1981 International Liberators Conference collection

Identifier: irn502583
Language of Description: English
Level of Description: Collection
Source: EHRI Partner

Web Source

https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn502583

Scope and Content

Contains testimonies written by concentration camp liberators during the 1981 International Liberators Conference held in Washington, D.C., in October 1981. The testimonies describe liberation experiences at various Nazi concentration camps throughout Europe at the end of World War II. Also included are letters from Miles Lerman and Elie Wiesel to the liberators describing the International Liberators Conference. Some of these materials may be combined into a single collection in the future.

Genre

Collection

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.

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Displaying items 1 to 20 of 69

Several liberators tell their stories during Plenary Session
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002692
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Miles Lerman at podium, introduces individuals one by one and calls them to the dais. Session is chaired by Sigmund Strochlitz, survivor of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Strochlitz speaks. Cutaways to some delegates listening. Speaks of liberation from viewpoint of survivors, waiting, life ebbing away. Shared dismay at current denial of the Holocaust and the killing of six million Jews, millions of others. The victims and the victors are now partners...to preserve the truth. 9:22:22 Strochlitz introduces first witness, Dr. Leon Bass, Buchenwald liberator. 9:22:58 Bass speaks. Joined the army...
Several liberators tell their stories during Plenary Session
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002693
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Miles Lerman at podium, introduces individuals one by one and calls them to the dais. Session is chaired by Sigmund Strochlitz, survivor of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Strochlitz speaks. Cutaways to some delegates listening. Speaks of liberation from viewpoint of survivors, waiting, life ebbing away. Shared dismay at current denial of the Holocaust and the killing of six million Jews, millions of others. The victims and the victors are now partners...to preserve the truth. 9:22:22 Strochlitz introduces first witness, Dr. Leon Bass, Buchenwald liberator. 9:22:58 Bass speaks. Joined the army...
Eyewitnesses and War Correspondents at Plenary
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002694
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Continuation of Plenary Session from Film ID 2640 with Alan Rose, then cuts off. 10:46:14 Eyewitness testimony. Rabbi Herschel Schacter, Jewish Army Chaplain in 8th Corps of 3rd Army. Can't fathom enormity of tragedy. 10:47:54 April 11, 1945 learned tanks entered Buchenwald and went there. Dungeon on face of earth. 10:49:14 Photos (crematorium) passed around, delegates listening. Describes what he saw. Never forget scene, no words to describe it. Still smoke from ovens, furnaces were hot, hundreds of dead bodies scattered. He felt inner rage. 10:51:04 Asks lieutenant are there any Jews left...
Plenary Session and Eyewitness panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002695
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
10:44:21 Continuation of Plenary Session from Film ID 2641 with Alan Rose. The mark left on the liberators and survivors, as well as mankind, as a result of the Holocaust. 10:46:14 Eyewitness testimony. Rabbi Herschel Schacter, Jewish Army Chaplain in 8th Corps of 3rd Army. Can't fathom enormity of tragedy. 10:47:54 April 11, 1945 learned tanks entered Buchenwald and went there. Dungeon on face of earth. 10:49:14 Photos (crematorium) passed around, delegates listening. Describes what he saw. Never forget scene, no words to describe it. Still smoke from ovens, furnaces were hot, hundreds of ...
War Correspondents and Historians panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002696
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
War Correspondents panel continues from Film ID 2642 with Svenn Seehusen. Neighbors ask Jews to stay with them and offer help and helped Jews escape during the Danish action in 1943. 14:08:25 Resistance organized transport along Danish coast, fishermen helped, no one said no. 14:09:56 Praises Sweden for their acceptance of 7,000 Jews. Support action to tell the world about the Holocaust. 14:13:02 Applause. Chairman introduces Mr. Friendly again. 14:14:02 Starts to talk of Murrow, Denmark, Elie Wiesel. Speaks on how he ended up at Mauthausen. 14:17:54 Holds up book of U.S. constitution. Even...
War Correspondents panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002697
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
War Correspondents panel continues from Film ID 2642 with Svenn Seehusen. Neighbors ask Jews to stay with them and offer help and helped Jews escape during the Danish action in 1943. Resistance organized transport along Danish coast, fishermen helped, no one said no. Praises Sweden for their acceptance of 7,000 Jews. Support action to tell the world about the Holocaust. Applause. Chairman introduces Mr. Friendly. Starts to talk of Murrow, Denmark, Elie Wiesel. Speaks on how he ended up at Mauthausen. Holds up book of U.S. constitution. Events like Buchenwald will be remembered by history, M...
Medical Personnel panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002698
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Hadassah Rosensaft chairs the Medical panel, introduces topic of doctors and medics in the camp system and in the liberation process. 13:19:30 CU, Hadassah Rosensaft in coral, with laryngitis. She is a survivor of Bergen-Belsen. 13:21:49 Reads apology from British army doctor for not being there. Introduces first speaker Prof. Leo Eitinger, psychiatrist, member of Norwegian delegation, and Auschwitz survivor. 13:22:58 Discusses medical doctors in camps. Camera pans around audience. 13:25:22 He worked as a prison doctor in the infirmary of a sub-camp in Auschwitz. Speaks of the importance of...
Chaplains panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002699
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Chaplains panel, chairman Franklin Littell explains procedure to make living record of eyewitnesses, to speak of lessons of Holocaust. First experience he had finding out what church was and was not doing. Why in Christendom was it possible for a heathen system to carry away tens of millions of the baptized? 15:09:44 Talks of journalists, educators, churchmen being sent to camps after liberation. Talks of facts being denied and repressed. 15:11:12 Describes panel: Father Doyle - liberator of Mauthausen, member of U.S. delegation; Rabbi Nadich - Army Chaplain and Eisenhower's advisor on DPs;...
Chaplains panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002700
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Chaplains panel, chairman Franklin Littell explains procedure to make living record of eyewitnesses, to speak of lessons of Holocaust. First experience he had finding out what church was and was not doing. Why in Christendom was it possible for a heathen system to carry away tens of millions of the baptized? 15:09:44 Talks of journalists, educators, churchmen being sent to camps after liberation. Talks of facts being denied and repressed. 15:11:12 Describes panel: Father Doyle - liberator of Mauthausen, member of U.S. delegation; Rabbi Nadich - Army Chaplain and Eisenhower's advisor on DPs;...
Military panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002701
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Military panel with Chairman Julian Kulas. 00:11:54 Fred Crawford, US soldier. Says that the Holocaust was why the war was fought; not prepared for what they saw but realized the importance of fighting when saw Dachau. (p. 70 "Liberation of the Camps") 00:18:46 Dan Dagan in Jewish Brigade in British Army. Speaks of forming the Jewish fighting Brigade. Also of the illegal maneuvering of Jewish DPs across borders and back to Palestine with the help of the Allies. (p. 71 "Liberation of the Camps") 00:28:28 Franciszek Skibinski, Polish soldier, speaks of the Poles liberating Germany (p. 73 "Lib...
Military and Resistance panels
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002702
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Continuation of Military panel with James Collins, US Lieutenant Colonel, speaking. 00:58:13 Describes approaching Nordhausen, shortly after liberation. Had entire battalion go through the camp, young farm boys from N. Dakota. (p. 77 "Liberation of Camps") 01:01:07 to 01:16:10 Questions. Resistance panel begins with Chairman Frank Lautenberg. 01:17:50 Louis de Jong, historian. Talks on Dutch resistance. (p. 126 "Liberation of Camps") 01:35:36 Renee Aubry, speaks in French, Chief of Cabinet in Ministry of Veterans; widow of resistance fighter. Talks on resistance from France and within the c...
Military and Resistance panels
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002703
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Questions on Military panel. 01:04:35 Resistance panel begins with Chairman Frank Lautenberg. 01:08:40 Louis de Jong, historian. Talks on Dutch resistance. (p. 126 "Liberation of Camps") 01:22:21 Renee Aubry, speaks in French, Chief of Cabinet in Ministry of Veterans; widow of resistance fighter. Talks on resistance from France and within the camps. (p. 128 "Liberation of Camps") 01:32:00 Frode Jakobsen, resistance fighter from Denmark. Talks about resistance in Denmark, political and moral freedom. (p. 129 "Liberation of Camps") 01:42:50 Branko Lakic, partisan fighter from Yugoslavia. Disc...
Resistance panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002704
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Resistance panel continues with Branko Lakic. (p. 131 "Liberation of Camps") 02:00:32 Samuel Gruber. (p. 132 "Liberation of Camps") 02:09:41 Benjamin Meed, survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto. Talks about the people of the Warsaw Ghetto, describes Ghetto. (p. 134 "Liberation of Camps") 02:21:00 Lautenberg (chairman) sets his background and aim of conference. Questions and answers. Jakobsen. 02:34:07 Louis de Jong. 02:36:07 Meed. 02:37:30 Jakobsen. 02:37:47 Aubry. 02:39:18 Gruber. 02:40:22 Lautenberg. 02:41:27 Gruber. 02:43:08 Meed. (p. 135 "Liberation of Camps")
Historians and War Crimes Tribunals panels
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002705
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
End of Historians panel with Yehuda Bauer's speech. 16:19:38 Hilberg tells of his position in the 45th division during the war. He was not at the liberation of Dachau. Describes capturing Germans and interviewing an officer, who wanted to have a philosophical conversation: "don't you agree that Hitler is a great man?" 16:23:00 Announcements about getting the liberated to meet their liberators. War Crimes tribunal begins with chairman Bernard Fischman. 16:31:17 Dr. Pilichowski, (Poland), director of the Main Commission of the Investigation of Nazi Crimes in Poland. Talks about the legality o...
Dinner speakers: John Eisenhower, Claire Booth Luce, and others
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002706
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
John Eisenhower speaks at podium; dinner event. Speaks as a witness of the liberation of Buchenwald. Describes April 12-13, 1945, when Pres. Roosevelt died. His father's reaction was even stronger to visiting Ohrdruf. Reads quotation from Gen. Eisenhower's letter to Gen. George Marshall describing the visit. (Quotation in Permanent Exhibition and on Museum exterior). 10:27:10 Mark Talisman introduces Claire Booth Luce, who speaks slowly and dramatically, refers to Nordhausen. 10:35:45 Mark Talisman introduces Belgian, Andre Mernier. Speaks in French. 10:39:35 Introduction Charles Mills (Dru...
Speakers during dinner
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002707
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Dinner conference, unknown speaker talks about the conference. 10:27:55 Yugoslavian Col. Branko Pavlovic is introduced. He greets everyone on behalf of the Yugoslavian delegation. 10:31:03 Talks of Yugoslavia saying no to Hitler. Discusses uprising under Tito. 10:33:40 Hitler's victims, wounds fascism has inflicted upon the people. 10:35:15 Talks of never forgetting what has happened, the conference will help this. Peace must never be threatened. 10:38:10 Chairman introduces Prof. Col. G.I.A.D. Draper of the UK delegation. Thanks for UK delegation being invited, pays respect to the Chairman...
Discovering the "Final Solution" panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002708
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Considerable technical difficulty in first two minutes of tape. Miles Lerman apologizes for mistake in omitting Jan Karski's name from the published program. Marvin Kalb, moderator, introduces speakers for this final session of the conference. John Pehle, of the War Refugee Board, speaks. Cutaways to audience include David Marwell. 10:40:40 Jan Karski to podium; speaks. Karski reads his presentation, scarcely looking up. Cutaways to audience include Chris Lerman. 10:50:06 Pan of audience includes Raul Hilberg, David Marwell. Karski continues. 11:08:30 Applause. 11:09:01 Romana Primus in aud...
Medical Personnel panel
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002709
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Considerable technical difficulty in first two minutes of tape. Miles Lerman apologizes for mistake in omitting Jan Karski's name from the published program. Marvin Kalb, moderator, introduces speakers for this final session of the conference. John Pehle, of the War Refugee Board, speaks. Cutaways to audience include David Marwell. 10:40:40 Jan Karski to podium; speaks. Karski reads his presentation, scarcely looking up. Cutaways to audience include Chris Lerman. 10:50:06 Pan of audience includes Raul Hilberg, David Marwell. Karski continues. 11:08:30 Applause. 11:09:01 Romana Primus in aud...
Concluding ceremony
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002710
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
13:06:15 to 13:11:55 Lt. Gen. Pavel Danilovich Gudz of the USSR speaks in Russian. He discusses the availability of American books translated into Russian and the lack of Russian books translated into English. Elie Wiesel makes the proposition that for every book translated into English, the United States will translate a book into Russian. 13:11:39 Miles Lerman announces the time of the closing ceremony. [TAPE JUMPS. COLOR BARS FROM 13:40:08 TO 13:41:16] 14:12:54 INT, conference room. [TAPE JUMPS] 14:14:14 The closing ceremony. INT, conference room, audience sits, panel prepares to speak.1...
Discovering the "Final Solution" panel and Press Conference
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn1002711
- English
- 1981
- Updated 1 year ago
Final session of conference, 'Discovering the Final Solution,' concludes with panel discussion moderated by Marvin Kalb. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Vassily Petrenko, speaking during discussion. Brief overlap with Film ID 2656, then continuation of discussion of Soviet Army and liberation of Auschwitz. Wolfe confirms the rapid Soviet advance in southern Poland, and capture of documentation Kalb asks why the railroad lines weren't bombed. Wolfe replies, but defers to Raul Hilberg, "sitting in the room." Pehle speaks of writing a strong letter to John McCloy. Kalb asks Jan Karski to tell of his meeting w...