The testimony of American military personnel has been a key source for our understanding of the experience of the last phase of Nazi genocide in Europe. This lecture examines the liberation of the massive camp complex at Buchenwald in April 1945. How did American liberators understand the horrific experience of encountering concentration camps? How did liberator memories shift over time? Finally, how did liberator testimonies contribute to broader American discussions of the Holocaust and America’s role in the world?
Adam R. Seipp is a Professor of History at Texas A&M University, College Station, where his teaching and research focus on modern German history, the Holocaust, and transatlantic relations.
