Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Michael Hirsh
Publication Date
March 2022
Date
August 2008
Abstract
Werner Ellmann was a member of the 11th Armored Division, which liberated Mauthausen on May 5, 1945. Born in Germany, he, his parents, and younger brother came to the United States in 1929; his two older brothers were left behind and eventually joined the German army. Ellmann was drafted into the U.S. Army and arrived in Europe in 1944, during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. Before being assigned to the 11th Armored, he was a liaison with the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Since he spoke German, Ellmann often interpreted for the officers, helping them to coordinate movements, and thus was one of the first soldiers to enter Mauthausen. After the war, Ellmann was an interpreter at the Dachau Trial in 1946. In this interview, he describes his experiences at the camp, during the trials, and after the war, particularly how seeing Mauthausen has affected his life.
Keywords
World War II (1939-1945), Holocaust (1939-1945), Concentration camps, Concentration camps--Liberation, Dachau Trial (Dachau Germany 1946), Veterans, Genocide, Crimes against humanity, United States. Army. Armored Division 11th, Mauthausen (Concentration camp), Battle of Hürtgen Forest (1944), Translators, Battle of the Ardennes (1944-1945)
Extent
01:09:42; 40 page transcript
Subject: geographic
Ardennes; Mauthausen (Austria); Dachau (Germany); Hürtgen Forest (Germany)
Language
English
Digital Date
2022
Media Type
Oral histories
Format
Digital Only
Identifier
C65-00037
Recommended Citation
Ellmann, Werner, "Werner Ellmann Oral History Interview" (2022). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 29.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/29
Rights Statement
