Sunday, April 22 1945. During the night I slept lightly on the guard room floor after being on duty at the other end of the camp from 1am until 3am. This period was quiet except for a burst of fire from an aircraft which flew low over the camp but fortunately no casualties were caused. About 6am there was a loud burst of cheering from the Russian compound nearby and on rushing outside we found a Russian armoured car surrounded by a wildly excited crowd of Russian POW. It did not stay long enough for many in the camp to see the first indication of liberation but it collected two senior Russian Officers and went to HQ where it called for General Ruge, an American Colonel and an interpreter. The two latter rode on the outside of the car as it made its way to Luckenwalde town but on its route the armoured car was fired on by a group of Germans; the outside passengers quickly vacated their position into a ditch from which they retraced their steps to camp while the car continued to Luckenwalde with the General.
Spirits in the camp rose fast and about 11 o'clock six Russian tanks and several lorries entered the camp to be greeted by great cheers from the entire personnel who were still confined to their own
compounds unless on duty. One tank on its way through the compound simply mowed down the wire alongside our compound. The Russian troops looked tired but cheerful as they responded to our greetings and we all remarked on their tough appearance - a number of Mongolians amongst them. The tanks went straight to the Russian compound where the prisoners were addressed by the Tank Commander and within half an hour the tanks left the camp closely followed by all the Russian POW except those who were too ill to walk. No one ever knew what happened to these prisoners but there seems little doubt that some of them joined the front line troops immediately; the Russian authorities apparently took the view that it was dishonourable to be taken prisoner and no doubt many of them tried to rehabilitate themselves this way.
This episode was felt to be the highlight of the period as it marked our definite liberation from the Germans but we were still in Russian hands and from this time on morale fell; nearly all danger was past, tension relaxed and everyone was interested in just one thing - getting home.

Friday, April 27 1945. As the days passed with nothing happening spirits got lower as boredom increased and as I write this today a feeling of restiveness is very apparent.
The battle moved away rapidly and we realise how lucky we have been in having avoided any casualties while one of the greatest battles in history surged past us on all sides. Nevertheless the lack of any news as to our future is causing a lot of grumbling and I admit to having done a good deal myself but a cool look at the situation shows it to be a difficult one. It is clear that we cannot be moved until either the Russians and Americans achieve a broad link up to the South of us or the Russians can relieve the transport congestion which is bound to occur to the East. The real trouble is that most of us were confident that we would be evacuated within 48 hours of liberation and probably this would have happened if the Americans had arrived first.
One of the first results of the Russian presence was an improvement in our food supply with the arrival of butter, fresh meat and fresh bread. Parties of Russian Officers are frequently in camp for various purposes and so far we have been favourably impressed by them, both in their attitude and in their efforts to make our stay more comfortable.
The only real trouble has involved some French POW who apparently were allowed by the Germans to come and go between the camp and the town and it is difficult to restrain them now. Inevitably several got out on Monday night and four Frenchmen got into trouble with a Russian patrol in the vicinity with the result that three were shot and killed.
Yesterday my back became very painful due to continued standing on guard duty at the gates and I was relieved of my duties. By now most fellows have become resigned to a fairly long stay here before repatriation and the whole camp is gradually being made into the semblance of a RAF station with all the usual sections; even sports and entertainments are being organised on a proper footing for the first time.
Today however an interesting new development has taken place affecting our small group of four as Ted Walker has been asked to organise a Carpenters shop in order to carry out repairs and any
small jobs which may crop up. A workshop already exists outside the camp and since the German departure it has been used by a few Frenchmen for their own purposes. I accompanied Ted to the workshop and acted as a somewhat inadequate interpreter in order to prepare the French for our occupation. We had HQ permission to move in and use part of the building as living quarters but we expected to meet considerable opposition from the French; however they accepted the situation without argument and we immediately began to arrange things to our satisfaction with Ray Hartwell and Johnny Sutton thus retaining our group intact. Actually only Ted and Ray are skilled carpenters but no doubt Johnny and I will be able to pull our weight as unskilled labourers.