Prisoner of war in Stalag IV-B (Mühlberg a/d Elbe)
Ad Verhulst, who was conscripted as a sergeant at the outbreak of the Second World War, was transferred as a prisoner of war in July 1943 to the POW camp Stalag IV‑B (Stammlager) in Mühlberg on the Elbe. In the camp, he kept an almost daily diary in which he described his experiences: his interactions with fellow prisoners, the limited contact with the home front, and the manner in which the war was experienced. His book covers the period from July 1943 to May 1945. During that time, he was captured in Amersfoort and, following the liberation by the Russian army, he left the camp and began his journey home.
In his detailed accounts, Verhulst also recounts his encounters with prisoners of war from various nationalities, which gives the book a clear picture of life in the camp. In particular, the daily struggle for food, the fight against diseases, the resistance to oppression, and the ways in which boredom was overcome—all of these aspects come vividly to life in his descriptions.
The Diary page is dedicated to the book and provides information on how to order it.
The Camp Friends blog focuses on the personal connections established with fellow prisoners from various countries. Contributions and comments with additional information – such as excerpts from other diaries – are welcome.