Liberating Dachau 1945

Eisenhower said “take as many pictures of this as possible because at some time in the future someone will say it didn’t happen “…..document everything.

My father and uncle were medics whose units both released Dachau. They had not seen each other in 4 years. They were allowed to work together so they could reunite. They had to help clean the still warm ovens side by side. Dad had terrible ptsd from it. He went on to serve in the Army for 22 years. He went as a medic to Korea during the worst of the fighting. He would tell us stories of Korea. But he only talked to me of Dachau one time. We had learned about the camps that day in grade school. I was so shocked I told my parents about it at dinner that night. I have never forgotten the look of horror that came over his face as I told them. He braced himself and went on to tell me about as calmly as he could. My mother had been WAC carrying for US soldiers who had shell shock. She knew all about the camps too. She just never had to see them. After dinner, when she and I were washing the dishes, she explained more to me. She also asked me never to mention to dad again. She was the one who had to help calm him to sleep on the bad nights. She told me to bring all my questions about the war only to her. That she would answer them. She was true to her word. Over the years, we had many deep conversations about the war and the occupation period in Germany. My parents were stationed and met during the occupation in Germany. I am very grateful that so many have shared here about their families' experiences. It is hard for us to share, but we each know that this truth must be shared shared with the world. You each give me hope at 74 years that this won't be forgotten after I am gone.

Dear Marc Felton, I am Marc Schölermann, born 1965 in Hamburg, Germany. Thank you for showing and remind me what we did. Truth only can set us free.

My grandmother was in Dachau for most of the war, how she survived 5 years there is amazing.

My grandfather was there. He was 42nd infantry and liberated the camp. He just passed away this month at the age of 95. Thank you so much for this video.

I love these videos. No waffle, no cheesy re-enactments, no background music dictating how you should feel. Just pure, unadulterated history.

One of my JROTC instructors was 1SGT Milton Mautner in Chicago in the late 1970s. He liberated Dachau and un-stacked the LIVING prisoners who were incredibly weak; they had been stacked like cordwood by other prisoners under orders from camp guards. Every dying prisoner (malnutrition) was tended to by one soldier and given very small amounts of water. They were comforted and made to understand that they were going to die, but that they would die free. He told me that this made the prisoners smile and most passed very soon after. He cried like a baby as he told me this story. He fought in Korea and multiple tours in Vietnam. He was 6'2" and strong as a bull, but telling that story reduced him to uncontrolled sobbing. It changed my life. RIP 1SGT Mautner. (Silver Star, never wore his jacket. I learned about it years later.)

Back in the 90s I interviewed an American veteran who had been among the first liberators inside this camp. He was from Nebraska, where whole towns were populated with German immigrants, and was himself bilingual; all 4 of his grandparents spoke only German. In his own words, he said, "I had years of problems after I saw that. I was mad at my own people."

History Channel: We’re going to play “Pawn Stars” instead of history programs.

Mark Felton: Fine, I’ll do it myself.

My dad at eighteen liberated Dachau. It ruined the rest of his life. He had terrible depression and PTSD in his later years

My father helped helped liberate Dachau. He suffered from PTSD as well. RIP Dad. I love you.

My dad was part of the troops who liberated Dachau. He spoke very little of what happened. He told my brothers about the town’s people being made to tour the camp. A Hitler Youth laughed when a body was removed from a crematorium. Dad broke his jaw with a rifle butt.

My uncle was liberating Dachau. His last name was Trzecieski. He was tank crew member. His testimony was passed to me by relatives. Now I am 73 & I listened to this story several times as a child. He was young man from NYC. He said that horror discovered by young American soldiers was to big to handle. He said that German guards were lined up by US soldiers against the wall & machined down. Prisoners finished them off by ripping Germans to pieces, stepping them down into the soil. Some of the prisoners were so fragile, malnourished, that emotions (happiness) of the day caused them to die that day. Later my uncle became engineer & worked on first intercontinental ballistic missile Polaris. He suffered from PTSD.

Mark Felton and the larger community of dedicated Second World War historians deserve far more praise. And despite the demonetizations you’re telling the stories that need to be told. Way better than the watered down stuff on cable TV.

My uncle served under Patton and helped to liberate Dachau. He lived to be two weeks shy of 100 (I am 70 now - 2023) and I have always been fascinated by the history of WWII. Uncle Bud didn't tell me much -- partly I believe because I was his 'little niece' and surely because so many men didn't want to talk a lot about their experiences. I understood this so I never pushed. He may have talked more with my brother; I do want to ask him so that I can possibly learn a bit more. I wonder what kind of conditions he was exposed to throughout that war. When I see videos like this, I always look for him. History never ceases to amaze me. The brave men and women who work and fight in and for wars are special heros to say the least. But the ultimate sacrafice to me, would be for mankind to be brave enough to make peace at all costs -- a notion far more difficult than fighting for any cause.

My Dad was in the US 7th Army 42nd Field Artillery Regiment under General Edward Brooks. He went through Dachau and took lots of pictures that I saw. The images are some I will never forget. I know He hated the SS because of what He saw. All my aunts and Uncles said that after the war, my Dad was a different person than before He went over. He was in the Army from 1942 and went through North Africa, Tunisia, Kasserine Pass, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, Southern France, Alsace and So. Germany. He never really talked about the War until just before His death and the things He did finally reveal were horrifying beyond imagination. I also have to say that He was the best Dad a child could have despite the things that He witnessed. May God bless all those that went through those events and cleanse them from the bitterness of the memories of seeing things that no one should ever see.

My father is pictured in the liberation at 11:37-40, front bottom left corner, hat in hand over head. He turned 90 last month. Thank you USA!

My father Michael Kaminsky was a liberator with the 42nd infantry division. He will never forget April 29th. He is still alive.

The care and willingness to try and save so many is a huge testament to US compassion. Huge respect.

Father in law was a US medic at the camps. He told me the major cause of death of inmates immediately after liberation was, ironically, food. People in late stage starvation were fed as much military rations as rhey wanted & their bodies shut down, some dying right after they first ate, many within days. Medics learned to give small them quantities of soup & bread till they could handle more.