Ad Verhulst was conscripted as a sergeant at the outbreak of the Second World War. In July 1943 he had to report in Amersfoort, where he was taken prisoner and from there transferred to the POW camp Stalag IV-B (Stammlager) in Mühlberg on the Elbe. In the camp he kept an almost daily diary describing his experiences: his interactions with fellow prisoners, the limited contact with the home front, and the way the war was experienced there. His book covers the period from July 1943 to May 1945; 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 of various nationalities, which gives the book a clear picture of life in the camp. In particular, the daily struggle for food, the fight against disease, the resistance to oppression, and the ways in which boredom was overcome — all of these 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.