Liberation of Nazi Camps: Edward Weiss

As Allied and Soviet troops moved across Europe in a series of offensives against Nazi Germany, they encountered concentration camps, mass graves, and numerous other sites of Nazi crimes. American soldiers witnessed evidence of the Holocaust and Nazi atrocities as they marched into the interior of Germany, liberating the major concentration camps such as Buchenwald, Dachau, and Mauthausen as well as hundreds of subcamps, including Ohrdruf (a subcamp of Buchenwald). Though the liberation of Nazi camps was not a primary objective of the Allied military campaign, U.S, British, Canadian, and Soviet troops freed prisoners from their SS guards, provided them with food and badly needed medical support, and collected evidence for war crimes trials.

GI Edward S. Weiss, a resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was responsible for disposal of the dead shortly after Dachau's liberation by Allied forces. In this interview with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Weiss speaks about some of his experiences following liberation at Dachau.

To learn more about liberation of the Nazi camps visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/liberation/.

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Liberation
• Holocaust
• Museum
• Armored
• Infantry
• Dachau
• Concentration
• Camp
• USHMM
• WWII
• Genocide
• Weiss

[Samano1100]

is this a nazi or a survivor from the concentration camps? basically, who is this person?

[ushmm]

@Samano1100 GI Edward S. Weiss was a liberator. He was responsible for disposal of the dead shortly after Dachau's liberation by Allied forces.

[BlackCountryLad]

We this man and his mates. Along with the Canadians Aussies Kiwis and of course our own Limey Lads. Imagine the ramifications of losing to the Nazis. Good on yer Edward ol' pal. Bloody glad you came Yank.

[yankeegurl62]

Kent1566, You are so right. The world would reather forget....pretend it didn't happen....But we must remind them, again and again, and again....

[puducy562713]

If hitler would have listened to.his experienced generals who new what they were doing.and not invaded russia ..but then maybe just maybe the war wouldve went differently..

[patel136]

Reflex my cow; all Germs are Nazi SS

[wicNKWD37]

@MrBillyt12345 Yes good thing indeed.

[MrBillyt12345]

@wicNKWD37 yes the germans did have some equipment that was better than the allies with few very important exceptions:- the T34 tank, the spitfire, the mustang, all the allies heavy bombers the germans did not have one, but the  main reason they lost was not because they invaded russia it was one simple reason and that was HITLER he thought he could do better than the generals and thankfully he was totally wrong

[wicNKWD37]

@MrBillyt12345 Well the armed forces of Germany had far better gear then the allies. But as history will tell us that production of cheap wares beats high quality expensive products. And the reason why they lost is becuase they started a war with Russia. Well Bismarkt said that Germany should never go to war with Russia. Democracy.. The best way for idiots to become state leaders.

[Skandalos]

@yankeegurl62 It will happen again. Because nothing really has changed. Especially not the Germans. They are as cowardly, hatred-driven, irrational, full of self-pity, like they've ever been. The only good thing is that this time, all this is turning against ourselves. This time, us Germans are cleansing ourselves from the surface of the earth. The future belongs to ppl with balls, so byebye Germans and welcome to the trash can of evolution.

[shcnoozlebop]

@MrBillyt12345 you tell him.