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The [indecipherable] etc were all wrapped in barbed wire. Thus no costs had been spared
to “safely” accommodate the Huns.
The women and children, as well as the reserve officers, were lodged, albeit separately,
in the 2nd class deck facilities. To communicate with them was strictly forbidden, even for
the spouses. Machine guns had been installed between the decks to enforce order if necessary.
Needless to say, the space granted on deck for the 300 men was totally insufficient so that they had to sit or lie next to each other like sardines when they wanted fresh air; any physical activity was out of the question. My friend says, literally: “While the
machine gun team behind the iron bars kept their always loaded weapons steadily aimed at us, the guards posted below the bridge were armed not only with rifles and bayonets, but also with hoses that could be filled with boiling water from the engine room.