Oflag IX-A/H, 1st Airborne Officers

Hi all,
Researching Lt. M. W. Long, Glider Pilot Regt, wounded and captured at Arnhem.
He was sent to Oflag IX-A/H, Spangenburg and I have found several other 1st AB Officers who were sent there including Johnny Frost, (CO of 2 para), Kaufman, Burghope and Stamford so far. Research ongoing.
No chance to get to Kew yet, so I don't know if Long completed a 'POW questionnaire'. From what I have found so far it appears Oflag IX A was probably Schloss Spangenburg (looks a bit like Colditz, will try to add photos later) and other camps listed (eg. IX-A/H and IX-A/Z) were possibly 'satellite' camps. One account I have found refers to one of the camps being quite small (75m square) on the bank of a river (possibly a lake, there is a lake NNE of the Schloss) with German civilians on the opposite bank. That likely site appears to be some sort of industrial development on current Google/sat images.
Can anyone help me for further research?
Interesting point: apparently before the end of the war the castle was bombed and burned down (presumably after prisoners evacuated - more research needed re 'long march' etc) and was rebuilt in the 1950's. Now it is a luxury hotel and restaurant. Judging from what I have seen of post-war restorations across Germany and most of Europe (eg. Ypres) I would guess any of the old inmates would recognise the place and could experience a somewhat more comfortable stay there now.

Regards,

Mike L

 

Hi Mike,
my reference to the Oflag 1X A/H is 51 7'12N --9 39'50E Sheet L52 Reference H350820 .Description given is just"Situated on Hill".

Oflag 1X A/Z 51 00'16N--9 42'57E Sheet L51 Reference H390690 Description given "Large stone Building".

 

Burghope is not refeering to me as an Arnhem officer, can recall seeing a questionnaire of him, maybe something about him in this month published book about the Glider Pilot Regiment at Arnhem.

 

Hi guys,
Thanks for the quick replies.

Phil R, you are quite correct,

Burghope is not refeering to me as an Arnhem officer

He is not listed on 1st AB (Arnhem) Officers site, will go back to where I found his ref and report back.

ADM,
Couldn't find the ref you offered but if you take out the dashes and add a comma you get to 51 7'12N, 9 39'50E which works on Google. Gives a site just off the road leading to the Schloss, which seems a likely location for a 'satellite' camp and it is indeed on a hill. Thanks.

Any advice re: Oflag IX-A/Z? I suspect it might be on the edge of the lake near to the Schloss but that is just a guess.

Still working on how to upload pics I have found but in the meantime try this;

Spangenberg Photo Gallery by Solomon Siu at pbase.com

Many thanks for help so far, I will post results of my research when found.
Any pointers to POW or other photos of the related sites?

I have found on E-bay and other sites copies of a couple of books relating to this camp, including 'Backwater' (Edited Lt. Col. Guy Adams) but most appear to relate to 1939/41 camp use. I gather the camp was closed after 1941 but re-opened later, about 1943 until end of WW2.

Sorry for any typos this am, just got in from a send-off for a guy going to Afghan for 6 mths and his parents 25th wedding Anniv. Free bar - couldn't resist it.

Regards,

A slightly drunk Mike

 

ADM,
When I try same trick for the given co-ords 'Oflag 1X A/Z 51 00'16N--9 42'57E Sheet L51 Reference H390690 Description given "Large stone Building"'. And translate as (51 00'16N, 9 42'57E) Google comes up with a place in Cancun, Mexico!
Would love to go there, one of the best diving places in the world and I am a diver, but not sure what this has to do with Spangenburg.
Is it me or is there a prob with these co-ords? First try I had a similar problem with Oflag 9-A/H co-ords but sorted this out after a few minutes, this one seems a bit trickier. Any guidance?

Very Best regards

Mike

 

ADM,
When I try same trick for the given co-ords 'Oflag 1X A/Z 51 00'16N--9 42'57E Sheet L51 Reference H390690 Description given "Large stone Building"'. And translate as (51 00'16N, 9 42'57E) Google comes up with a place in Cancun, Mexico!
Would love to go there, one of the best diving places in the world and I am a diver, but not sure what this has to do with Spangenburg.
Is it me or is there a prob with these co-ords? First try I had a similar problem with Oflag 9-A/H co-ords but sorted this out after a few minutes, this one seems a bit trickier. Any guidance?

Very Best regards

Mike

Hi Mike,
the co-ordinates come from a Document copied from The National Archives. I know we didn't have sat nav at that time but to be as far out as Cancun is ridiculous. I will send you a P.M.
Brian

 

Mike email send to Luuk Buist

 

Phil,
Further to previous comms (thanks very much) I came to a bit of a dead end (after finding a couple of pics in an exhaustive google search) and thought an email to the Rathaus at Spangenberg might come up with something, so I duly sent off an email in my best German - OK English - and recieved this reply:

Dies ist eine automatisch erstellte Benachrichtigung über den Zustellstatus.

Übermittlung an folgende Empfänger fehlgeschlagen.

rathaus@spangenberg.de

I freely admit my German is about as good as my Martian, but even I can work out that it is an automated message (1st line) No idea what the last part of 1st or the 2nd line means, 3rd line is obviously rathaus email address.

2 attachments were just my initial enquiry (MHTML file) and an ATT file.

Any German speakers here that could help me out? Maybe Luuk Buist could do a translation?

I am now in contact with Paul Pariso and he can't find much more about my guy (Lt Michael Long, GPR) although he is still awaiting his copy of the latest book.

Many thanks for your help so far, sorry to have to get back to you.

Best regards,

Mike L

 

dbf,
Thanks for the quick reply, maybe I ought to send a message in German eh?

Mike L

 

dbf,
Bit slow on the uptake there, weren't Irish Guards (under Vandleur?) spearhead of XXX Corps at Market Garden?

Mike L

 

Diane,
Fascinating reading the extracts from 3 Btn war diary - it's one of the many threads I haven't got round to looking at yet but I will go back for a longer look later. Brilliant sketch maps, makes you wonder how they had time to do them. One entry confused me though: during Op MG a reference to German soldiers using 'squeeze guns' - haven't come across that before - any idea what they were?

Also interesting to note at parade of 11/6/45 when the Gds were returned to primary Infantry role, while Household Cav retained recon vehicles. Same arrangement remains to this day I believe.

Will read further entries for Normandy as well - used to have a house in the area (Sermentot), between Tilly and Villers Bocage but sold it last year!

Also re Gdsmn buried in Hornchurch (died 18/6/44 I think, didn't note the name) the photo shows overview of the (mainly Air Force) plot, recent photo too, but not the headstone in question. I live in Hornchurch and know the cemetary quite well. If you like I will try to get a pic of the headstone.

Well done for the brilliant posts, keep on please!

Best regards,

Mike

 

Hi Mike
I am beginning to research my fathers role in the ww2 in a bit more detail. He was a prisoner of war in 0flag 9. I have various letters, photgraphs & christmas cards made in the camp. I too live in Essex (Colchester). Would seeing the memorabelia be of any use to you.
Don. C

 

Hi Don and welcome to WW2Talk. What was your Father's name? Was he Airborne or at Oflag 9 earlier in the war?
I would be interested to see anything you have on Oflag 9, thanks.
Since this thread I have been to Kew and found a file on Spangenberg. Attached first few pages, will add others shortly.

 

Next few pages. Quality isn't greatest but if you 'save as' and zoom in text should be readable.

 

More.

 

And some more.
On the map Spangenberg is just below the G in Germany.

 

Some recent views of the castle and surrounding area.
Hope this is of interest, hope to see your info.
If you are having trouble uploading images there is help on the LHS of the Portal (below 'WW2Talk') or PM me.

Mike