Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps During World War II

End of World War II in Europe

• Date: May 8, 1945
• Event: Germany's unconditional surrender marked the official end of WWII in Europe.
• Outcome: Allied armed forces advanced across Europe, encountering Nazi-established camps.

Liberation of Camps

Soviet Army

• Liberated camps in Poland, including Majdanek and Auschwitz.

British and Canadians

• Liberated Bergen-Belsen and northern German camps.

American Forces

• Liberated Dachau, Buchenwald, and others.
• Found thousands in prison and camps, witnessing the Holocaust's horrors:
  • Piles of corpses
  • Skeletal prisoners on the verge of death

First Encounters with the Holocaust

• Atrocities: Initially perceived as conventional warfare deaths, but revealed to be genocide.
• New Crime Category: Genocide, intentional destruction of a people.
• Liberators: American GIs, experienced soldiers, were shocked by civilian deaths on a massive scale.

Eyewitness Accounts

Leon Bass

• Experience: First to arrive at Buchenwald, saw "walking dead," skeletal figures holding each other.
• Witnessed: Clothing of non-survivor children.

Harry Mogan

• Background: Jewish refugee turned soldier.
• Observation: Women reduced to skeletons; horrible stench in camps.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower's Visit

• Location: Ordruf camp
• Reaction: Described scenes as beyond description; emphasized being an eyewitness to counter future denial.
• Actions: Brought Congress members and journalists to witness camps.

American Soldiers as Witnesses

Staff Sergeant Horace Evers

• Encounter: Entered Hitler's Munich quarters and wrote home about seeing Dachau.
• Description: Boxcars with bodies; disbelief turned to belief.

Paul Parks

• Witnessed: Devastated survivors in striped uniforms.

Diverse Victims of Nazi Ideology

• Primary Target: Jews, survivors of the Holocaust's annihilation goal.
• Other Victims: Roma, homosexuals, communists.
• Liberation Impact: For some, too late as hundreds died daily from various causes.

Soldiers' Humanitarian Response

• Reactions: Compassion and sympathy; many soldiers cried.
• Actions: Prioritized caring for survivors, restoring dignity.

Survivor Testimonies

Helen Greenbaum

• Liberation: March to Dachau, greeted American soldiers.

Anton Mason

• Relief: Received food from a GI, restored hope.

Sully Ganor

• Experience: Liberated by Japanese-American soldier, Clarence Matsumura.

African American and Nisei Soldiers

• Despite discrimination, served in segregated units.
• Fought for freedom and democracy, despite own families facing internment.

Reflection on Liberation

• Survivors: Safe but realized loneliness and loss.
• Liberators: Transitioned from military to humanitarian missions.

Importance of Testimonies

• Objective: Prevent future atrocities by sharing survivor and liberator stories.
• Moral Voice: Survivors and liberators speak out to ensure the Holocaust is not forgotten.