Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
Loading...
Interviewer
Hirsh, Michael
Publication Date
July 2008
Abstract
This is an oral history interview with Holocaust concentration camp liberator John Olson. Olson was a member of the 104th Infantry Division, which liberated Nordhausen on April 11, 1945. He arrived in Europe in early 1945 as a replacement, meeting the 104th in the Aachen area. No unit he was with ever suffered casualties; indeed, he only fired his weapon once in combat. They entered the city of Nordhausen as part of a convoy and Olson, who was riding on a trailer, saw the concentration camp as they drove by. Though he did not enter the camp, he saw two prisoners standing at the gate: skeletally thin, with prison uniforms, they smiled when they saw the American soldiers. This image had a profound effect on Olson and remains with him.
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, 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
C65-00097
Recommended Citation
Olson, John R., "John Olson oral history interview" (2008). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 85.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/85
Rights Statement
