Stalag 12A to 9B - Liberation Date?

Hello. Am researching my boyfriend's father who was WWII POW at Stalag 12A to 9B. I have hit an obstacle in discerning his release date from prisoner camp. According to NARA records, as well as other POW online records, he was held from 21 Jan 1945 to 04 Mar 1946. However this contradicts general documentation that Stalags were liberated in spring 1945. Is there anyone who can help clarify this issue - i.e. is it a government typo, or were some American prisoners held longer, etc.? Below is the info from NARA WWII POW archives. Thank you in advance for your assistance! Lisa


Field Title

Value

Meaning

[SIZE=10pt]SERIAL NUMBER[/SIZE]

36550004

36550004

[SIZE=10pt]NAME [/SIZE]

VIRGA JAMES

VIRGA JAMES

[SIZE=10pt]GRADE, ALPHA[/SIZE]

PFC

Private First Class

[SIZE=10pt]GRADE CODE[/SIZE]

7

Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide or Private First Class or Ensign or Second Class, Seaman

[SIZE=10pt]SERVICE CODE[/SIZE]

1

ARMY

[SIZE=10pt]ARM OR SERVICE[/SIZE]

INF

Infantry

[SIZE=10pt]ARM OR SERVICE CODE[/SIZE]

10

INF: INFANTRY

[SIZE=10pt]DATE REPORT: DAY (DD)[/SIZE]

21

21

[SIZE=10pt]DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM)[/SIZE]

1

1

[SIZE=10pt]DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y)[/SIZE]

5

1945

[SIZE=10pt]RACIAL GROUP CODE[/SIZE]

1

WHITE

[SIZE=10pt]STATE OF RESIDENCE[/SIZE]





[SIZE=10pt]TYPE OF ORGANIZATION[/SIZE]

740

Branch Immaterial/Infantry Division Band/Dental Corps/Medical Department

[SIZE=10pt]PARENT UNIT NUMBER[/SIZE]

301

301

[SIZE=10pt]PARENT UNIT TYPE[/SIZE]

6

Group/Regiment/Commands/System

[SIZE=10pt]AREA[/SIZE]

72

European Theatre: Germany

[SIZE=10pt]LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD)[/SIZE]

4

4

[SIZE=10pt]LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM)[/SIZE]

3

3

[SIZE=10pt]LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y)[/SIZE]

6

1946

[SIZE=10pt]SOURCE OF REPORT[/SIZE]

1

Individual has been reported through sources considered official.

[SIZE=10pt]STATUS[/SIZE]

7

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

[SIZE=10pt]DETAINING POWER[/SIZE]

1

GERMANY

[SIZE=10pt]CAMP[/SIZE]

63

Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08

 

It says that he was "Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated". The date may or may not refer to his liberation date from the camp. Stalag 9B was liberated on 2 April 1945. Here are a couple links I found using a search for "liberation Stalag 9B:

Stalag IX-B

Stalag IX-B Liberation

The search also brought up some links to personal stories of former POWs of Stalag 9B. It may be worth reading though some of them.

 

My daddy was captured on January 21, 1945 at the battle of Reipertswiller, France was wounded and sent to Stalag 12A. What Regiment was he in and company daddys was 157th Regiment company E.