Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Hirsh, Michael
Publication Date
November 2008
Abstract
This is an oral history interview with Holocaust concentration camp liberator Paul Wannemacher. 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
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, Amercian, 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
C65-00144
Recommended Citation
Wannemacher, Paul, "Paul Wannemacher oral history interview" (2008). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 126.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/126
Rights Statement
