Dachau concentration camp

The Dachau concentration camp was a Nazi German concentration camp near the city of Dachau, north of Munich, in southern Germany.

Liberation of the camp, 1945

The camp was freed by the 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Seventh Army on April 29, 1945. These American forces were led by Lieutenant Colonel Felix S. Sparks. It was used for many years thereafter as a residence for refugees. http://www.45thinfantrydivision.com/new_page_6.htm

Related Topics:
45th Infantry Division - U.S. Seventh Army - April 29 - 1945

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It holds a significant place in public memory because it was the second camp to be liberated by British or American forces, and therefore it was one of the first places in which the West was exposed to the reality of Nazi brutality through first-hand journalist accounts and through newsreels. After the camp was surrendered to Allied forces, the troops were so horrified by conditions at the camp that they summarily shot all of the camp guards, in what some call the Dachau Massacre. However, according to other versions, only 35 Nazi guards were thus executed. The other 515 presumably were either arrested, or managed to escape. The Americans found 32,000 prisoners, dying slowly and crammed 1600 to each of 20 barracks, which had been designed to house 250 people each. The US troops also found 39 railroad cars, each filled with one hundred or more corpses.

Related Topics:
British - American - The West - Nazi - Journalist - Newsreels - Allied forces - Dachau Massacre

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The U.S. 7th Army's version of the events of the Dachau Liberation are available in Report of Operations of the Seventh United States Army, Vol. 3. page 382. It has been alleged that further photographic evidence was destroyed by General George S. Patton.

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The evidence of this U.S. war crime is the photographs reprinted in Col. Howard A. Buechner's book, "Dachau - The Hour of the Avenger". Dr. Buechner was the chief medical officer of his division and was present during the liberation of Dachau.

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