESEASEII 39 8.2. SepruI
And so sars 1943 a little snow on the grund and quire cold. Day Jan 1s was mwentful except for a cople of gaines of poball and the ining to the camp of Chistias eards to be sent home in time for Chistmas 1842 the camp was butly enoug to receive new baple drers troneers Iisas one g0t a tais of sige Hs big knough in the ward and tail (dengnal for 61) but a frighe long in the Banks Gl anen sratened fhrum fome, teygin the fort pix, dre had mice geting he orignels at M 3 in papd 4 Oonnpl. Conteralh mat mon to daw had a same Wlenthe lad in olenon and mngoged it. hrotably ho. dshades at hom Ith Coags & dating t aufing, and chige il after a prin mestiat of tille a pm. ashere Pried letted form to hnd hoe with conprhene list of what one people may not send caused a Col I meniment in camp espercially the last ihnd of the time & pesiators. We compiler must have a sened of humonr himsely.? A Genlin papies of he enth o the gears allisned a plan of hu would with fed do to indicating the location of car Allina ship sun ball by he mid for suppes in some pais, as a road could be built and the filed np hulks expinatly from nother Souk Amunca To Consiand, and acron, the Colantie. The sastim coesd f hiy socd. has bued prded peroands many nnlesd in the same se, 50. Iohn in pis gen th to that that he hist mme hiledan the mise . 32 change he will sow to my exes when I shall ree him again? Sto hound blews thmghon the mght with him dins kow and hee was guild on layer of I this mong. e woke to discover that he cam was withon Baler, as he pours had fauled to hid puds Iunsih supliled n. I did no expest to he larling walerin a Gennan wrnter The lops made sift ts ply hns meeds by Cas aet d ill canling contitable flutin mabing snow Inpuncy was pud nght a albout mid day lecully d Fir dy of Cplboun Hlay mbles. Anmet angint. W affern ha Eitlosha here doon allwene to Stelas tospenins io camps which peans. a generall cutting down I camp. slaf. R.S. J. Howland Vindnrd Komnanham I mentioned his application for trandges 1o . 30 carp and when he Obolentmant pronk Htalas about it the later weoe much puprend to leam hat hee wen ann w. here at all - ty ane gove from all oher camps. Appear litely hat R.S. J. Howland & S. Y/. Wosstine a Valin will lease us pson. Ill be songy tlose the former, this as pen sound chap, Ipunt most of monin hulfing ghowdl monw from wnsterball cout, a had a god gave in aftemorth.
Hoping to go to stalag on Seduesday Iarranged be detal mt to 404 for to daw and Se fore put off for the sation at O15 hn, folly cold (only guo) and still moning ad mentually marched from Debundon, station to the ramp in a brisk fall Pengone ther quite will and happs except bre C. wis had roughing speial in head. Alds. old me that for priviones for night be hading thilld a cont. card a brudge, ro had mdde a New Wear recolution to play no mdre and was inaged in making his potines at Golo bry making prcus foul lids of Sasanre. Auman mggess I chould a for ofrinal Satin as perior Camp 17.3. To hanle mdedil pufplis nonfr Kcd &, and also mah medical Conspondence as concius in. Gord schune should it be afferoved. Applied for purmision to rinst Stelag n a.a on had retum, and leamed that Stabsan Wacke had acready gwven nistmt ols for me to wint him or Fiday Sept in played barkesball, and pran ik- parade, dune & which Genran Eainitater Sand Duburop zn amanged a perade of alout 20 men for Eicking ff, at Stalag's instiructions Wappeans mat the list had bun compiled of fellows who had come on sithe prods and had got work replatedly, and the ruspion in that hud were orpying to ioe the lead. In he fist plane I had all djection to hanntg a Corponal rent down to do things like that over ne, and not a ssidincal ofined and, in the second place, on chucking bough thre list thte were, at the most only one or two cases Ino could be properted of not being gendine, and thie were douloped encpeds at hat? I had hee tiinsg. rifed out, and I trather thrak that he matter one of the Rings that the Stalsn] wishes to discust on hiday. I should like to talke it over at all wents. We have nuslaid onr old wnit reports from Haden but if heg ean be frund tey would be very valuable pefames. Fotines If am note halpened this day except the anual dthe seounth Iam morde Iglad's andd my weding Suder gears, and ove two of hem apent apaird. Rrae come with on today on d int to dalas whn Ihad hean amuntned to S Habsarst Wicck, Hhe was not there, and it came out that he reason for my presons was to ee vre Coopenr reie a parul of over 3000 anti pial fatn from the Bl manch, as he said, to Bnt all the nea m II I on held fut sutally, the Suabl, and I stened he renipt. I could not rn the salsargt but his arristant gave me atitiontly Co et some extr gear on Monday at he Samilaats park/ and my applica [ion for kindimne to bun act Chat Nrials ruimg dodned to pilure I ill know on Ffonday I go duldinat ion he we may keep ailly E). 20) in one penonal possestion, the heot must le put o dex indeviduall onders, nie alloades standin nt someshing or R.I. Dos. Dans Lauation at Walas, his been shiffec to Hentoller and Blent has bun and out to Shihtsifld, earh bemg rplend at 114 by the french 7/.0 oniginally at the Lomman do. Had a walk out with the Smitarer mtest ver to day and passed Jan 525. He had to go in on burmen and I whoable to Once the to her for a few seconds. her quite comportably sebled in here, and he camep offis to be almust an e sact counterpent I domn, hough t her badade mones ae half the nize. Runonns feying about lately that mpoli has sallen, and that he Pussians jare dontly well. Hope it time. The Sanitation, and our room won our just round in the inter-poom barket. butt 4.0Received I book papsels from the Sudents. Rid peaple at Genwa – Whulers sperntia Euging, a Fruch English pertet. distionans, and a Gumnar. English distionary that made two bshe later, so I hanned my oper one on to a V.C.O. =hay in bed a tead most of the moning and his afternson acod ofan for Jamn. y 13th Cunday] H. Babrough - Conpesin a Clommanion?. A tin of thore funs. from mew again that makes about he winth, Johly good of him. His & chewful offnnstis had. knowed from tim a lok of Gonald Fnox's Cahiblin Grsb Br, and ano her W. He Rlaholie Cunten. t F.1. Wathik. Recived a copy of the B. H.J. prom Falla g Knough Junenry It tis the ches day, also- the accond ][whole two letters to Sak Ho- night and ore Co una dad land cadds to thes, Aut in flaws, John S. and Gon Rayd the Bontih Andry patten of solos whise for he 2nd time to migut wit y. Forlin Esqt dones, & Sock Lwmngsone won p. 23 Bunonts of a losing match with 523 in about ore marhie Sime. 1o belon Zero his moning, and to. below at 100 len. Weve coming on. Thigh be kney an ins at home. Werly again todene to oeleg ist Ist fous tath, ant Daintales. Relt in 1 making my codito p to R.. w (e5 38. while the Sot. paid in R. o. 223, and amrainged to acept ntd mh pays as I shall ned, the rest to be endited hrm Tilague vent along to the Sumiaahpark, but ere able to chlest only a lifle of or saff as hie out had beer penton to D Gunan fer hes ins fillow. Home by Tram and bous, and on he latter e were lusly to remain, as the condinctor sand hn trams a Crans were J.R. for Glanges, but buses were no. Hoever he lones payon. Go home very timly hod, and hungory hauk wolo conmgt and won a goodin snergo . J. Anos mnbnroh to pay? for the ant matinal which snks informed ton our aoting wis waiting me at Stalag. Ot muts to 17 14. 2. + A Salay to day daensta ed caleted allong old degenet and ofies peper. the a e e h t e nen ene t et e te en e it hi ant fo. Collecked and paid for matinals - a mudumn niged brard, small st pete an alle puncil or watel. tolatt, a larg will for ws colewr Oreary stap). I him note lhoted a paltet of hetere clsps, a fer diling ints, and a los d vsater. clows. they gaveme two burhes as will, but hel we yo oe mitlle fo brushing down a table and hardly paint. brnones I asled for. I lett them pure lany an to be chanded. On to Sabrant Micke who said he would tatke o ips owards aminging the heaedte. O nedicul miffolles, parils, & compondence to be pland in the cane of he o. 30. of Romnandos & Dsbribs. I. arted houy to be planed in chalned as penor to gor. te agred wes tnally his legetion beong that hegends outd not a part of Salks but only attaed. the agoued, toens, that for he papore I udial sfflen, Bolo Annon be considered tohed. Wowantu good ett of 3. A. to mgt.
About 9 of us left in camp, Ginis canes a hight nik to 520 by ambulance. We worked dining dio Deplin all morning, up in time to shew and plaw laske ball at B333 lin, laked, ate Jan 17 4 at selinyging medical giad, and peard that Maunigld truch cam p is bunct out with oner 50 ted them refured a gare Sick parade and p.t and panbell in wening completed Our lads ableyably to Epling luhun 311 2 404 for 229 warkes hill our one is schrilt. Had a the ao dirties of the day. Hrard from the dibtal party to 404 that 404 and to lotks at cernter 25 ans by 8. 10 Hep. eutly iscapes in way bamdite, our oud Duing ho most husly as e wen the amalgemeted - if tome, it thng we shall siglitely hand to alder ons Jrng Elis old n thah a light. standark atide on mon 10 his k wash alf ent tnough a smuple a fet alows head luel. Jag. Danal had minced for me my prot. I Had a crack at the B.I. and wilyg Call clour. rrom his affernon theon, who dik an on after admission was in the farthest woon from the lrnst whe he seads hiut o depristaly infortuendt the meak spos and no petistale. Spt onr walelow at itey, ron baskeh. ball to. day. this eserion found Eomelaks were fust mised by sumpral cuting trough buildings, and sueral lits n prited pep. leay eane and inth port ao though to he hime of 30. on to lanneles & Collesed dwiking salls. Geonded mbly all my dron gear. Auoher Leny said topmnpet 1930 230 new in to Jennany conente. duller and me clest in roon in uan bountl kes at night. Iur day laking one Hors lass taten, 1o 2 to have his hee deated on and tid J 1 tom terotly note ha t a lort ate igente paeint funt fon 8. Iasa poer 6o da Van an Gomlel who was in guoned in raid on 16th and was sent in hith had baik o prited. It was site a large one, sums to be about to0 Have smk no palking ntle as yet th an him lat hasd it was nnly a musde mping and would be out soon, and those of he cen wth think it comes from D.A. R.C.S.. Vey god. (eo. Had Chapman in to hal) to give n tenesed from a feht plane in 6th ien in her als, about the ltle buth men to 1. alrs and ates Ier. firt lessn in almentary act. I hink it will be Cite o ight ore of mith goare in a pris of ets who is doing very well. Was pumited to see he officers there, and thod a few minutes with them . Theyoe wery what I meed for spert and for comportable wear about eampe they fting well. the wouldnt take compotable nott, and have an extra chieping worn for ir on Hation W. Heard what apperared to bechead tor afou s at lo this wreing fon return, whlt. lombing andary to the n. 2 7. W from about 100 &o 2200 h, and a preluminany waing was recided, but no thims tumnahed. Gunnans repat opinal ridson England a Condon. Reenall an palf of f 1. 30. Duisth J 6ok. shale potably and no more fat a couphe of months. ter tol hispnonin that I se porn fa chllesen wat be te en to 5r0 t f en pe Desitin ian tont at pte Ande oin as that a lots ao made ready, & monet of at about B3t.5 he, with there lads to hels us shod the handshe and had aJus R.1. at pld again in attinoon Liitate Antinst. e leaded hit ond givr a mmuidiate indieal muds. Got heve eventually, and found or prople pipe oeners at P. and Souldh be raronatly r again pao. part. Ball her pentet into pereges boters antd toath nons ant nepeing wengthing ht he latins the aften tat or nikh parade at 450, bnt it was mantisfardtory, knough notodys sant as nroting o particulars had bewone drsoganced and it was disiomule to find what was mneided in mafamilien [ay bry. Our side ae lying on palliarses in Ddnat was the hental rundiny and hn a comple g lads in he regular Burer and have menaned the numbis as ingues lecan wident after antalement had dick down and furighe f a thwo mile march with liten dank my roaks weas ad ded I sam in tark ao for as anomnsdation we ] as hem was pleutiy of rome for me wich Heale d to Sethogh, and theiaid was waiting. The hilke of my list inpied thim o considerable comment not all of it polite. t =Comundan at 600 fors - take sag it eak moning and I shall make he mos of and tnangh all dey play it a tontit. Rusts gi Jan 25t tounch tegelt piten. Whicle ofpatiminty efers. Chaiked over srnes of he wite angain his maning and fabers and I to monow Enr fint pillun. hon ardid about D1845 ls. and was going managell to puush about 100 up against two of he ladd at Bridge afer lunc fort gan alone guite intely when one frot sie aid alamne for a coiple o monhes was anmonnted 545 hand men tore l. let. Sakaen, and I wsas gonlimite ridg. Advanaed aids poronte to 130. as last ind wo. . and we were all protuk bock into barrackes. f frund show with plenby I mudille planes and all the anded a likle after 2/50 huns - much to late. I take and I had a longish persion at Walian Rater frworks when, at about 2100 h. Hhe wold caule to an and. The 3. J. S NF. Jackes and ? Jris boe he place pih walls, cinting lords, and promitine mited np with us. ho frded oundleres up, I got knoughte which is all to hed good, and I pel in a much leter moed Ro Catle Geman, Eot. of ups is filtering in that the furians are daing will, and wene abnost isolateh he Cansirns, and hatone ferethe o doding wel in he fit. widow and round to the wroled o/. Forom and Gire Tors Sadlyhit, Hron and Stanes foit with thrapsel at aite habeat, finghing hea moned for a bapway. Bane with a nie hale throup lep high w hins tolone a venle and in oe apice I inpole bing afpeneded from ale fides. treated him more of lesd in dank, wo ohew wish hamaged bockes, and alout I hinot inples. Bamees mnes oy urcled. Go hos ansas to hospital lop seloaged what hes could o gar a les light mokh, marked of to 523. I was a big boud and landed 23 yds withe wire, opposnte on roods [empetely welked luken to be alive All Cles 45

ERWIN POPPER

12167

 

Photograph- see original

 

 

Aug 1943

Seagat, Lt Croselle (F). Capt.Readman, Maj.

S/F)  (R)  (Serb)

Major Palandri, Capt Stephan [[?]]Wright

F, Capt Achmed

Geprűft

24

Stalag IVA

PRO 6003

  

 

Dfflzlers-Lager IVD

39

F.U.

geprűft]
Dfflzlers-Lager IVD

39 

F.U.

geprűft

 

1943

 

Jan.1st.- And so starts 1943, a little snow on the ground and quite cold. Day 
was uneventful except for a couple of games of football, and the issuing to

the camp of Christmas cards to be sent home in time for Christmas 1942.
 About half the camp was tricky enough to receive new battle-dress trousers. I was one, got a 
pair of size 14, big enough in the waist and tail (designed for 6'1") but a trifle long in the back. 
Cpl. Heaney shortened them for me. They're the first pair I've had since getting the originals at VIIIB 

in Oct-Nov of '41.

 

Jan 2nd - Uneventful. Considerably more snow to.day, had a game of basketball in afternoon and 
enjoyed it. Probably hot as hades at home with bags of bathing & surfing, and light till after 
9 p.m. instead of till 4 p.m., as home. Printed. letter . James to send home with comprehensive 
list of what our people may not send caused a 'lot of merriment' in camp, especially the last item of the
issue potatoes!! The compiler must have a sense of humour himself. A German paper of the end of 
the year published a plan of the world with red dots indicating the location of each Allied ship sunk. There
 will be no need for shipping in some spaces, as a road could be built over the piled-up hulks, especially 
from northern South America to Louisiana, and across the Atlantic. The eastern coast of the Med. has been

pushed westwards many miles in the same way, too.

 

Jan 3rd - John is six years old to.day, that's his third successive birthday I've missed - what a 
change he will show to my eyes when I shall see him again ! Strong wind blew throughout 
the night with thin driving snow and there was quite a layer of it this morning. We 
woke to discover that the camp was without water, as the power had failed to the pump which supplies us. 
I did not expect to be lacking water in a German winter. The boys made shift to supply their needs by 
melting snow. Deficiency was put right at about mid.day. Chef's [[?]] still causing considerable [[?]]
locally. First day of top.boots along woollies.

 

Jan 4th.- Quiet again. It appears that [[Reichesbank]] has cut down allowance to Stalag for running 
its camps, which means a general cutting.down of camp-staff. R.S.M. Howland visited 
Kommandant & mentioned his application for transfer to W.O's camp, and when the 
Kommandant phoned Stalag about it, the latter here much surprised to learn that there were any W.O's 
here at all - they are gone from all other camps. Appears likely that R.S.M. Howland & S.M. Woodfine
 & Makin will leave us soon. I'll be sorry to lose the former, he's a very sound chap. Spent 
most of morning helping shovel snow from basketball court, a had a good game in afternoon.

 

Jan 5th - Hoping to go to Stalag on Wednesday I arranged the dental visit to 404 for to.day and 
we set off for the station at 0715 hrs, jolly cold (only zero) and still snowing, had 
eventually marched from Dalandorf station to the camp in a brisk path. Everyone there 
quite well and happy except Eric C. who had something special in head.colds. Told me that for previous fortnight he hadn't held a count.card a Bridge, so had made a New Year resolution to play no more, and 
was engaged in making his fortune at Solo by making successful lids of [Soazaire?] . Amman suggests I should ask

for official status as Senior Camp M.O. to handle medical supplies through Red+, and also such medical correspondence as concerns us. Good scheme, should it be approved. Applied for permission to visit Stalag in a.m.
 on my return and learned that Stabsargt & Wicke had already given instructions for me to visit him on Friday. 

Jan 6th. - Slept in, played basketball, and ran sick-parade, during which German Sanitater 
Unteroffizier arranged a parade of about 20 men for ticking-off, at Stalag's instructions 
it appears that the list had been compiled of fellows who had come on sick.parade and
 had got "work" repeatedly, and the suspicion is that they were trying to "swing the lead". In the first place I 
had no objection to having a Corporal sent down to do things like that over me, and not a Medical Officer, 
and, in the second place, on checking through the list there were, at the most, only one or two cases 
who could be suspected of not being genuine, and they were doubtful suspects at that. I had the "ticking-off" wiped out, but I rather think that the matter is one of the things that the Stalsargt wishes to discuss 
on Friday. I should like to talk it over, at all events. We have mislaid our old sick-reports from [[?]]
 but if they can be found they would be very valuable references.

 

Jan 7th  - Nothing of any note happened this day, except the arrival of the seventh
 anniversary of Glad's and my wedding. Seven years, and over two of them spent apart.

 

Jan 8th  - Price came with me to.day on a visit to Stalag, where I had been summoned to see Stalsargt Wick. He was not there, and it came out that the reason for my presence was to see Eric Cooper receive a parcel of over 3000 artificial teeth from the BRC enough, as he said, to put all the men in III D on their feet dentally. He, Seward, and I signed the receipt. I could not see the Stalsargt but his assistant gave me authority to get some extra gear on Monday at the Sanitaatspark, and my application for permission to buy [?] seems doomed to failure.I'll know on Monday - I got confirmation that we may keep only R.M. 30 in our personal possession, the rest must be put to our individual [?], mine already standing at something over R.M.200. [?] [?] at Stalag he's been shifted to Menkőllen, and Robert has been sent out to Lichtenfeld, each being replaced at 118 by the French M.O. originally at the Kommando.

 

Jan 9th - Had a walk out with the Sanitater interofizier to.day and passed
 520. He had to go in on business and I was able to see the others for a 
few seconds. They're quite comfortably settled in there, and the camp appears 
to be almost an exact counterpart of ours, though the barrack.rooms are half the size. 
Rumours flying about lately that Tripoli has fallen, and that the Russians are doing well.

Hope it's time. The Sanitater and our room won our first round in the inter.room basket.ball
4.0.- Received 2 book parcels from the Students' Aid people at Geneva - Wheeler's "Operation
Surging", a French.English pocket dictionary, and a German.English dictionary. That made 
two of the latter, so I handed my other one on to a M.C.O.

Jan.10th.(Sunday)- Lay in bed & read most of the morning and in afternoon saved Man for 
Fr. Scarborough- Confession & Communion. A tin of "Three Nuns" from him again -
 that makes about the sixth, jolly good of him. He's a cheerful optimistic lad. 

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