Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Hirsh, Michael
Publication Date
September 2008
Abstract
Oral history interview with Holocaust concentration camp liberator Robert J. Straba. Straba was a member of the 14th Armored Division, which liberated the POW camp Stalag VII A at Moosburg on April 29, 1945. The division had a small firefight to get into the camp, and when they came through the gate, Straba was immediately struck by how emaciated the prisoners were. His captain ordered the cooks to make pancakes for the prisoners, not realizing that they could not handle such rich food. Straba's unit left the next morning, and he did not see the entire camp, although he did encounter one airman who had only been a prisoner for two weeks and was eager to go with them and continue fighting. Straba also saw a number of small slave labor camps and went to Dachau after the war ended.
Keywords
Concentration camps--History--Germany, World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Germany, World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation, World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities, World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American, World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--United States, Veterans--United States--Interviews, Genocide, Crimes against humanity
Holding Location
University of South Florida
Language
English
Media Type
Oral histories
Format
audio/mp3
Identifier
C65-00133
Recommended Citation
Straba, Robert J., "Robert J. Straba oral history interview" (2008). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 117.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/117
Rights Statement
