Malcolm W. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Malcolm W., who enlisted in the United States military in early 1941. He recalls serving in the 14th armored division; attending officers candidate school; assisting in writing attack orders and strategy; embarkation to Europe in early 1944; crossing from England to Calais after D-Day; joining the Battle of the Bulge as part of the 786th tank battalion; being wounded near Rouen; receiving a Bronze Star for action crossing the Rhine; observing people in striped uniforms and German officers surrendering as they approached Hemer; having no advance knowledge of that particular concentration camp, although knowing of concentration camps in general; ordering his men not to feed the prisoners with their rations; calling for units which could help the prisoners; burying the many dead to avert disease; receiving orders to leave that afternoon; pursuing SS through Bavaria and Austria; killing one who drew his weapon to fire after having surrendered; and returning home after the war. Mr. W. notes not discussing liberating Hemer for many years after the war, except with his wife, and nightmares about it for about twenty years. He shows a photograph of his unit and a book about their history.
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.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- W., Malcolm, -- 1916-
Corporate Bodies
- United States. -- Army. -- Armored Division, 14th.
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, American.
- Liberator.
- Nightmares.
- Postwar effects.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
Places
- Hemer (Germany : Concentration camp)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat