From Ropes to Chains

The 2nd of December, they brought in these chains, and it was a set of chains for every man. So the chains were put on, so you had the chains on from about six in the morning until about nine or ten o’clock at night depending when they got them off and when they started. But we could open the bloody chains with the key from the Bully beef tin, the little key that had been in the parcels. And to put your great coat on or take your great coat off or whatever, you know, you undo the chain and pull it through. And I don’t think they ever knew we could do this. If you were caught with them off, your hands were chained behind your back and you were stood outside, regardless of the weather with your nose and toes touching the wall for maybe 8, 9, 10, 2 hours, whatever. And you’d stand there and you might piddle yourself if you had to because, you know, they wouldn’t let you take your hands off to go for a leak. Unbelievable and I have actually seen him, I stood there, I didn’t have it done to me but I seen guys standing there. So, this went on and on through the winter, cold, we were all wearing wooden clogs because your feet were too cold in the leather boots. Luckily we had all our army stuff and, of course, we got British issue because they were supplying the camp from England. The British supplied everything; all the clothing, all the blankets, all the medicine, the dental equipment, the delouser, the British supplied everything. The Germans supplied nothing in Stalin-gate B except their lousy, stinking rations