cellelaager

Updated: May 7, 2025

We knew that they would be intercepted and go to the Commandant. They did. We were marched to Cellelaager to go through the fumigating machine. We went into a large hut, stripped, tied our clothes in a bundle and shoved them into the large oven to bake for five hours while we sat round with nothing on but a smile. In the interval we were made to run the clippers closely over our heads and bodies.

George Pearson - The Escape of a Princess Pat: Being the full account of the capture and fifteen months': imprisonment of Corporal Edwards, of the Princess Patricia's: Canadian Light Infantry, and his final escape from Germany: into Holland

Each unit retained the name of Cellelaager and received in addition a number, as Cellelaager 1, Cellelaager 2 and so on. There were grounds here providing a lot for football, and a theatre run by the prisoners, for which there was an entrance fee, and other like amusements. These, however, were only for those prisoners who were on good behaviour and who were employed there.

George Pearson - The Escape of a Princess Pat: Being the full account of the capture and fifteen months': imprisonment of Corporal Edwards, of the Princess Patricia's: Canadian Light Infantry, and his final escape from Germany: into Holland

As such they were denied such desperadoes as ourselves. We remained there for two weeks and were then sent to the punishment camp known as Vehnmoor or Cellelaager 6. This was a good day's ride away and also in Hanover, fifteen kilometres from the big military town of Oldenburg.

George Pearson - The Escape of a Princess Pat: Being the full account of the capture and fifteen months': imprisonment of Corporal Edwards, of the Princess Patricia's: Canadian Light Infantry, and his final escape from Germany: into Holland

The Swamp at Cellelaager Seven Hundred Men and Two Small Stoves Taking the Stripes Down The Recreant Sergeant Major "Go Ahead an' Shoot !" Giessen is in Hesse. Shortly after this we were all sent to Cellelaager in Hanover. This was the head camp of a series reserved for the punishment or the working of prisoners.

George Pearson - The Escape of a Princess Pat: Being the full account of the capture and fifteen months': imprisonment of Corporal Edwards, of the Princess Patricia's: Canadian Light Infantry, and his final escape from Germany: into Holland