Compilation footage of Nazi concentration camps in
the immediate aftermath of World War II. The footage
was gathered by the US Department of Defense as part
of the effort to conduct war crimes trials commited
as a result of the holocaust. The six reels presented
below make up the entirety of this graphic film. They
will give you a chance to hear real holocaust survivor
stories and see the stark scenes of death and human
suffering commited at these Nazi concentration camps.
Reel 1:
Army Lt. Col. George C. Stevens, Navy Lt. E. Ray Kellogg
and U.S. Chief of Counsel Robert H. Jackson read exhibited
affidavits which attest to authenticity of scenes in
film and presents the facts of the holocaust as witnessed
by them. Map of Europe shows locations of concentration
camps in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovokia,
Danzing, Denmark, France, Germany, Isle of Jersey, Latvia,
Netherlands, Poland and Yugoslavia. At Leipsig Concentration
Camp, there are stark pictures of the holocaust - piles
of dead bodies, and many living Russian, Czechoslovakian,
Polish and French prisoners. At Penig Concentration
Camp, Hungarian women and others display wounds. Doctors
treat patients and U.S. Red Cross workers move them
to German Air Force hospital where their former captors
are forced to care for them.
Reel 2:
At Ohrdruf Concentration Camp, inspection team composed of Allied military
leaders, members of U.S. Congress and local townspeople tours camp. Among
them are Generals Dwight David Eisenhower, Supreme Headquaters Allied
Expeditionary Forces commander; Omar Nelson Bradley; and George S. Patten.
General Eisenhower speaks with Congressmen. They see bodies heaped on
grill at crematorium and Polish, Czechoslovakian, Russian, Belgian, German
Jews and German political prisoners. Col. Heyden Sears, Combat Command
A, 4th Armored Division commander, forces local townspeople to tour camp.
U.S. officers arrive at Hadamar Concentration Camp, where Polish, Russian
and German political and religious dissidents were murdered. Maj. Herman
Boelke of U.S. War Crimes Investigation Team (WCIT) examines survivors.
Bodies are exhumed from mass graves for examination, identification and
burial. Four-man panel interviews facility director Dr. Waldman and chief
male nurse Karl Wille.
Reel 3:
At Breendonck Concentration Camp, Belgium, methods of torture are demonstrated.
At Harlan Concentration Camp near Hannover, U.S. Red Cross aides Polish
survivors. Allied troops and able-bodied survivors bury dead. At Arnstadt
Concentration Camp, German villagers are forced to exhume Polish and Russian
bodies from mass graves.
Reel 4:
At Nordhausen Concentration Camp, we see more holocaust
atrocities. There are piles of bodies. Troops treat,
feed and remove survivors who are mainly Polish, Russian
and French. At Mauthausen Concentration Camp, Navy Lt.
Jack H. Taylor stands with fellow survivors and describes
his capture, imprisonment and conditions at Mauthausen.
Volunteers bathe victims.
Reel 5:
At Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Army trucks arrive with aid for survivors.
Piles of dead, mutilated and emaciated bodies. Some survivors among dead.
Huge ovens and piles of bone ash on floor of crematorium. Civilians from
nearby Weimar are forced to tour camp. They see exhibits of lampshades
made of human skin, and two shrunken heads.
Reel.6:
British commander of Royal Artillery describes conditions at Bergen-Belsen
Concentration Camp. German Army Schutzstaffel (SS) troops are forced to
bury dead and aid survivors. Woman doctor, former prisoner, describes
conditions in female section of camp. Belson commander Kramer is taken
into custody. German guards bury dead. Bulldozer pushes piles of bodies
into mass graves.
Run time: 51:56
Audio/Visual: sound, Black & White
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