The Melancholy State: A History of South African Prisoners of War - S. G. Wolhuter

The title is taken from Winston Churchill's description of the status of a prisoner of war.

The author was an Intelligence Sergeant in Die Middellandse Regiment and was taken prisoner in June 1942 with the fall of Tobruk. The war in the Western Desert with its harsh conditions, rough soldiers' humour, victor" and defeat is nostalgically recalled.

Incarceration follows in the prison camps of Derna and Benghazi in North Africa and Laterina in Italy a period of 15 months of privation.

After the capitulation of Italy in September 1943 prisoners were forcibly removed to Stalag IVB at Mühlberg-on-Elbe in Germany. This camp had a population of 20 000 men of various nationalities including 700 South Africans. Life in the Stalag, methods of escape, the Germans as detaining Power, other nationalities and in particular the Russian prisoners are described with intimate Knowledge.