Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
Loading...
Interviewer
Michael Hirsh
Publication Date
March 2022
Date
November 2008
Abstract
Donald H. Timmer was a company interpreter in the 89th Infantry Division, which liberated Ohrdruf on April 4, 1945; it was the first concentration camp discovered by the Americans. After several days of fighting Gotha, Timmer's unit received orders to go to Ohrdruf: on its west side, they came to a fence, which they followed to the camp. Timmer had to see if any of the prisoners were alive. He was still present when Eisenhower came, and acted as the general's interpreter for a short time. Timmer also saw and translated the suicide note left by the town's mayor and his wife. Timmer regularly speaks at local synagogues and has encouraged other liberators to speak about the Holocaust.
Keywords
World War II (1939-1945), Holocaust (1939-1945), Concentration camps, Concentration camps--Liberation, Veterans, Genocide, Crimes against humanity, United States. Army. Infantry Division 89th, Ohrdruf (Concentration camp)
Extent
00:30:10; 18 page transcript
Subject: geographic
Ohrdruf (Germany)
Language
English
Digital Date
2022
Media Type
Oral histories
Format
Digital Only
Identifier
C65-00137
Recommended Citation
Timmer, Donald H., "Donald H. Timmer Oral History Interview" (2022). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 121.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/121
Rights Statement
