Professor Werner Wachsmuth - autobiography extract (160 POW Camp Lydiard Park)

A translation from the autobiography of Professor Werner Wachsmuth ‘Ein Leben mitdem Jahrhundert’ (published in Germany, 1985) by kind permission of the Wachsmuth family (2022).

Dr Wachsmuth, a young veteran of World War I, became a highly regarded doctor during the 1930's, obtaining a professorship at the University of Leipzig. He joined the Reichswehr in order not to have to become a member of a National Socialist organisation and at the outbreak of World War II became the Head of the Special Surgical Hospital of the German Army High Command.

In the following year Professor Wachsmuth was put in charge of a huge field hospital of the Army High Command in Brussels which dealt with the most complicated and challenging surgical cases, both military and civilian.

His devotion to his patients was proved in September 1944 as the allies advanced. Wachsmuth refused a direct order from Hitler to evacuate the hospital and chose instead to stay with his 1200 seriously wounded patients believing they would be safer as Prisoners of War under British command. His staff remained loyal to him and stayed too. Wachsmuth' s decision saved hundreds of lives; the majority of patients and hospital personnel were transported to England, first to Watford and then to 160 POW Camp Lydiard Park.

In his autobiographical account Professor Waschsmuth describes life at the camp, a narrow escape from Nazi sympathisers and his repatriation to Germany where he went on to become one of the country's most revered surgeons. The account includes the reference he received from Lydiard's camp Commanding Officer, Colonel Sutton, which demonstrates the personal respect and warmth that existed between the two men.

The Friends of Lydiard Park are indebted to the Wachsmuth family for their permission to include this extract in The Lydiard Park Archives in which Professor Wachsmuth describes his time in England as a Prisoner of War and principal surgeon at 106 POW Camp Lydiard Park. We are also indebted to former German teacher at Commonweal School in Swindon, Mr Wally Knight, for translating the following passages so faithfully.