PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE ARE FREQUENTLY UPDATED
The Clarion was a monthly magazine written by and published for the prisoners at Stalag VIIIB/344 and its various working parties. It was first published in January 1943 and the final edition was for Christmas 1944. The next edition, planned for January 1945, was being prepared - but never appeared because of the evacuation of the camp in that month. In the February 1943 issue, a sum of 310.50 Reichmarks (from the Welfare Fund) is shown as being spent on the printing of the magazine. At the official exchange rate (set by Germany) of 5 RMs to £1, this would have been worth about £62 in those days. However, the Reichmarks used as Lagergelt (money used in POW camps) might have had a different value - if anyone has more information about this, please let us know. The Magazine was printed by the Tageszeitung Oppeln, the German language newspaper in the nearby city of Oppeln (Opole).
On the cover of the first edition, RSM Sherriff, the Chief Trustee, wrote "May it's life be a complete success, but not a long one".
It lasted for two years.
We think that the copies of The Clarion available on this website are a complete collection (apart from a few missing pages), but if anyone has any copies that we do not, we would be very grateful if you could let us know.
Many names of the Prisoners of War at Stalag VIIIB/344 and the working parties are mentioned in The Clarion. The names can be found on the 'Names' page of this website. Names mentioned in The Clarion are followed by numbers, eg 7/4 - this would mean issue number 7, page 4. The names are shown as they appear in The Clarion, and this might mean that some people are listed twice - for instance there is no way of knowing whether 'Cpl Brown' is one of the other Browns whose full name is shown elsewhere.
This list will be updated as further issues are loaded onto the website.
To see copies of The Clarion
click here
On the cover of the first edition, RSM Sherriff, the Chief Trustee, wrote "May it's life be a complete success, but not a long one".
It lasted for two years.
We think that the copies of The Clarion available on this website are a complete collection (apart from a few missing pages), but if anyone has any copies that we do not, we would be very grateful if you could let us know.
Many names of the Prisoners of War at Stalag VIIIB/344 and the working parties are mentioned in The Clarion. The names can be found on the 'Names' page of this website. Names mentioned in The Clarion are followed by numbers, eg 7/4 - this would mean issue number 7, page 4. The names are shown as they appear in The Clarion, and this might mean that some people are listed twice - for instance there is no way of knowing whether 'Cpl Brown' is one of the other Browns whose full name is shown elsewhere.
This list will be updated as further issues are loaded onto the website.
To see copies of The Clarion
click here
