American forces liberated more than 60,000 prisoners from Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945.


American forces liberated more than 60,000 prisoners from Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945. When they arrived, soldiers found railcars filled with bodies and emaciated prisoners. After all Colonel Alexander Zabin had seen of war, Dachau was something worse: 

“It is all a horrible memory, a nightmare I can never hope to forget. I wish that all the people back home could walk through this place. Then they would realize that any sacrifice they have made—even the loss of their loved ones—was not made in vain. To liberate this camp alone was sufficient reason for our war with Germany.”

Established in March 1933, Dachau was the first regular concentration camp constructed by the Nazis. The camp, just outside of Munich, was originally established to hold political prisoners. 

Learn more: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/dachau 

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