Information on Arbeitskommando Austria 1941 - 45

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by Nick2018, May 12, 2018.

  1. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    Hello. I 've just joined WW2 Talk and am looking for information about the POW experience of my father John Maxwell Haslam of the Australian 2/6th battalion (Service Number VX4416, Rank Corporal, POW number 4398 in Stalag 18 B and D) captured in Greece at the Corinth Canal in April - May 1941. He never returned to Australia and died in 1966. He did not talk much about his wartime experience but I have recently been told that letters from Germany arrived at his Australian parents' home for several years in the late 40s, which have been lost. I and my sister are curious to find the farm we know he worked on in an Arbeitskommando from Stalag 18 - for he learnt fluent German and went onto join the British Control Commission in Hamburg after the war . We are trying to find the records of the Arbeitskommandos in Austria and not having much luck so far . The National Archives will shortly be sending a copy of his German POW card I hope - but I'm wondering if anyone else any tips which can help us shed light on this part of his life? Thanks. Nick Haslam
     
    CL1 likes this.
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    For Information

    UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
    Name: J M Haslam
    Rank: Cpl.
    Army Number: VX4416
    Regiment: 2/6 I. Bn.
    POW Number: 4398
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: 18A
    Camp Location: Wolfsberg (Karnten)
    Section: Australian Imperial Force: Officers and Other Ranks

    From WO 392/4
    WO392_12 18.jpg

    TD
     
  3. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    Thanks for that TD, I'm hoping to get more info from the NA when they do a search on WO 416/167.
     
  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Welcome to the forum Nick

    regards
    Clive
     
  5. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Last edited: May 12, 2018
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  7. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    Thanks again for that - I had already found it last week - can't remember where! I'm sure though that the records of the Arbeitskommandos must exist somewhere - I did enquire about getting a German researcher to do the ground work from Berlin - but was surprised at the cost of two days research starting in the Austrian State archive - a mere 1,280 euros. Think I'd prefer to spend the money on a week in Vienna myself!
     
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Yes but most of that €1200 would be spent on coffee and cake - :blush:

    TD
     
  9. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    Thanks again for this. I'm away from home at the moment in Brussels and using a laptop - and can't for some reason enlarge the images. I've tried the link attached but am told the session has expired. Can you let me know where you found the info? Thanks.
     
  10. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Newspaper casualty listing for him here;-

    CASUALTY LISTS FOR FOUR STATES. - A.I.F. LOSSES ABROAD. Five Deaths, 429 Missing. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 14 Jun 1941

    RED CROSS PRISONERS - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 3 Sep 1941

    Pow memorial listing here;-

    World War 2 (H - I) | Prisoner of War Memorial Ballarat

    Pow camp reports/prisoner welfare under FO 916 (National Archives)
    Browse records of other archives | The National Archives

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2018
  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    If the session has expired then enter as a guest.

    I use the name search https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx in the third box select World War 2, if you wish add the service number under that then select search. His details will come up as in my post and there is an option to request a copy of his records. If his records had already been copied then you would see an icon of a file which you could open, but in this instance no one previuosly has requested the file or rather paid for the file to be digitised

    Each session has a time limit, so be aware

    TD
     
  12. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

  13. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    Great stuff - I've ordered a copy - not sure what of what but it's a step in the right direction. And I'll watch out for the cakes and coffee if I get to Vienna - I lived in Budapest in the early 90s and frequently went up there - a great city.
     
  14. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    I've just downloaded the your images of the WO files as Jpegs and been able to read them. See what you mean about numbers. But at least there are precise locations if we ever get to Karntern. Where did you get these files from? Did you go into the NA at Kew? Thanks again. Nick

     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Some of the members offer a service to copy files from TNA (The National Archives) at Kew, and those pages are from

    WO 224 1941-1947 War Office: International Red Cross and Protecting Powers (Geneva): Reports concerning Prisoner of War Camps in Europe and the Far East
    This series comprises a collection of reports by the International Red Cross and Protecting Powers (Geneva) and deals with conditions and events in various Prisoner of War Camps in Europe and the Far East.

    They are in fact WO 224/205
    Reference: WO 224/205
    Description:
    Part V
    Date: 1945 Jan. - 1945 Apr.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    TD
     
  16. Nick2018

    Nick2018 Member

    Thanks again - I somehow suspect I'll be spending some time at Kew in the near future. All best Nick
     

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