Joseph K. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 1415
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Dr. Joseph K., who enlisted in the United States army in September 1942 and accompanied Patton's Third Army to Buchenwald on April 13, 1945. He recounts his initial shock upon observing bodies stacked liked cordwood and his anger that the world allowed this to happen; total lack of preparation for such an encounter; attempts to help the survivors; their high death rate due to their inability to digest food; and his conversations with them during which they described some of their experiences and enlisted his aid in locating relatives in the United States. Dr. K. recalls the residents of nearby Weimar being ordered to visit Buchenwald, of which they claimed complete prior ignorance; the necessity for the American troops to suppress their own reactions in order to provide help; visits by United States Congressmen; and helping establish a hospital at Cham for displaced persons. Dr. K. discusses the organization of Buchenwald; a book published by his army unit; his family's inability to believe the horrors he described; and the importance of vigilance in preventing a recurrence. He also shows photographs.

Extent and Medium

1 videocassette

Conditions Governing Access

This testimony is open with permission.

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Copyright has been transferred to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Use of this testimony requires permission of the Fortunoff Video Archive.

Rules and Conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Process Info

  • compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

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Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.