Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Hirsh, Michael
Publication Date
March 2008
Abstract
Oral history interview with Holocaust concentration camp liberator Duane Mahlen. Mahlen was a tank gunner in the 11th Armored Division, which liberated Mauthausen on May 6, 1945. His unit had been on the way to Linz when their major got a call about the camp and decided to see it, so they arrived a few hours after the camp was discovered. As they drove through the main gate, the first thing Mahlen saw were the stacked corpses. He walked all through the men's and women's sections but did not approach or speak to any of the prisoners. After the war ended, he stayed in Europe on occupation duty and was assigned to Flossenburg in December 1945, where he guarded SS officers waiting for trial. Mahlen has spoken to school children about Mauthausen and is an active member of the 11th Armored Division Association, of which he is a past president.
Keywords
Concentration camps--History--Germany, Concentration camps--History--Austria, World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Germany, World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Austria, 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
C65-00082
Recommended Citation
Mahlen, Duane, "Duane Mahlen oral history interview" (2008). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 70.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/70
Rights Statement
