Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Michael Hirsh
Publication Date
March 2022
Date
November 2008
Abstract
Paul Wannemacher was a member of the 90th Infantry Division, which liberated Flossenbürg on April 23, 1945. His company found the camp and immediately took it over, though Wannemacher was not present, being out on reconnaissance. Shortly afterwards, Wannemacher went to the camp to see what was going on, and another soldier pointed out an inmate who was sprinkling water over several bodies in an attempt to keep the stench down. Walking around the camp he saw the crematorium, the barracks, and the gas chambers, outside of which there were piles of glasses and shoes. They did not stay in the camp very long, leaving to continue their pursuit of the Germans. Wannemacher also visited Dachau after the war was over and describes a large map that had the locations of all the different camps.
Keywords
World War II (1939-1945), Holocaust (1939-1945), Concentration camps, Concentration camps--Liberation, Veterans, Genocide, Crimes against humanity, United States. Army. Infantry Division 90th, Flossenbürg (Concentration camp)
Extent
00:09:29; 7 page transcript
Subject: geographic
Flossenbürg (Germany)
Language
English
Digital Date
2022
Media Type
Oral histories
Format
Digital Only
Identifier
C65-00144
Recommended Citation
Wannemacher, Paul, "Paul Wannemacher Oral History Interview" (2022). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 126.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/126
Rights Statement
