Between 1939 and '45, more than 1 Million POWs out of 46 nations were imprisoned in sandbostel. Among them were personalities like the philosopher Louis Althusser, the writers Gaston Aufrere, Leo Malet (his most famous book being the Nestor Burma detective stories) and Giovanni Guareschi, the creator of Don Camillo and Peppone. Also the future Olympic champion Wiktor Tschurakin was a prisoner in Sandbostel.
Approximately 50000 men didn't survive their term of imprisonement. They died of hunger, ilness or were simply murdered. Immediately after liberation, British troops did compare the camp to the KZ Bergen Belsen; the treatment of the prisoners did cause such a disguist among them, that their commanding officer intended to destroy some villages in the vicinity. This was only prevented by the intervention of the Selsingen ministers. Everyone who has seen photos of the bodies in the camp can understand the British troops' fury. The POW Sergej Litwin from the USSR, he was clerk in the camp's administration, did also tell of medical experiments with inmates, e.g. with lice and starvation agents. " I knew nothing of the other experiments, because this hut was guarded closely. I only know, that these human guinea pigs were later moved to other camps. Transport took place clandestinely and the Soviet clerks didn't register it any where."

There did exist a hierarchy, wanted and encouraged by the Germans, among the prisoners. At the top were Americans and Brits, followed by Frenchmen and Belgians and then Serbs and Greeks. At the end, Poles, Italians and at last the Soviets could be found. This did also mirror the treatment they did receive in the camp. While some were treated according to the Geneva Convention, others, like the Soviets and Italians, had no rights at all. They could neither receive parcels from home nor tell their relatuives, that they were alive.
For the most prisoners, the life in Sandbostel was marked by the hope of being released and sent back home soon, what did happen mostly to those who were ill and fathers of large families. The Soviet POWs, though, had no chance of relieve. They were exploited ruthlessly, working long hours on tiny rations. Any violation of rules was punished hard. So thousands of them perished at Sandbostel.
But also prisoners of from other countries had to suffer mistreatment or even death by the hand of the German guards. The Italian Lieutenant Romeo, for example, was shot dead in the middle of the day while he was washing himself and the German Feldwebel Westphal did shoot a number of POWs because for not having ID papers. It did happen, that the guards on the towers did shoot at the huts during the nights without any reason.

Within the camp, huts for the ill could be found in the different areas. There were three of these for approx. 300 till 400 patients in the Soviel part, two to three for the French, Belgians, Poles etc., one hut each in the Mar lag (Navy Camp) and Ilag (Camp for Internees) as well as at least temporarily one hut for the Italians.
Additionally out of the Camp the Reserve Hospital XB with more than 1750 beds did exist. The patients were treated, among others, also by doctors from the POWs' ranks.

The leading medical officer, though, was a German. AH bedridden POWs from Wehrkreis (Military Region) X were transfered to the Reserve Hospital.
It did consist of a number of massive huts for patients, buildings for the sanitary installations, one for the washing, a cook-house and other huts. The medical Services were judged to be good by the POWs. It has to be noted, though, that the quality of medicine was not the same for all prisoners, mayn receiving no treatment at all.

Since december 1941 did exist in hut 18 for the French prisoners a study centre with courses for Theology, Chemistry, Painting, Music, Law, Physics, Languages, Mechanics and Accountancy. Also forphysical fitness, facilities were available: Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball Boxing and some other sports were offered. The prisoner's representative had access to a film projector, too."Spare Time" did also exist for some of the prisoners. Available was a library with about 15000 books, which could also be transported via a mobile lending Station to the men in the External Detachments. In an other room, specially selected newspapers could even be read. Intellectual centre was the theatre Company "L'equipe".

Led by the well-known French actor Marco Behar, the ensemble, who did have leave from all work-duties, rehearsed initially twice weekly in an unused shop. After having received an own hut, practice took place daily, so every month a new play could be performed. Offers from theatres in Berlin were rejected by the ensemble, though. But more popular among the prisoners was the Jazz- and dance-band playing since 1944 every Saturday in the so-called "Pigalle", styled after a Paris bar. Additionally a Symphonie orchestra did exist; the Instruments being presents from the Red Cross. Also the musicians were exempt from work duties. In one the Oflag huts, a room for games like chess, domino, cards and table-tennis was available.