1. The Death Marches and the Liberators

2. Death Marches Winter of 1944/45, Germans knew war was lost Tried to evacuate the death camps –Wanted to conceal the evidence Prisoners were forced to march towards Germany in the dead of winter

3. Death Marches Jan. 1945, just hours before the Red army arrives at Auschwitz, prisoners were marched to Wodzislaw Anyone who lagged behind was shot Many shot for no reason

4. Death Marches 59 different marches from Nazi concentration camps during final winter of Nazi domination Listen to a survivor tell about the death marchesListen to a survivor tell about the death marches

5. Death Marches

7. Liberation Soviet soldiers were first to enter a concentration camp –MajdanekMajdanek SS tried to hide the evidence Soldiers shocked by what they saw Press coverage was intense –Was dismissed as Communist propaganda

8. Soviets Enter Auschwitz January 27, 1945, Soviet forces entered Auschwitz Auschwitz Listen to Sam Itzkowitz story of liberation from Auschwitz

9. British liberate Bergen-Belsen April 15, 1945- British liberate Bergen- BelsenBergen- Belsen –Had typhus epidemic –Conditions were horrific

10. British liberate Bergen-Belsen Camp had to be burned German citizens brought in to tour the camp The films the British took were broadcast throughout the world.

11. British Liberate Bergen-Belsen

13. Americans Liberate Buchenwald April 11, 1945- Americans liberate Buchenwald Buchenwald

14. Eisenhower Inspecting Ohrdruf

15. Americans Liberate Buchenwald

16. Americans Liberate Dachau April 29, 1945, Americans liberate DachauDachau

17. Americans Liberate Dachau

20. Last Camps Liberated The last camps encountered by the Americans were Mauthausen and Gusen on May 5, 1945.Mauthausen –3 days later, the war was over Army begins the intense battle to bring the survivors back to life