Documenting the horrors of Mauthausen concentration camp
Summary
In April 1945, American soldiers liberated the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria near the end of World War II. Army medic LeRoy "Pete" Petersohn documented the terrible conditions he saw, including dead prisoners and starving survivors, through letters, photos, and film.Key Facts
- Mauthausen concentration camp was located in Austria and was liberated in late April 1945.
- Three newborn babies and their mothers arrived at the camp after enduring forced labor.
- American soldiers, including 22-year-old medic LeRoy Petersohn, helped free the prisoners.
- Petersohn wrote a detailed letter describing piles of dead bodies and starving prisoners eating grass.
- He took photos and videos to provide proof of the camp’s conditions.
- General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered soldiers to bring civilians to see the camps and document them.
- Petersohn’s letter was published by a local newspaper as firsthand evidence.
- His son, Brian Petersohn, shared his father’s story on a CBS News program.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.