British units at Farge (Bremen) May 1945 – 205 Mil Gov Det / 10 DPACS?

I am researching the evacuation of ex-concentration camp prisoners from Sandbostel (Stalag X B) to the former Kriegsmarine camp at Farge / Neuenkirchen (near Bremen) in May 1945. One of them was my grandfather, who died there between 18 - 21 May 1945.

The war diary of 205 (R) Mil Gov Det (WO 171/7931) records that approx. 1,250 walking convalescents were sent to "205 Detention Camp FARGE" and approx. 300 to "205 Hospital, FARGE" between 13 and 16 May 1945, before the camp was handed over to US Mil Gov Det E2C2 on 23 May.

My questions:

1. Does anyone know which other British units (medical, RASC, DPACS) were involved at Farge between 13 and 23 May 1945?
2. Does anyone know where 10 DPACS (WO 171/8166) was located in May 1945?

I am visiting Kew this autumn and would be grateful for any pointers to war diaries.

 

Welcome Jan.

Sandbostel features in approx. eighty threads here when id'd by an online search using: "Sandbostel" site:ww2talk.com Adding "1945" didn't reduce the numbers much, but "Sandbostel" + "liberation" site:ww2talk.com did. I have not looked at them.

I tried using: "farge" + "liberation" site:ww2talk.com and that id'd one thread, which on close examination doe snot help post-liberation: https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threa...ps-william-english-mn-s-s-afric-a-star.18644/
With: "farge" site:ww2talk.com id'd x4 threads, again at a glance not helpful.

There was a 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) but only from 1967: https://www.friendsofmillbank.org/downloads/205_Fd_Hosp-20241115.pdf

Could it be this unit?:

From: https://www.friendsofmillbank.org/downloads/205_Fd_Hosp-20241115.pdf

The town's name is different and is not close to Bremen: Bad Oeynhausen - Wikipedia

DPACS being: DISPLACED PERSONS ASSEMBLY CENTRE STAFF

 

Hi Jan

9th British Infantry Brigade were at Bremen when tge War ended ans there may be some reference here?
9th British Infantry Brigade During World War 2 https://share.google/j8KtNlCqSy02kJMCd


Also, see here for details of BAOR operatioms after the War.
https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/new-website-britisharmyingermany-com.68793/page-3

There may also be some info here..

History of BAOR | BAOR Locations https://share.google/3vompy8pl1fWZia4w

Good luck with your search!

Quis Separabit

 

Hi Jan

9th British Infantry Brigade were at Bremen when tge War ended ans there may be some reference here?
9th British Infantry Brigade During World War 2 https://share.google/j8KtNlCqSy02kJMCd


Also, see here for details of BAOR operatioms after the War.
https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/new-website-britisharmyingermany-com.68793/page-3

There may also be some info here..

History of BAOR | BAOR Locations https://share.google/3vompy8pl1fWZia4w

Good luck with your search!

Quis Separabit

 

As at 1 May 45 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division was responsible for Stadtkreis Bremen handing over to 29th Infantry Division United States Army on 14 May 45, the HQ G Branch war dairy I have is very weak and lacks a location statement for this period, the brigade war dairies are on my “shopping list” 155th Infantry Brigade (WO 171/4414) was responsible for Bremen North until 17 May 45, relieving 214th Infantry Brigade of 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division on 2 May 45.

Higher command 30th Corps war dairy for the period only shows 111 Company (Motor Ambulance Car) RASC in Bremen-Vahr, hoping to find more minor units in due course. 29th Infantry Division United States Army was under command 30th (British) Corps 15-21 May 45.

10 DPASC would have been at the Kriegsmarine camp

Best of luck with your research
21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

Thank you, Steve, this is very helpful. You wrote that 10 DPACS would have been at the Kriegsmarine camp. Could you tell me what this is based on? If there is a source, I will add the 10 DPACS war diary (WO 171/8166) to my Kew list.

 

Looking at other DPACS locations have them recorded in the camps they were controlling, hoping 155 Inf Bde diary will confirm this.

 

Thank you, Steve. Are you planning to consult the 155 Inf Bde diary (WO 171/4414) yourself? I will be at Kew this autumn and have it on my list, so I am happy to share what I find about Farge and 10 DPACS.

 

Thanks Jan, I am working my way through all British higher command adding detail previously ignored and obtaining missing brigade dairies on the way, this will take some time, please let me know what you find.