[Lancer44]

Hi Jim,
I agree that Duncans figures are not adding up. I also doubt Bacque figures.
But there is sort of hush up and some things are very strange.

I have a friend in Poland, professional historian and journalist. His name is Greg Czwartosz.
He wrote to "Polska Zbrojna", (Armed Poland), an official weekly of the Polish Army.
In 2002 he wrote an article in which he mentioned death of about 18,100 German POWs in US Army Camp in Bretzenheim in April and May 1945.
He also mentioned about 50,000 Germans which died from hunger in Remagen area.

Greg also was a bit harsh for Polish 1-st Armoured. He cited story written by Steven Ambrose in "Citizen Soldiers".
Ambrose, which is an unquestionable authority wrote about 1200 German POWs shot by Poles near Chambois.
According to relation of US Army captain Waters, Americans were waiting for 1500 POWs taken by 1-st Armoured.
Instead only 200 were delivered. When asked about the rest, Polish captain explained thet they were shot.
Waters resolutely asked - "Why didn't you shoot all of them?!"
The answer was - "We run out of ammo…"

After publication of this article Greg lost his job. Another periodical, monthly "Militaria XXw", (Militaria of XX century) also
recently refused to co-operate with him.
Here you can see Greg's article in shortened version.
http://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/artykul.html?id_artykul=957
Unfortunately it exist only in Polish version. Perhaps you know someone Polish?

I attached also two PDF files. One of full version of "Militaria XXw" and another article written by Greg Czwartosz, just to show you what caliber of men and historian he is.
He is stll writing, but earn his living as a PR manager for Warsaw Academy of Fine Art.

So, you see that some topics are tabu.
I can guess that treatment of German POWs in some areas was a direct result of Allied soldiers hatred which was magnified by grim discoveries of nazi camps like Bergen- Belsen and Dachau.
It is understandible. I believe that no one is to be blamed, certainly no soldiers of any nation.

But at last we should look that not everything was always rosy.
Treatment of soviet POWs by Germans was terrible. Soviets in revange did the same.
GIs, Canadians, Poles and French had their bad cards as well.
Majority of Germans was treated according to Geneva Convention but what about Status of DEF? Disarmed Enemy Forces?


Lancer44

P.S

PDF files mentioned are too big. Is any other way to send them to you?

L44