Oflag V-B

Oflag V-B Biberach, was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Biberach in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg from 1940 to 1942. Most of the prisoners were British officers captured in the Battle of France in 1940 or in Greece in June 1941. In October 1941 all the officers were transferred to Oflag VI-B in Warburg.

The camp was originally built as barracks for German Army infantry early in 1939 and consisted of concrete single storey buildings on a plateau north-west of the town. It was named "Lindele". In good weather there was a fine view of the Alps to the south. In May 1940 the British and Commonwealth officers began arriving in June 1940. The senior British officer was Major-General V. M. Fortune. The camp was clean and living conditions were satisfactory.

The first officers from the Battle of Greece arrived 16 June 1941. They were surprised at the good conditions after several weeks of travel and grim conditions in transit camps.

After the removal of the British, the camp was used for three months as a transit camp for Soviet prisoners. Then it was used as a temporary camp for French and Serbian officers.

In September 1942 the camp was changed to an Internment Camp Ilag for civilian families from the Channel Islands.

Escapes

There were several escape attempts during the summer of 1941. In the largest such attempt on 13 September, 26 prisoners got out through a tunnel. Four managed to reach Switzerland, the rest were recaptured. It is possible that the large number or escape attempts and the close proximity to the Swiss border prompted the authorities to move the prisoners.

Sources

• German army list in German
• History of Biberach camp in German
• New Zealand Army WWII history

See also

• List of German WWII POW camps
• Oflag
• Oflag VI-B in Warburg
• Ilag

Coordinates: 48°06′29″N 9°46′37″E / 48.1080555556°N 9.77694444444°E / 48.1080555556; 9.77694444444