26 January - 30 January 1945

The diary of John P. Sandford

JAN. 26. layover in Flatow [Zlotow]:

Rain ... issue 1/4 loaf of bread.

JAN. 27. to Jastrow [Jastrowie]:

19 km

11.4 miles

58.8 total miles

March organized ... to Jastrow [Jastrowie] ... sleep in warm cow barn ... get milesk.

JAN. 28. to Zippnow [Sypniewo]:

20 km

12 miles

70.8 total miles

Cross snow swept tundra ... bitter cold ... goon truck stuck - holds up the column sleep crowded in a church ... warned not to break up fixtures.

JAN. 29. to POW camp Rederitz [Nadazyce]:

6 km

3.6 miles

74.4 total miles

March across more tundra - barren - to Westhofen Bks - large German camp in the middle of nowhere - seemed half deserted - arrive early at Polish OFLAG XI D ... had been vacated - beds ... stoves ... potatoes galore ... help ourselves to fuel etc. - rumor of a lay-over. 766 men are left.

JAN. 30. to Machlin [Machliny]:

16 km

9.6 miles

84 total miles

Fear of being taken by Russ. causes Germans to move us out at 1 PM. Deep snow first two hours - again wagons and confusion - small groups of goon combat troops in white ... arrive in dark at Machlin [Machliny] ... warned town packed with Volkssturm - no political discussions - split in groups of 50 - sobbing woman won't billet us - put in another barn with orderlies. Column had about-faced in dark. Issue 1 loaf of bread.

Map by Ulrich Koch, Berlin - Germany