Leon B. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Leon B., who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1925. He recounts volunteering for the Army in 1943; encountering racism as an African-American soldier; posting to Europe in a segregated unit with the 3rd Army; participating in the Battle of the Bulge; entering Buchenwald; his shock at the conditions, including the pervasive stench, piles of corpses everywhere, and emaciated survivors resembling the "walking dead"; and witnessing prisoners beating a guard. Mr. B. discusses his career as an educator; involvement in the civil rights movement; and not sharing his war experiences until encountering a survivor speaking at a school in 1970, then often speaking himself in many venues.
Extent and Medium
2 videocassettes
Conditions Governing Access
This testimony is open with permission.
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Copyright has been transferred to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Use of this testimony requires permission of the Fortunoff Video Archive.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- B., Leon, -- 1925-
Corporate Bodies
- Buchenwald (Concentration camp)
- United States. -- Army. -- Army, 3rd.
Subjects
- Postwar experiences.
- Liberator.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, American.
- Revenge.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
Places
- United States -- Armed Forces -- Europe.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat