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Feldpost picture postcard posted at Zeithain Lager on 9th August 1943, showing a substantial building within the Hauptlager complex at Zeithain in Saxony.

The Wehrmacht had established Zeithain in 1941 as Stalag 304 (IV H) specifically for Soviet prisoners of war. From September 1942 it operated as Stalag IV B/Z, subordinate to Stalag IV B Mühlberg. During early 1943 the camp was transformed into the Kriegsgefangenen-Reservelazarett Zeithain, which had a nominal capacity of approximately 7,700 beds and became the largest POW reserve hospital in the German Reich.

At the date of this postcard, the overwhelming majority of prisoners at Zeithain were seriously ill or severely weakened Soviet POWs. Conditions and medical provision remained grossly inadequate, with tuberculosis particularly prevalent and high mortality continuing amongst the prisoners. Ultimately tens of thousands of Soviet POWs died at Zeithain, principally from starvation and disease.

The apparently tranquil photograph captioned “Zeithain – Hauptlager” therefore provides a stark contrast with the conditions prevailing amongst the prisoners at the site when the card was posted. Ref: 09.08.1943 - 36/29