Hello

In my researches into the 24-man crew of the u-boat UC 61 captured on 26 July 1917, I have just found a typed list, supposedly complete, of the members of the Kaiserliche Marine held in prisoner of war camps in France (Freiburg, RM 20/504), including many handwritten additions. The document is not well dated, but it does contain a forty-page document listing the rules agreed between the French and the Germans for treatment of prisoners which is dated 26 April 1918. The list suggests it is accurate to 31 March 1919. However, I know from other information that it is not always correct.

I mention all this because the list contains seventy-five prison camps and, separately, nine Gefangenen-Kompagnie without place names with together thirty-two men (of which eighteen men of the UC 61 crew); the bureau de renseingnements in Paris with one man (UC 61 crew); and twelve men in gefagenenlager unbekannt (unknown camps). I estimate over 300 prisoners are named in sixteen pages.

I wonder if a better list of French camps and German navy prisoners exists?

The only other two u-boat company POWs are UB 26 (scuttled at Le Havre): 1 man at Carcassonne, 1 at Cholet, 1 at St Angeau, 12 at Orleans, 2 at Montargis, 3 at Le Havre, 1 at Etampes; and UC 38 (sunk by gunfire, Gulf of Patras): 2 at Sisteron, 8 x Marseilles, 8 x Carpiegne. They are well spread around, as were the crew of UC 61. I think the camp names are correctly read.

If anyone wants any names or more details, please make contact.

Best wishes
Chris Heal