Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project
Loading...
Interviewer
Michael Hirsh
Publication Date
March 2022
Date
July 2008
Abstract
Robert Ray was a rifleman in the 3rd Armored Division, which liberated Nordhausen on April 11, 1945. When Ray's division arrived at the camp, one of the tanks in his unit punched a large hole in the wall and the prisoners came out. The soldiers could see how emaciated they were and gave them food and cigarettes. Ray also saw several flatcars loaded with bodies on a railroad track outside the camp, some of which still moved. His unit was unable to stay at the camp for very long; after giving the inmates their rations, they had to continue on their mission. After the war, Ray stayed in Europe on occupation duty for another year, during which time he was reassigned to the 2nd Armored Division as a photographer.
Keywords
World War II (1939-1945), Holocaust (1939-1945), Concentration camps, Concentration camps--Liberation, Veterans, Genocide, Crimes against humanity, United States. Army. Armored Division 3rd, Nordhausen (Concentration camp), United States. Army. Armored Division 2nd, Photographers
Extent
00:26:29; 15 page transcript
Subject: geographic
Nordhausen (Thuringia Germany)
Language
English
Digital Date
2022
Media Type
Oral histories
Format
Digital Only
Identifier
C65-00111
Recommended Citation
Ray, Robert, "Robert Ray Oral History Interview" (2022). Concentration Camp Liberators Oral History Project. 99.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/concentration_OH/99
Rights Statement
