Warfare

Liberation of Dachau


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A warning that this episode contains descriptions of genocide and terms for groups which were classified that way at the time.


In April 1945, the 42nd Rainbow division liberated Dachau Concentration Camp. Having opened it's doors in 1933, it was the first, and longest running, Nazi concentration camp. It's estimated that Dachau had over 188,000 inmates, of which 41,500 were killed - it saw death, suffering and tragedy on an unimaginable level. But despite widespread coverage, and rumours of it's existence, the 42nd Rainbow Division were shocked at what they stumbled across - so how come nobody was prepared for what they were about to find?


In this episode, James is joined by Professor Dan Stone, Director of the Holocaust Research Institute at Royal Holloway, to talk about this dark moment in human history. Looking at the creation of the camps, the role the allies played in the liberations, and the incredible make-shift hospitals set up to help the inmates - Dan takes us through this tragic moment of the Second World War, and discusses the legacy that Dachau left behind.


You can read more about the Liberation of the Camps in Dan's book


For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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