Americans behind the barbed wire: the liberator's experience in World War II

In April of 1945, members of the United States Army liberated numerous concentration camps and forced labor camps in Germany and Austria. These servicemen were the first Americans to witness the aftermath of Nazi Germany’s racial war against European Jewry. As camp liberators, American GIs and their commanding officers became a vital component of the Holocaust story. In addition to encountering, and in some instances rescuing, individuals incarcerated in the Reich’s concentration camp system, American liberators were the eyes and ears of a nation that, until the emancipation of the camps, widely dismissed atrocity stories from overseas as propaganda. In liberating the camps, American soldiers witnessed, in a unique way, the true nature of the Holocaust. The liberation of the camps proved to be a daunting task. U.S. soldiers were unprepared for the vast death and tremendous human suffering they encountered. For some GIs, the sights and smells of the camps provoked great sorrow, disgust, and even rage, which occasionally led to acts of vengeance. Despite the strong emotions the horrors of the camps provoked, however, there were a number of liberators who focused their attention on the survivors and worked diligently to improve their condition. The interactions between camp victims and their rescuers greatly impacted both parties, and in some instances, led to relationships that continued through the years. As these friendships endured, however, so too did the haunting memories of the Holocaust. Many American soldiers reported suffering terrible and disruptive after effects as a result of their time in the camps. Despite the distress of recalling their experiences, however, several liberators have engaged in public speaking and education as a means of teaching younger generations about the consequences of intolerance and prejudice. Their stories, in conjunction with survivor testimonies, help keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and serve as a safeguard against genocide.