Strength Through Joy
Also under the administration of Stalag IX-C was a large hospital, "Reserve-Lazaret" IX-C(a). This was in the town of Obermaßfeld, south-west of Erfurt, in a three-story stone building that was previously a Strength Through Joy hostel. The hospital was operated by British, Canadian and New Zealand medical staff. Its staff was considerably augmented in October 1944 with the arrival of an entire ambulance team of the British 1st Airborne Division, captured at Arnhem. Patients came from across Germany, but mainly from "Wehrkreis" IX. The hospital was liberated by the U.S. 11th Armored Division.