Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Hirsh, Michael
Publication Date
July 2008
Abstract
This is an oral history interview with Holocaust concentration camp liberator Dallas Peyton. Peyton was in a machine gun squad in the 20th Armored Division, which liberated Dachau on April 29, 1945, along with the 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions. His unit was on its way to Munich when they were redirected to Dachau; the first thing they saw was the infamous death train. They entered the camp, leaving their tanks and trucks at the gate, and walked around inside, seeing the barracks and the crematorium. Peyton saw two particular prisoners, approaching him from different directions, who suddenly stopped and then quickly embraced: friends or relatives, neither had realized the other was still alive. He was at the camp for a couple of days, then went back in 2005 for the sixtieth anniversary. Peyton frequently gives presentations at schools, Jewish temples, and veterans' organizations.
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
C65-00107
Recommended Citation
Peyton, Dallas, "Dallas Peyton oral history interview" (2008). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 95.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/95