William M. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of William M., an African-American who enlisted in the United States Army in May 1942. He recalls placement in the segregated 761st tank battalion; local prejudice during basic training in the south; being shipped to England in 1944; his unit's assignment to Patton's Third Army; participation in campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge; plunging into Dachau by chance in spring 1945; eliminating German resistance; observing prisoners who were "walking skeletons"; the horrible stench; prisoners holding up their hands in gratitude; being warned not to feed them; and leaving the camp after about fifteen minutes. Mr. M. discusses the indescribable horror of Dachau; having had no prior knowledge of the Holocaust; and not speaking about having been in Dachau until recently because the memories were too painful for him. He shows photographs.
Extent and Medium
1 videocassette
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. This testimony may not be used for commercial purposes without the donor's prior consent.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- M., William, -- 1924-
Corporate Bodies
- Dachau (Concentration camp)
- United States. -- Army. -- 761st Tank Battalion.
Subjects
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- Postwar effects.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Liberator.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, American.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat