I have done research into BAB 20. They were established at Torun and went down to Heydebreck in March 42. Arthur Burkett Diaries (book) tells us about experiences on BAB 20 during bombing in 44. Arbeitskommando 20132 (book) James Peters - Long March also good. To po graphia historia is a good website does Blechhammer, Blechhammer South also known as Heydebreck and BAB 20, another website which is very us er friendly is www. Lindellcrew. We visited Blechhammer in 2019. My dad was called Basil Rowell he was a plumber in BAB 20 and was in 7th Northumbrian Fusiliers.
Am I correct in that it is your dad, Basil Rowell, who has documents placed in The Imperial war Museum.
Hi. My grandad I believe was also in this camp. Alexander Ewan Smith. I believe he died on 22nd August 1944 due to an allied air raid. If anyone has any information on him I would appreciate this. I have recently returned from visiting his grave in Krakow.
Hi Michelle, Your grandfather Alexander Ewan Smith, also known as 'Smudger' was in Number 1 Company BAB 20. He was killed alongside fellow POW's Donald Francis Foster Folds and Thomas Victor Every and a German interpreter, Unterofficer Kruger, during a heavy U.S.A.A.F. air raid on the I.G. Farben synthetic fuel factory at Heydebreck. All three were members of one of the theatrical groups within the camp. They were killed when taking shelter from the bombing in the nearby woodland. One report is that they were killed when they rose from a lying position to get up and move to another position and in doing so were killed by the blast of an exploding bomb. It is also reported that they were killed by falling shrapnel from the German anti aircraft guns. Alexander was known as a natural comedian. They were initially buried on Thursday 24th August by fellow BAB 20 POW, Captain Padre Robert John Griffiths (New Zealand Forces) in the Protestant Quarter in Cosel Old Cemetery, and after the war their bodies were transferred to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Krakow. Padre Griffiths wrote to the families. Unterofficer Kruger was buried the same day. I hope this helps. Regarding books mentioned in the above post by Josephine Rowell. Alexander Smith is mentioned as Smudge on page 134 of 'Arthur Burkett's Diaries', Arthur Burkett was a POW at the nearby E711 camp, & reference is made to the three men and the German interpreter on page 112 of 'Arbeitskommado 20132'.
The Imperial War Museum has colour photographs viewable free online of messages left on the walls of the camp. There are also a couple of taped memories that can be listened to online, others only at IWM. IWM Collections When searching at IWM put the search term in inverted commas: e.g. "Heydebreck", "BAB 20". The National Archives has these files for "Heydebreck" - a visit to TNA at Kew will be necessary to view the files, or ask one of our regulars to photograph the file at very reasonable rates: probably cheaper than the travelling expenese. TNA copying rates are astronomical. TS 26/429 Treasury Solicitor and HM Procurator General: War Crimes Papers. WORLD WAR II, 1939-1945. Alleged German War Crimes: Charges. | Heydebreck: general | Heydebreck: general. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/01/1939 31/12/1945 Former Reference Dep: Charge Number: UK-G/B252 WO 309/20 War Office: Judge Advocate General's Office, British Army of the Rhine War Crimes Group (North West Europe) and predecessors: Registered Files (BAOR and other series). | Reigersfeld, Heydebreck, Upper Silesia: shooting of PoWs at Camp BAB20 (a working party of prisoners... | Reigersfeld, Heydebreck, Upper Silesia: shooting of PoWs at Camp BAB20 (a working party of prisoners drawn from Stalag XX A). | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/09/1945 30/04/1948 Former Reference Dep: BAOR/WCG 15228/2/049 WO 309/1007 War Office: Judge Advocate General's Office, British Army of the Rhine War Crimes Group (North West Europe) and predecessors: Registered Files (BAOR and other series). | Camp BAB 20, Heydebreck, Reigersfeld, Germany: shooting of British POWs | Camp BAB 20, Heydebreck, Reigersfeld, Germany: shooting of British POWs. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/09/1946 31/01/1947 Former Reference Dep: BAOR WC/C/198A WO 309/1008 War Office: Judge Advocate General's Office, British Army of the Rhine War Crimes Group (North West Europe) and predecessors: Registered Files (BAOR and other series). | Camp BAB 20, Heydebreck, Reigersfeld, Germany: ill-treatment of British POWs. Includes 6 photographs depicting: HQ... | Camp BAB 20, Heydebreck, Reigersfeld, Germany: ill-treatment of British POWs. Includes 6 photographs depicting: HQ BAOR: War Crimes Group (NWE); Karl Eggers, accused of ill treatment of British prisoner of war at BAB XX Reigersfeld; photograph of accused and Asmus Eggers. Dated 1946-1947. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/08/1946 30/04/1947 Former Reference Dep: BAOR WC/C/198B WO 311/226 Judge Advocate General's Office, Military Deputy's Department, and War Office, Directorates of Army Legal Services and Personal Services: War Crimes Files (MD/JAG/FS and other series). | Stalag 344, Camp BAB 20 (later E794) Heydebreck: ill-treatment of POWs | Stalag 344, Camp BAB 20 (later E794) Heydebreck: ill-treatment of POWs. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/06/1945 28/02/1949 Former Reference Dep: MD/JAG/FS 22/155 WO 311/1094 Judge Advocate General's Office, Military Deputy's Department, and War Office, Directorates of Army Legal Services and Personal Services: War Crimes Files (MD/JAG/FS and other series). | Ill-treatment of British prisoners of war in transit march from Heydebreck, Poland, to Nuremburg, Germany,... | Ill-treatment of British prisoners of war in transit march from Heydebreck, Poland, to Nuremburg, Germany, January to April 1945. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/01/1945 30/04/1945 Former Reference Dep: MD/JAG/FS/22/256 WO 361/1871 War Office: Department of the Permanent Under Secretary of State: Casualties (L) Branch: Enquiries into Missing Personnel, 1939-45 War. | Prisoners of war, Germany: Bau (construction) and Arbeits (work), Battalions, Heydebreck; International Red Cross reports... | Prisoners of war, Germany: Bau (construction) and Arbeits (work), Battalions, Heydebreck; International Red Cross reports on conditions. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/10/1941 31/01/1945 Former Reference Dep: SS/3 Records/346
The Australian Government digitised newspaper resource "Trove" has two articles searching in "magazines". Trove Searching in "newspapers" may bring more. Since Australian newspapers often republished items appearing in British newspapers it is an excellent free online resource.
