Donald M. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 2355
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Donald M., who served in the United States Army as a chaplain's assistant. He recounts arriving in Europe in October 1944; moving with the 103d Division from England through France to Germany; having no prior knowledge of concentration camps; arriving in Buchenwald shortly after its liberation; the emaciated prisoners; bodies stacked for burning; taking pictures of the camp and survivors; and the pervasive stench. Mr. M. recalls his initial shock at the conditions; the people of Weimar claiming complete ignorance of Buchenwald, though only few miles away; mass graves; ordering local people to visit the graves and smell the bodies; moving to Ro?tz; remaining in Europe after the war; and his discharge in March 1946. He reflects on feeling privileged to relate the facts about Buchenwald to others; talking about his experience at his granddaughter's school; the impact of the snapshots taken in Buchenwald on children; and the war's maturing influence on his life.

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.