Ohrdruf was the first Nazi camp to be liberated by US troops. When the soldiers of the 4th Armored Division arrived, they encountered piles of dead bodies and horrific conditions. General Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted the world to know about the atrocities committed by the Nazis. He invited members of Congress and press to visit the camp so that they could bear witness.
A view of one of the watchtowers and part of the perimeter fence at Ohrdruf, part of the Buchenwald camp system, seen here after US forces liberated the camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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During an official tour of the newly liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp, an Austrian Jewish survivor describes to General Dwight Eisenhower and the members of his entourage the use of the gallows in the camp. Among those pictured is Jules Grad, correspondent for the US Army newspaper Stars and Stripes (on the right). Ohrdruf, Germany, April 12, 1945.
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General Dwight D. Eisenhower (third from left) views the charred remains of inmates of the Ohrdruf camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 12, 1945.
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German civilians conscripted from nearby towns dig graves for some of the victims of the Ohrdruf camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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A US army officer (far right) poses with survivors of the Ohrdruf camp, a subcamp in the Buchenwald camp system. Photograph taken after the liberation of the camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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A watchtower and barracks at the Ohrdruf subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. This photograph was taken after the US 4th Armored Division liberated the camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, June 1945.
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While touring the newly liberated Ohrdruf camp, General Dwight Eisenhower and other high ranking US Army officers view the bodies of prisoners who were killed during the evacuation of Ohrdruf. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 12, 1945.
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The bodies of former prisoners are laid out in rows in preparation for burial in the Ohrdruf concentration camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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View of a mass grave in the Ohrdruf concentration camp from which 2,000 corpses were removed for proper burial. Ohrdruf, Germany, between April 20 and 25, 1945.
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A Dutch survivor of the Ohrdruf camp shows the camp's gallows, which the Germans used to execute prisoners, to US forces (including Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton). Germany, April 12, 1945.
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A survivor shows US Generals Eisenhower, Patton, and Bradley how inmates at the Ohrdruf camp were tortured. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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View of a watchtower and prisoner barracks at the Ohrdruf subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, soon after US forces liberated Ohrdruf. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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Interior view of prisoners' barracks at the Ohrdruf subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. This photograph was taken after liberation. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 13, 1945.
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A view of the double row of barbed-wire fences that surrounded the Ohrdruf camp, a subcamp in the Buchenwald camp system. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 1945.
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US soldiers of the 4th Armored Division survey the dead at Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Germany, April 1945.
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General Dwight D. Eisenhower (center), Supreme Allied Commander, views the corpses of inmates who died at the Ohrdruf camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 12, 1945.
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General Dwight D. Eisenhower (center, right) views the corpses of victims of the Ohrdruf camp. Germany, April 12, 1945.
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Generals Eisenhower, Patton, and Bradley view corpses of inmates at Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald. Germany, April 12, 1945.
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While on an inspection tour of the newly liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp, American soldiers view the charred remains of prisoners burned upon a section of railroad track during the evacuation of the camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 4-15, 1945.
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US soldiers view the bodies of prisoners found in the newly liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp. Ohrdruf, Germany, April 6, 1945.
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