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Insignia of the 95th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 95th Infantry Division. The 95th Infantry Division, the "Victory" division, gained its nickname from the divisional insignia approved in 1942: the arabic numeral "9" combined with the roman numeral "V" to represent "95." The "V" led to the nickname, since the letter "V" was universally recognized as an Allied symbol for resistance and victory over the Axis during World War II.

Insignia of the 8th Armored Division

Insignia of the 8th Armored Division. The nickname of the 8th Armored Division, the "Thundering Herd," was coined before the division went to Europe in late 1944. It was also known as the "Iron Snake" late in the war, after a correspondent for Newsweek likened the 8th to a "great ironclad snake" as it crossed the Rhine River in late March 1945.

Insignia of the 8th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 8th Infantry Division. The 8th Infantry Division was known as both the "Golden Arrow" and "Pathfinder" division during World War II. Both nicknames originated from the division's insignia, which includes a gold arrow to represent the nineteenth century explorer of California, John Fremont. The division was formed in California in 1918.

Insignia of the 101st Airborne Division

Insignia of the 101st Airborne Division. The nickname of the 101st Airborne Division, "Screaming Eagles," originates from the division's insignia, a bald eagle on a black shield. "Old Abe" was the eagle mascot of a Wisconsin regiment during the Civil War. The 101st was formed as a reserve unit in Wisconsin shortly after World War I and included "Old Abe" as part of the division's insignia.

Insignia of the 103rd Infantry Division

Insignia of the 103rd Infantry Division. The 103rd Infantry Division, the "Cactus" division, is so called after the 103rd's shoulder patch, a cactus in a gold circle. The cactus is representative of the states whose troops formed the unit in the early 1920s: Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Insignia of the 63rd Infantry Division

Insignia of the 63rd Infantry Division. The 63rd Infantry Division was nicknamed the "Blood and Fire" division soon after its formation in the spring of 1943. The nickname commemorates British prime minister Winston Churchill's statement at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943 that "the enemy would bleed and burn in expiation of their crimes against humanity." The divisional insignia illustrates the nickname.

Insignia of the 45th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 45th Infantry Division. The 45th Infantry Division gained its nickname, "Thunderbird" division, from the gold thunderbird. This Native American symbol became the division's insignia in 1939. It replaced another previously used Native American symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it became closely associated with the Nazi Party.

Insignia of the 42nd Infantry Division

Insignia of the 42nd Infantry Division. The nickname of the 42nd Infantry Division, the "Rainbow" division, reflects the composition of the division during World War I. The division was drawn from the National Guards of 26 states and the District of Columbia. It represented a cross section of the American people, as the rainbow represents a cross section of colors.

Insignia of the 36th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 36th Infantry Division. The 36th Infantry Division, the "Texas" division, was raised from National Guard units from Texas and Oklahoma during World War I. The "T" in the division's insignia represents Texas, the arrowhead Oklahoma. The division was also sometimes called the "Lone Star" division, again symbolizing its Texas roots.

Insignia of the 29th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 29th Infantry Division. "Blue and Gray" was coined as the nickname of the 29th Infantry Division by the division's commander during World War I. The name commemorates the lineage of the mid-Atlantic states' National Guard units that formed the division, many with service on both sides during the Civil War.

Rail cars containing confiscated belongings to be shipped to Germany.

Rail cars discovered by Soviet forces and containing possessions taken from deportees. This abandoned train was on the way to Germany loaded with personal effects (in this case, pillows) taken from Auschwitz victims. Auschwitz, Poland, after January 27, 1945.

German civilians prepare to remove corpses of victims at Dora-Mittelbau

Under orders of the US First Army, German civilians prepare to use a stretcher to remove corpses of victims of the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp, near Nordhausen. Germany, April 13–14, 1945.

German civilians from Nordhausen carry victims of the Dora-Mittelbau camp toward graves

Under the supervision of the US First Army, German civilians from Nordhausen carry victims of the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp to mass graves. Germany, April 14, 1945.

Survivors prepare food

Soon after liberation, camp survivors cook in a field. Bergen-Belsen, Germany, after April 15, 1945. In the days before liberation, the prisoners had been left without food or water. An estimated 500 inmates per day died in the days preceding and following liberation.

Insignia of the 89th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 89th Infantry Division. The 89th Infantry Division's nickname, the "Rolling W," is based on the division's insignia. Created during World War I, this insignia utilized a letter "M" inside a wheel. When the wheel turns, the "M" becomes a "W." The letters "MW" signify the mid-west origin of the troops who formed the 89th during World War I. The division was also known as the "Middle West" division, another variation on its origin.

Insignia of the 99th Infantry Division

Insignia of the 99th Infantry Division. The 99th Infantry Division, the "Checkerboard" division, gained its nickname from the division's insignia. The insignia was devised upon the 99th's formation in 1942, when the division was headquartered in the city of Pittsburgh. The blue and white checkerboard in the division's insignia is taken from the coat of arms of William Pitt, for whom Pittsburgh is named. The division was also known as the "Battle Babies" during 1945, a sobriquet coined by a United Press…

Survivors in Langenstein

Survivors in Langenstein after the camp was liberated by the 83rd Infantry Division. Langenstein, Germany, April 17, 1945.

Women survivors at Auschwitz

Women survivors huddled in a prisoner barracks shortly after Soviet forces liberated the Auschwitz camp. Auschwitz, Poland, 1945.

Crematoria at the Dachau camp

The crematoria at Dachau concentration camp, soon after the liberation of the camp. Germany, after April 29, 1945.

Mass grave at Bergen-Belsen

A mass grave at Bergen-Belsen soon after the liberation of the camp. Bergen-Belsen, Germany, May 1945.

Jewish religious service at Dachau

US forces liberated the Dachau concentration camp in Germany in April 1945. Here, survivors of the camp stand during the singing of "Hatikva" ("Hope") before Rabbi David Eichhoren, a US army chaplain, leads one of the first Jewish prayer services after liberation.

Flag graphic for US 20th Armored Division

A digital representation of the United States 20th Armored Division's flag.  The US 20th Armored Division was occasionally known as the "Armoraiders" during World War II. They participared in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. The 20th Armored Division was recognized as a liberating unit in 1985 by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM).   

Flag graphic for US 63rd Infantry Division

A digital representation of the United States 63rd Infantry Division's flag.  The US 63rd Infantry Division (the "Blood and Fire" division) was established in 1943. During World War II, they took the town of Heidelberg and liberated several Kaufering subcamps. The 63rd Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit in 2000 by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). 

Page 1 of Letter from US Soldier Aaron Eiferman

April 27, 1945. On this date, US soldier Aaron A. Eiferman wrote a letter to his wife describing conditions in Kaufering IV in Germany.

Abraham Klausner describes encountering survivors of the Dachau camp

Rabbi Abraham Klausner was a US Army military chaplain. He arrived in the Dachau concentration camp in May 1945. He was attached to the 116th evacuation hospital unit and worked for about five years in displaced persons camps, assisting Jewish survivors.

Funeral for victims of Wöbbelin

After the liberation of the Wöbbelin camp, US troops forced the townspeople of Ludwigslust to bury the bodies of prisoners killed in the camp. This photo shows US troops assembled at the mass funeral in Ludwigslust. Germany, May 7, 1945.

2001 Days of Remembrance ceremony

Scene during the 2001 Days of Remembrance ceremony, in the Rotunda of the US Capitol. Flags of the liberating divisions feature prominently in the Museum's Days of Remembrance ceremonies. Washington, DC, 2001.

Corpses of prisoners killed in Gunskirchen

Corpses of prisoners killed in the Gunskirchen camp. Gunskirchen was one of the many subcamps of the Mauthausen camp. It was liberated by US forces in early May 1945. Gunskirchen, Austria, photo taken between May 6 and May 15, 1945.

A survivor of Kaufering IV

A survivor of Kaufering IV, one of the Dachau subcamps in the Landsberg-Kaufering area, with US soldiers after liberation. Kaufering, Germany, after April 27, 1945.

Partisans Abba Kovner, Ruska Korczak, and Vitka Kempner

Abba Kovner (center) poses with Ruska Korczak (left) and Vitka Kempner (right) on a street in Vilna the day of the city's liberation.

V-2 rockets

Sections of V-2 rockets, the so-called Vengeance Weapons, are removed by rail from the Dora-Mittelbau camp after liberation. Near Nordhausen, Germany, June 1945.

Ruins of the central barracks (Boelke Kaserne) in the Nordhausen camp

View of the ruins of the central barracks (Boelke Kaserne) in the Nordhausen concentration camp. This photograph was taken after liberation. Germany, April 1945.

Burial of victims of the Dora-Mittelbau camp

After the liberation of Dora-Mittelbau, local German residents were required to bury the bodies of victims of the camp. Dora-Mittelbau, Germany, April 13–14, 1945.

Jewish French underground group

Group portrait of a Jewish French underground group named "Compagnie Reiman." This photograph was taken after the liberation of France. Paris, France, 1945.

Flag graphic for US 45th Infantry Division

A digital representation of the United States 45th Infantry Division's flag.  The US 45th Infantry Division (the "Thunderbird" division) was established in 1924. During World War II, they were involved in the Allied invasions of North Africa and Italy, as well as the capture of the city of Nuremberg. The division also liberated the Dachau concentration camp. The 45th Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit in 1985 by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States…

Flag graphic for US 71st Infantry Division

A digital representation of the United States 71st Infantry Division's flag.  The US 71st Infantry Division (the "Red Circle" division) was established in 1943. During World War II, they were involved in taking the cities of Coburg, Bayreuth, and Regensburg. The division also liberated Gunskirchen, a subcamp of Mauthausen. The 71st Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit in 1988 by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). 

Blanka Rothschild describes returning to Lodz after the war to look for family members

Blanka was an only child in a close-knit family in Lodz, Poland. Her father died in 1937. After the German invasion of Poland, Blanka and her mother remained in Lodz with Blanka's grandmother, who was unable to travel. Along with other relatives, they were forced into the Lodz ghetto in 1940. There, Blanka worked in a bakery. She and her mother later worked in a hospital in the Lodz ghetto, where they remained until late 1944 when they were deported to the Ravensbrueck camp in Germany. From Ravensbrueck,…

Eisenhower tours the Ohrdruf camp

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.

Dachau death train

Corpses lie in one of the open railcars of the Dachau death train. The Dachau death train consisted of nearly forty cars containing the bodies of between two and three thousand prisoners transported to Dachau in the last days of the war. Dachau, Germany, April 29, 1945. This image is among the commonly reproduced and distributed, and often extremely graphic, images of liberation. These photographs provided powerful documentation of the crimes of the Nazi era. 

Demonstrating the operation of the Dachau crematorium

Survivors of the Dachau concentration camp demonstrate the operation of the crematorium by pushing a corpse into one of the ovens. Dachau, Germany, April 29–May 10, 1945. This image is among the commonly reproduced and distributed, and often extremely graphic, images of liberation. These photographs provided powerful documentation of the crimes of the Nazi era.

Demonstrating the operation of the Dachau crematorium

Survivors of the Dachau concentration camp demonstrate the operation of the crematorium by pushing a corpse into one of the ovens. Dachau, Germany, April 29–May 10, 1945. This image is among the commonly reproduced and distributed, and often extremely graphic, images of liberation. These photographs provided powerful documentation of the crimes of the Nazi era.

Demonstrating the cremation process at Dachau

Survivors of the Dachau concentration camp prepare to move a corpse during a demonstration of the cremation process at the camp. Dachau, Germany, April 29–May 10, 1945. This image is among the commonly reproduced and distributed, and often extremely graphic, images of liberation. These photographs provided powerful documentation of the crimes of the Nazi era.

Dr. Fritz Klein stands among corpses in a mass grave.

Dr. Fritz Klein stands among corpses in a mass grave at Bergen-Belsen, after the liberation of the camp. He was required to assist in the burial of inmates who died there. Klein was a camp doctor at both Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Germany, after April 15, 1945.

Flag graphic for US 4th Armored Division

A digital representation of the United States 4th Armored Division's flag.  The US 4th Armored Division is also known as the "Breakthrough" division. During World War II, they were involved in the Battle of the Bulge and overran Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald. The 4th Armored Division was recognized as a liberating unit in 1985 by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM).   

Flag graphic for US 6th Armored Division

A digital representation of the United States 6th Armored Division's flag.  The US 6th Armored Division is also known as the "Super Sixth." During World War II, they were involved in the Battle of the Bulge and overran the Buchenwald concentration camp. The 6th Armored Division was recognized as a liberating unit in 1985 by the United States Army Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). 

Frank Hamburger describes the Ohrdruf camp

Frank F. Hamburger, Jr., of Columbus, Georgia, was with the 65th Infantry Division.

Death Marches - ID Card/Oral History

Bergen-Belsen (Abridged Article) - Photograph

Holocaust (Abridged Article) - Historical Film Footage

Concentration Camps, 1942–45 - Animated Map/Map