Oflag IV-D

Oflag IV-D was a World War II German Army prisoner-of-war camp located in Elsterhorst (now Nardt) near Hoyerswerda, then part of Lower Silesia, 44 km (27 mi) north-east of Dresden. It held mostly French, but also Belgian, Polish, Serbian,^[1] British and other Allied officers.

Oflag IV-D
Nardt near Hoyerswerda
Map of Oflag IV-D
Site information
Type	Prisoner-of-war camp
Controlled by	Nazi Germany
Location
Oflag IV-D
Coordinates	51.4514°N 14.1944°E / 51.4514; 14.1944
Site history
In use	1940–1945
Battles/wars	World War II
Garrison information
Occupants	French, Belgian, Polish, Serbian, British and other Allied prisoners of war

History

Stamp of Oflag IV-D

In June 1940, part of Stalag IV-A was separated and made into an Oflag for Belgian, British, and French officers taken prisoner during the Battle of France. Also a separate part of the camp was set aside as a hospital for prisoners Reserve Lazarett 742. There was a resistance movement in the camp.^[1] Several escape attempts occurred. On March 29–30, 1941, some 30 officers escaped through a tunnel.^[1] In September 1943 many British Commonwealth officers from the North Africa campaign. that had been held in Italian prisoner of war camps were transferred to Oflag IV-D^[2]

In February 1945, many prisoners were evacuated in death marches in various destinations, whereas some 600 sick officers and French officers-physicians were left in the camp.^[1] On April 20, 1945 the camp was liberated by the Red Army.^[1]

Notable inmates

• Kazimierz Laskowski, Polish Olympic medalist in fencing^[3]

See also

• List of German World War II POW camps