One prisoner did die indirectly as a result of man violence. He was Otto Iskat, a 53-year old Army construction administration official who had been captured whilst supervising defensive works in France. He had made a casual remark about the futility of war and his age had not prevented the younger prisoners in his hut from falling on him in fury. Rumours speculated that he had been knifed, but these proved to be untrue. Although not an elderly man, Iskat was evidently not in good health and suffered from heart and circulatory ailments. A subsequent medical investigation revealed he died on 26 January 1945 of Acute Syncope (recurrent and sudden fainting) compounded by Arteriosclerosis and Hyperpiesia. Perhaps the trauma of the alleged attack proved more than his poor physical condition could stand.

Although details are lacking, Otto Iskat served in the Austro-Hungarian Army as an infantryman during World War I and received the Austrian Silver Bravery Medal, the Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Karl Troop Cross for bravery at the front. After being captured by the Russians on the Eastern Front, he was transported to a prisoner of war (POW) camp in Siberia. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 and the subsequent Bolshevik revolution, Otto was released from the camp and travelled across Siberia to Vladivostok where he served for a time in the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). In an odyssey lasting nearly two years, he survived the trek by relying on his wits, artistic prowess (a lifelong passion - see below), and language skills. (Interestingly, Iskat is Russian word that means "to search," an apt name for one who accomplished such a trek across a war torn continent!). Anecdotal family evidence suggests Otto was familiar with some 13 languages, including Mandarin and Japanese; a skill that no doubt aided him in his travels. (A document written in old-style Russian Cyrillic language now possessed by the Iskat family indicates that Otto Iskat was apparently traveling with the permission of the new Revolutionary body. The document instructed all persons to render any and or all assistance to Iskat by way of transportation, food, lodging and other aid during his journey.)

Otto Iskat finally departed Vladivostok aboard the Japanese steamer 'Kaikyu Maru' and arrived at Trieste where he and other former prisoners of war travelled to Wien (Vienna) aboard a special reserved train. He was formally released from military service on 10 January 1921 with a 25% disability from his war service.

Following the war, he made his living for a time as a translator and a streetcar conductor before finding employment in the following capacities:

Following the Anschluss (Union) of the Republic of Austria with the Third Reich on 13 March 1938, Otto Iskat and his family found themselves citizens of Germany. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Iskat was called up for military service. Leaving his civilian employment with the Heating Equipment Manufacturing Company in Stuttgart, he donned the field grey uniform of the German Army. Period photographs and anecdotal family evidence suggests he served as a Whermachtbeamte or an Armed Forces Administration Official supervising military construction projects in France. The Iskat family recalled his rank was major for most of the war, but he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before his capture. However, the rank of major corresponded to the Whermachtbeamte rank of Regierungsbaurat, or a construction and/or building administration official, while a lieutenant colonel equated to an Oberregierungsbaurat in the same administrative field. His death certificate merely lists his rank as Baurat or construction official. While Iskat’s death certificate documents his unit affiliation as the Organisation Todt (OT), it would appear he was only on detached duty with that organization in France. Again, period photographs clearly depict Iskat wearing Army uniform and not OT dress.