Stalag Luft VI
Encyclopedia
Stalag Luft VI was a German
prisoner-of-war camp
during World War II
located near the town of Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilutė
in Lithuania
). It was the northernmost POW camp within the confines of the German Reich.
, and from February 1944, also Americans.
By July 1944 it housed 9,000 Allied airmen. When the Russian front
approached, orders were given to move the prisoners to other camps further west. Most of the men were moved by train to Stalag XX-A
in West Prussia
, but some 900 were taken to the port of Memel
, where they were put aboard the merchant ship Insterburg for a 60-hour journey to Swinemünde
. After another train journey the men were force marched from Kiefheide
, with many men being bayoneted or shot before they reached Stalag Luft IV
in Gross Tychow
. This march was one of the "Long Marches"
.
After the camp came under Russian control it was renamed Gulag 3, and used to house German POWs and Lithuanian partisans
and dissidents, remaining in use until 1948. Until 1952 it served as a civilian prison, before being demolished. In 1995 a museum was opened on the former camp grounds.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
located near the town of Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilutė
Šilute
Šilutė is a city in the south of the Klaipėda County, Lithuania. The city was part of the Klaipėda Region and ethnographic Lithuania Minor. Šilutė was the interwar capital of Šilutė County and is currently the capital of Šilutė district municipality.-Name:...
in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
). It was the northernmost POW camp within the confines of the German Reich.
Camp history
The camp was built in 1939 and designated Stalag I-C. At first it held Polish POWs, then from 1940 also French and Belgians, and from 1941 Russians. In June 1943 it was re-named Stalag Luft VI and used to hold British and Canadian Air Force NCOsNon-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
, and from February 1944, also Americans.
By July 1944 it housed 9,000 Allied airmen. When the Russian front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
approached, orders were given to move the prisoners to other camps further west. Most of the men were moved by train to Stalag XX-A
Stalag XX-A
Stalag XX-A was a German World War II PoW Camp located in Thorn/Toruń, Poland. It was not a single camp and contained as many as 20,000 men at its peak. The main camp was located in a complex of fifteen forts that surrounded the whole of the city...
in West Prussia
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
The Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia was a Nazi German province created on 8 October 1939 from the territory of the annexed Free City of Danzig, the annexed Polish province Greater Pomeranian Voivodship , and the Nazi German Regierungsbezirk West Prussia of Gau East Prussia. Before 2 November 1939,...
, but some 900 were taken to the port of Memel
Klaipeda
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
, where they were put aboard the merchant ship Insterburg for a 60-hour journey to Swinemünde
Swinoujscie
Świnoujście is a city and seaport on the Baltic Sea and Szczecin Lagoon, located in the extreme north-west of Poland. It is situated mainly on the islands of Uznam and Wolin, but also occupies smaller islands, of which the largest is Karsibór island, once part of Usedom, now separated by a Piast...
. After another train journey the men were force marched from Kiefheide
Podborsko
Podborsko is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Tychowo, within Białogard County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It lies approximately west of Tychowo, south-east of Białogard, and north-east of the regional capital Szczecin.Before 1945 the area was part...
, with many men being bayoneted or shot before they reached Stalag Luft IV
Stalag Luft IV
Stalag Luft IV was a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp in Gross Tychow, Pomerania .-Camp history:The camp was opened in May 1944. In July of that year a military report was released which described such problems as inadequate shower facilities, unfit distribution of Red Cross parcels, and...
in Gross Tychow
Tychowo
Tychowo is a town in Białogard County, north-west Poland.Tychowo may also refer to the following villages:*Tychowo, Sławno County*Tychowo, Stargard County...
. This march was one of the "Long Marches"
The March (1945)
"The March" refers to a series of death marches during the final stages of the Second World War in Europe. From a total of 257,000 western Allied prisoners of war held in German military prison camps, over 80,000 POWs were forced to march westward across Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Germany in...
.
After the camp came under Russian control it was renamed Gulag 3, and used to house German POWs and Lithuanian partisans
Lithuanian partisans
The Lithuanian partisans can refer to various irregular military units in different historical periods active in Lithuania against foreign invaders and occupiers:...
and dissidents, remaining in use until 1948. Until 1952 it served as a civilian prison, before being demolished. In 1995 a museum was opened on the former camp grounds.
Notable prisoners
- Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir, a WelshWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. - James 'Dixie' DeansJames 'Dixie' DeansJames 'Dixie' Deans was a RAF Sergeant and World War II bomber pilot shot down in 1940 who became a renowned prisoner of war Camp Leader....
, RAF sergeant and World War II bomber pilot, guided 2,000 allied POWs across Germany in what was known as the "Long March". - George GrimsonGeorge GrimsonGeorge Grimson was an N.C.O. in the R.A.F. during the Second World War. He was captured and subsequently imprisoned in a succession of P.O.W. camps in Germany...
, RAF sergeant, serial escaper and escape line organiser.
External links
- Report on American prisoners of war in Germany : Stalag Luft 6 by Military Intelligence ServiceMilitary Intelligence Service (United States)The Military Intelligence Service was a World War II U.S. military unit consisting of two branches, the Japanese American Unit described here and the German-Austrian Unit based at Camp Ritchie, described partly in Ritchie Boys. The unit described here was primarily composed of Japanese-American...
, 15 July 1944