Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp

22nd Jul 1941 Parcels

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Those known to have been held in or employed at
Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Lorraine Herbert Derrick Bell. Capt.
Szczepanski Mieczyslaw Ignacy. Lt.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records from Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp other sources.

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Capt. Herbert Derrick Bell Lorraine Royal Army Service Corps

Late Cadet C.Q.M.S., Glenalmond (Trinity College) Contingent, Officer Training Corps. Bertie Lorraine was commissioned on the 31st Dec 1938, Royal Army Service Corps - Supplementary Reserve of Officers. He was mobilized the 24th Aug 1939. From 1938 to 1940, he served with British Expeditionary Forces in France, where he was wounded and captured. From 1940 to 1945, was a POW (No. 1565) at Oflag VII-B in Eichstatt, Bavaria.
On or about the 27th May 1940, during the Battle of France, Derrick Lorraine sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Whilst in the ambulance, he was captured by an advancing German panzer division. On the 29th May, he was forced at pistol-point out of the ambulance and made to hobble over to the Blockhouse North of Cassel to ask the Gloucestershire Regiment soldiers commanded by 2Lt Cresswell to surrender. He shouted "Wounded British Officer here!" and hobbled over to the entrance to the blockhouse. In a low voice, he then said "˜Do not reply" and pointed to a dead German soldier nearby. "There are lots of those around here", he continued, motioning with his eyes toward the roof of the bunker and making Cresswell understand that they were on the roof of the bunker. He then hobbled on away from the bunker and back to the ambulance. He had no intention of trying to get them to surrender. He was then transported to Offlag VIIb in Eichstatt and remained there for the rest of the war.
Derrick was my uncle and never spoke to his sons about the war. The story above is recounted in some of the Dunkirk history books, one of which is Dunkirk: The History Behind the Motion Picture by Joshua Levine. In this book, he is recorded as an artillery officer, this is a mistake, as he was RASC not RA.

Mike Hurman

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Lt. Mieczyslaw Ignacy "Mietek" Szczepanski 2PSP

I am posting this for my Beloved Grandfather, Mietek Szczepanski who passed as a naturalized Polish Citizen in 1976. He fought bravely during the September campaign and was help in 4 other camps beside this one. Below is the autobiography of sorts that he left me when he passed. It was kept from me for 35 years and I have translated it to basic English to make it easier.
Villingen 1st January 1951, My Story
I was born in Lvov on 31st of July 1905. After finishing primary and secondary school, and completing a state teacher training course, I was called up for National Service into the 26th Infantry Regiment in Lvov. I was in the army for 15 months: 9 months in training and 6 months active service. My training in the Reserves took place in the 2nd Regiment in Sanok. And at this time I completed a vocational course in bookbinding. Subsequently I thought this subject in primary school in the Lesko and Stryj areas.
I was called up for active service in to the 11th Infantry Division in Stanislawow where I took part in the September campaign of 1939. I was taken prisoner by the Germans in Rybkowice near Lvov. I was a Prisoner of War in Oflag VII in Murnau, Oberlangen, Hofnungstahl near Koln and Villingen.
After a war Villingen became my place of residence and remains so to date (1951). After the war I volunteered for service in the Donaueschingen Battalion. After this Unit was disbanded I worked in team 680 of the UNRA administration, thereafter I worked on childrens' summer camps with the YMCA and finally with the PDR until it ceased operation in Villingen.

Charles Michael Szczepanski

Add to this record.

Capt. Herbert Derrick Bell Lorraine Royal Army Service Corps

Late Cadet C.Q.M.S., Glenalmond (Trinity College) Contingent, Officer Training Corps. Bertie Lorraine was commissioned on the 31st Dec 1938, Royal Army Service Corps - Supplementary Reserve of Officers. He was mobilized the 24th Aug 1939. From 1938 to 1940, he served with British Expeditionary Forces in France, where he was wounded and captured. From 1940 to 1945, was a POW (No. 1565) at Oflag VII-B in Eichstatt, Bavaria.
On or about the 27th May 1940, during the Battle of France, Derrick Lorraine sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Whilst in the ambulance, he was captured by an advancing German panzer division. On the 29th May, he was forced at pistol-point out of the ambulance and made to hobble over to the Blockhouse North of Cassel to ask the Gloucestershire Regiment soldiers commanded by 2Lt Cresswell to surrender. He shouted "Wounded British Officer here!" and hobbled over to the entrance to the blockhouse. In a low voice, he then said "˜Do not reply" and pointed to a dead German soldier nearby. "There are lots of those around here", he continued, motioning with his eyes toward the roof of the bunker and making Cresswell understand that they were on the roof of the bunker. He then hobbled on away from the bunker and back to the ambulance. He had no intention of trying to get them to surrender. He was then transported to Offlag VIIb in Eichstatt and remained there for the rest of the war.
Derrick was my uncle and never spoke to his sons about the war. The story above is recounted in some of the Dunkirk history books, one of which is Dunkirk: The History Behind the Motion Picture by Joshua Levine. In this book, he is recorded as an artillery officer, this is a mistake, as he was RASC not RA.

Mike Hurman

Lt. Mieczyslaw Ignacy "Mietek" Szczepanski 2PSP

I am posting this for my Beloved Grandfather, Mietek Szczepanski who passed as a naturalized Polish Citizen in 1976. He fought bravely during the September campaign and was help in 4 other camps beside this one. Below is the autobiography of sorts that he left me when he passed. It was kept from me for 35 years and I have translated it to basic English to make it easier.
Villingen 1st January 1951, My Story
I was born in Lvov on 31st of July 1905. After finishing primary and secondary school, and completing a state teacher training course, I was called up for National Service into the 26th Infantry Regiment in Lvov. I was in the army for 15 months: 9 months in training and 6 months active service. My training in the Reserves took place in the 2nd Regiment in Sanok. And at this time I completed a vocational course in bookbinding. Subsequently I thought this subject in primary school in the Lesko and Stryj areas.
I was called up for active service in to the 11th Infantry Division in Stanislawow where I took part in the September campaign of 1939. I was taken prisoner by the Germans in Rybkowice near Lvov. I was a Prisoner of War in Oflag VII in Murnau, Oberlangen, Hofnungstahl near Koln and Villingen.
After a war Villingen became my place of residence and remains so to date (1951). After the war I volunteered for service in the Donaueschingen Battalion. After this Unit was disbanded I worked in team 680 of the UNRA administration, thereafter I worked on childrens' summer camps with the YMCA and finally with the PDR until it ceased operation in Villingen.

Charles Michael Szczepanski

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Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp

Those known to have been held in or employed at
Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp during the Second World War -

Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp

Those known to have been held in or employed at Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Campduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp during the Second World War -

Those known to have been held in or employed at
Oflag 7A Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.