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The superseding of a general by a private soldier, whom the former, only a week before, had sentenced to undergo a term of detention for contravening a camp order, was amongst the actual incidents which accompanied the revolution in Germany. It was the more significant in that the scene was laid in Prussia, the traditional stronghold of despotic militarism.

Involved in this dramatic transfer of authority in this instance was the welfare of 400 British officers, who had had the misfortune to be taken prisoners during the course of the War. Most of them had been wounded, and after being discharged from hospital, were awaiting transfer to a permanent internment camp. I was amongst the number, having been wounded in the last big advance that the Germans made at Chemins-de-Dames the previous May, and was one of the first batch of about 200 infantry officers sent from temporary camps at Karlsruhe and Rastatt in Baden, at the the beginning of October, into what was virtually exile by the shores of the Baltic.

The camp had hitherto been used for convalescent German solders, who apparently from its proximity to the frontier, were sent there to recuperate from wounds received in the Russian campaign. It was adjacent to a tiny fishing village called Kamstigall, which stood on the shores of the Frisches Haf, and was located at the extremity of a narrow peninsula, west of the fortress and harbour of Pillau. Both camp and village faced the mainland, which could be seen across the Gulf of Danzig, which gives access by water to the grim, old, weather-beaten tow of Koenigsberg. The full camp complement was completed about a month later, by the arrival of further detachments of officers of the Royal Air Force from Ingolstadt in Bavaria, and other Infantry officers and officers of the Mercantile Marine, who had been interned at Blankenberg, near Berlin.

The camp was divided into two sections a Lower and Upper one. The latter stood on elevated ground, the former was situated on a level with, and ran close up to the quay of the little fishing cove. In the Lower Camp were the administrative huts, and huts occupied by the German soldiers, who were employed at the camp; this part was cut off from the prisoners’ quarters by a continuation of a double barbed wire fence, which closely invested the Upper Camp. In this were tightly wedged 14 huts, each accomodating 24 Officers up to the rank of Captain. Field Officers occupied cubicles in the Lower Camp, where were also housed the remainder of our number.

General Lehmann was the German camp commandant, and he was assisted by a Captain Wusterfeld who was very lame. A private soldier, by name Francke acted as interpreter. A well-known Brigadier of the 51st Division was senior British officer, and looked after the interests of prisoners generally. Lehmann and Francke were two of the most unsoldierly figures in the camp, notwithstanding the fact that many of the British officers were garbed in a motley mixture of British, French and German uniforms, having lost most of their belongings on the battlefield, whilst the majority had suffered many weeks of untold pain in so called German hospitals.

General Lehmann, who was ageing rapidly, strolled round with tottering steps, in a flowing mauve cloak, conspicuously displaying the buttonhole ribbon of the Iron Cross of the First Class, which was his only claim distinction. His authority he exercised in the main by the use of his voice, in a manner beloved by a Prussian bully. Francke, on roll call parades, trembled in his paper and leather boots before the terrifying barking of his superior. Of small stature, he blinked through his large pince-nez at the General, who bellowed over him, rather than at him, whilst his too small cap, seemed to rise on his upstanding hair. He had pigeon toes, and trotted about with short, sharp steps, steering an erratic course, like a coble taking before the breeze. Indeed, he appeared to be in a state of what is known in army parlance as “wind-up.”

Scarcely had we arrived at the camp, before the “Tame Mouse” as we nick-named him, exhibited a desire to be on the friendliest terms with us. At this time, German arms were suffering reverse after reverse in the field. Francke would smuggle newspapers into the camp for us, enter our huts full of glee at the disasters overtaking the Fatherland, and inform us with a candour, which puzzled us at first, when only German communiques were available, that we must wait until British and French reports arrived to know really what had happened. His story of himself was that he was an American citizen, but that while on business in Germany in 1915, he was ordered to report for duty as a soldier. As he persisted that he was an American, – he had a corpa plantation somewhere in Central America – he was not sent on active service, but retained to act as an interpreter for British prisoners. His knowledge of our language was decidedly limited, and his interpretation of orders to the “Schentlemens” often made us burst into loud laughter, even when the General was on parade. He did not hesitate to boast of his adherence to revolutionary principles, and held it an honour to have been arrested more than once of making seditious speeches.

One day, November 3rd, Francke did not appear as usual by his General’s side at roll call in the morning. In the afternoon, he was seen with a parcel under his arm, such a parcel as all German soldiers contrive to burden themselves with no matter where they are. He was being escorted by an armed guard. However he was all smiles, and greeted every officer, whom he saw through the wire, with “Gut afternoon, sir!” The sequel was the issue the same day of an order by the camp commandant forbidding all prisoners trading with interpreters, German soldiers, civilians or anyone outside the camp. Francke had been trading, and had been sentenced by his General to seven days’ detention, which he was to undergo at Pillau.

No wonder he smiled, for he returned to Kamstigall on November 9th, no longer a despised private, but invested with even greater power than his General. He lost no time in seeking a secret interview with our senior officers, to whom he gave the first news of the abdication of the Kaiser, and the renunciation by the Crown Prince of his claim to the throne. He was also induced to indicate the course of further developments. In consequence of his information, it appeared that a revolt amongst the German camp garrison was highly probable, and might have serious consequences for interned officers. This was particularly the case in the matter of food. As it was, it was but barely possible to keep alive on German rations, in the matter of which we lived from hand to mouth, while much delayed Red Cross parcels, which had lately arrived for us were stored in a hut in the German lines. We knew that dissatisfaction was rife in the German ranks at the shortage of food, which was a pleasing evidence as to the effectiveness of our blockage, and to prevent a possible raid by the Huns on the parcel office, a plan of action to be followed in such an event was decided upon by us.

On Sunday, November 10th, all appeared quiet. General Lehmann was seen during the day to address a gathering of soldiers, who were next noticed talking in groups, more or less excitedly. From enquiries, it was ascertained that they had been requested to pay no heed to Bolshevik agitators. German NCOs were overheard to discuss the question of the authority of their officers, and to aver that they did not intend to recognise it any longer. Francke again sought out our senior officer and presented a certificate, which set forth that he was president of the Kamstigall workmen’s and soldier’s council, which together with another at Pillau, had been elected the previous day. The Kamistigall council consisted of himself, a sergeant. and three private soldiers. He explained that the council had assumed supreme control of the camp, that their own officers would be asked if they were prepared to submit to the authority of the council, and that it was their intention to maintain absolute law and order. A meeting of the soldiers was to take place at once.

When the meeting had concluded, Francke, accompanied by another interpreter, again sought out the Brigadier in his quarters. They intimated that they had been sent as a delegation to explain the situation. All Germany was now under socialist rule, and the workmen’s and soldiers’ councils had been formed throughout the length and breadth of the country. At Kamstigall, the German officers had assented to the demand that they should submit to the orders of the local council, and what they now desired was the Brigadier’s word of honour that he would maintain law, order and discipline amongst the prisoners, and that no one would attempt to escape. If the undertaking was given the guard would be reduced to a minimum, as should be treated as friends and no longer as enemies, and the council would do all in its power to help us and expedite our return to England.

The Brigadier requested proof that they were a duly accredited deputation, and that the German officers were really aware of and assented to these developments. He was prepared to give the undertaking asked for if the German officers assured him that they recognised the council. Francke went off, and in a few moments returned with General Lehmann and Capt. Wusterfeld, both extremely crestfallen, and shorn of the hauteur they had hitherto assumed. Two brief questions were put to them by the deputation. “Do you recognise the workmen’s and soldiers’ council at Kamstigall?” “Ja! Ja!” was the prompt and humiliating response. “Are you prepared to observe the orders of the said council?” “Ja! Ja!” was the immediate answer again. Satisfied that all was in order, the Brigadier pledged himself to see that law and order were observed by the officer prisoners, and the new and old representatives of German authority withdrew, the General giving way to the private. As a precaution, some of us slept in our clothes ready to turn out should the alarm be given, but the night passed without further incident.

We woke next morning, the 11th, the date of the signing of the Armistice to find the red flag hoisted over the huts in the lower camp. The Germans had removed the cockades from their caps and all emblems of loyalty to the Fatherland from their uniforms. Their officers were no longer saluted: instead British officers were. Seeing Francke, I commented on the removal of the cap badges. “It is alike for the General as the private soldier,” he replied with unwonted gravity, doubtless feeling the responsibility of his newly acquired power. The guard had been reduced from ten to three sentries outside the wire, and all those on duty inside had disappeared. The leather, bucket shaped helmet had been discarded, and the soft, round cap was worn in its place. Bayonets moreover were not now fixed. Two British officers who were in confinement for trifling offences, one being for inserting the word “Hun” in letters home were immediately released.

The bugle for morning roll call sounded as usual at 10 am, but the parade was a mere formality. Two German officers, minus swords and emblems of authority appeared, accompanied by Francke, but they did not take the trouble to see if we were all present. The Brigadier at once held a meeting of all interned officers and explained all that had passed the previous night. In view of the uncertainty of the situation, he enjoined strict economy of all food stuffs, and informed us, should there be internal trouble in Germany and our return delayed, he would have to commandeer every particle of food and treat the camp as it were besieged.

The new regime was as good as its word, more than can be said of the old. A huge pile of letters which were awaiting censorship was at once delivered. I myself received my first mail, consisting of 31 letters that day, exactly 24 weeks after I had been taken prisoner. The delay in correspondence which had been held up for months, was at once explained. What a joy it was to be able to tear open an envelope again! Unrestricted freedom to visit playing fields was given, and walks, which General Lehmann had cancelled because we walked off roll call parade one morning, as a protest for being kept an undue length of time in a biting wind, were resumed.

The General’s final degradation was his dismissal by Francke, who justified his action with the comment, “I don’t think he was much use.” But the ex-general had appealed to him to reconsider his decision, because of his wife and family, who would be faced with destitution if he had to go. “So I decreed,” added the magnanimous Francke, “that he should stay.”

On Sunday, December 8th the camp was evacuated and we entrained at Pillau for Danzig, where we embarked for home. Francke accompanied us to the latter place and there we left the “Tame Mouse,” who had successfully performed his part in nibbling through the casing of the Mailed Fist to the enjoyment of his share of the contents of what was, after all, only an empty shell.

Reference: Durham County Record Office, E/HB 2/579

Where to find this: https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/asc/roll/publications/

Contributed by Durham County Record Office