LIFE IN PRISON
That section of the Stadtvogtei wherein I was confined could give
shelter to two hundred and fifty prisoners in about one hundred and
fifty cells. Some of the cells contained as many as eight prisoners and
a large number of them did not measure more than 12, 13, or 15 cubic
metres. The scantiness of these cavities forced the occupants to keep
the window constantly open if they would have sufficient air to breathe.
The sections, as I say, were triangular in shape, the open space inside
the triangle forming a yard, where prisoners were allowed to take a
few hours’ exercise in the afternoon. Each and every cell had a window
which opened on to the yard. Inside, a corridor followed the three
sides of the triangle, and the windows in these corridors, which
opened outwardly, were opaque, so that one’s view was blocked entirely.
The windows were all iron barred. The building was one of five storeys
counting the ground floor. On this floor were situated the dark cells
or dungeons of which there were fourteen. The windows were darkened
with outside shutters. Here were confined English prisoners who escaped
from the internment camp of Ruhleben, and were recaptured on their way
to Holland or Switzerland. According to an arrangement between Great
Britain and Germany on the subject of punishment to be inflicted on
civil prisoners who tried to escape from their respective internment
camps no prisoner was to be kept in close confinement for longer than
two weeks after recapture.
The Kommandantur of Berlin, and particularly Capt. Wolff, who appeared
to be the “big gun” on the aforesaid Kommandantur, decided to place
their own interpretation on this clause of the agreement. It was at
about this time that we saw carpenters at work in the yard making more
window shutters of the kind I have already mentioned, and afterwards
whenever one or more British prisoners were overtaken after an attempt
to escape from the camp they were each thrown into a dungeon where
for four days they were kept in absolute darkness, and on a diet of
bread and water. On the fifth day the window-shutter would be lowered
sufficient to admit a little light, and soup such as other prisoners
had took the place of water and was served with the bread. The
prisoners were then subjected to four more days of close confinement
in total darkness, at the end of which time they were again given a
little light and the extra soup. The ordeal with four more days in the
dungeon, making fourteen days altogether. Then these poor fellows were
set free, that is to say they were free as we were–allowed to move
around the cells from eight o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock
in the evening, the monotony being broken by a few hours’ exercise
during the afternoon.
Prison life was supremely monotonous. The nearest approach to
recreation was the “privilege” of watching other prisoners passing in
and out. About ten prisoners were discharged every day, and about the
same number were admitted.
The section of the jail in which we were confined was under the
primary management of the Kommandantur of Berlin. The Kommandantur was
represented at the jail by an officer who remained there during the
whole period of my incarceration. His name was Lober Lieutenant Block.
Under that officer was a sergeant-major, and under the sergeant-major
were seven non-commissioned officers and a doorkeeper, ranking as a
non-commissioned officer. Two of the non-commissioned officers occupied
an office on the ground floor. The others were assigned to duty on
the several floors where they acted as inspectors or watchmen. The
sergeant-major was responsible for the general superintendence of the
jail and he made an inspection every day. As to the head officer his
dignity was such that he would not condescend to pass through the
corridors more than two or three times a week.
A mania which appears to be general among German officers and
non-commissioned officers alike is to be both loud and violent every
time they speak to subordinates or prisoners. Not a single day would
pass without the walls ringing with the echoes of the cries and threats
these men uttered to certain prisoners.
The poor Poles! What invective and abuse they had to endure!
I mention the Poles specially because from Poland there passed during
my three years of captivity to the prison of the Stadtvogtei a greater
number of prisoners than from any other place. Of two hundred and fifty
prisoners quite two-thirds were of Polish origin. The other prisoners
included English, French, Italians, Russians, Portuguese; in fact, all
the nations at war with Germany were represented. At times there were
Arabs, Hindoos, African negroes, Japanese, and Chinese.
What may surprise the reader is the fact that the four central powers
themselves–Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey–held constantly some
of their own subjects in this prison. Germany never had less than from
five to ten of her subjects in the jail. They were mostly political
prisoners who were reputed to be a menace to the security of the German
empire. I shall have occasion later on to speak about two prisoners, in
particular, Socialist members of the Reichstag. But more than Germany
and her allies and the countries with whom they were at war were
represented in this prison. At different times, prisoners belonging
to the neutral nations of Europe–Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland,
Switzerland, and Spain–were guests at the Stadtvogtei.
How was this? the reader may ask. It is as easy to explain the
imprisonment of these people as to explain the incarceration of German
subjects. A Dane or a Hollander would visit Berlin on business or for
other purposes. He would naturally frequent the cafés, and there enter
into conversation with some Germans. If he imprudently ventured to
criticize Germany’s foreign policy or her conduct of military or naval
operations his fate was sealed. He would be allowed to return to his
hotel; he would sleep peacefully the rest of the night, quite ignorant
of the ugly fact that a sword was suspended over his head; but at
seven o’clock the next morning, he would inevitably be called upon to
follow a constable to the nearest station, whence he would be delivered
over to the Stadtvogtei, the veritable clearing house of Germany. He
would be ignorant of the cause of his imprisonment, and only after
days, perhaps weeks, of protest and correspondence with the legation
or embassy of his country, would he be submitted to an examination by
the gentlemen (?) of the Kommandantur. If, eventually, he succeeded
in regaining his liberty, he would be taken from jail direct to the
frontier, without having the opportunity even to call back at the hotel
for his personal baggage.