Norris B. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Norris B., who was drafted into the United States infantry at age eighteen and sent to France in January 1945. He recalls moving through France and Germany; serving as a rifleman and interpreter; interviewing captured German prisoners; vague knowledge of concentration camps; stumbling across prisoners in very bad condition, then entering Gunskirchen; giving what little food they had to the prisoners; shock at piles of corpses and conditions in the camp; realizing many prisoners would not survive due to their debilitated condition; local civilians claiming no knowledge of the camp although it was in clear view; leaving after a medical unit arrived; interrogating Axis prisoners suspected of war crimes; arrogance and lack of cooperation from SS members; writing letters home which were published locally; and returning to the United States in April 1946.
Extent and Medium
2 videocassettes
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
People
- B., Norris.
Corporate Bodies
- Gunskirchen (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Liberator.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, American.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
Places
- United States -- Armed Forces -- Europe.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat