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"Interrogation of British Prisoners of War" from Intelligence Bulletin

[Intelligence Bulletin Cover]   Captured German instructions for interrogation of British prisoners of war, from the Intelligence Bulletin, March 1943.

[Editor's Note: The following article is wartime information on foreign tactics and equipment published for Allied soldiers. In most cases, more accurate data is available in postwar publications.]

  

INTERROGATION OF BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR

1. GENERAL

The material in this section consists of two items: a translation of a German printed form issued in pads and designed to be filled in after the interrogation of British prisoners of war, and a translation of a set of German instructions entitled "Notes on the Interrogation of British Prisoners of War." These instructions were found attached to the inside cover of a pad of the forms. This material should give the reader an excellent idea as to what kind of standard information the Germans make every effort to obtain from United Nations prisoners.

2. A SPECIMEN BLANK

No. 01061
FORM FOR P. W. INTERROGATION (ENGLAND)
  
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(Interrogating Unit) (Place)                     (Day)
To
     CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMY
          Dept.—Foreign Armies.—West.
          To be transmitted by the quickest means.
Name:
 
 
Christian Name:
 
Year of Birth:
 
Rank:
 
Number:
 
Taken
 
 
At
 
 
On
 
Unit
          Name          
   Army Corps.
 
   Division.
 
   Brigade.
 
   Battalion.
 
   Type of Company.
 
 
 
Regular
Army or
 Territorial 
Army
  
Mobilization and transport overseas
 
   Place   
 
 
  Command  
 
 
 Date 
 
 
Table
of or-
gani-
zation
of unit
 
 
Em-
bar-
kation
Place,
Date
 
 
Disem-
bar-
kation
Place,
Date
 
 
Route
taken
(places
and
dates)
 
Unit arrived in the line What units in the same
Division?
   Other units   
known
At
From
To
 
    Name.
  Division.   
  Place.
  Date.
Particulars of weapons, tanks, equipment, antigas equipment
Morale: (Losses)
  Other important items.
     REMARKS:
          1. Important papers (diaries, orders) are to be attached to the copy sent
               direct to the Chief of the General Staff in the Field.
          2. Items of local interest only are to be put on a special sheet only for units
               interested.

3. THE INSTRUCTIONS

Notes on Interrogation of British Prisoners of War.

a. The blanks are to be filled in as fully as possible.

b. Exact identification of the unit is particularly important. In the infantry, "regiment" actually means the parent unit. It has no number—only a name. The tactical formation that corresponds to our "regiment" is the British "brigade." The brigade is identified by a number, and consists of three battalions from various regiments. Since battalions from one regiment will be found with different brigades, it is especially important to find out the battalion's number.

Units of other arms are numbered, except for certain tank and armored units which were cavalry, originally and which have kept their names.

For further remarks on British Order of Battle, list of regimental names, explanation of ranks, badges, and English abbreviations, see the handbook, "The British Army."

c. Further questions to be put to prisoners:

(1) Have there been any alterations in the Order of Battle as printed in the handbook? Are alterations in progress, particularly with regard to armored formations?

(2) How far have infantry and other units been equipped with antitank and light antiaircraft units? With which units are there signal units that do not belong organically to Division Signals? What is known about the Army Air Corps or the Airborne Division (parachute and airborne troops)? Strength, organization, training, equipment, and armament of Commandos and Special Service Troops?

(3) Effect of our weapons and tanks, morally and technically? Losses in personnel, weapons, and equipment?

(4) What is known about Amphibious Transport (Landungsfahrzeuge)? New weapons (machine pistol, antitank, artillery, explosives, and hand grenades)? New tanks, especially new infantry tanks, and new armament and armor on known types of tanks? Active and passive Chemical Warfare preparations?

(5) What is known about operations in conjunction with Americans and other Allies.

(6) What rumors are there about future operations?

(7) What about the home front? Formation of new units? Movements overseas? Situation regarding supply and food? Opinions as to prospects in the war? General morale?
 

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