Photo 45673
Click "caption" below to view the image of the caption on back of the picture.
caption: This is a
view of the Flossenburg Concentration Camp after it was liberated by
the 1st U.S. Army troops. A wagon load of coffins and crosses is
being unloaded inside the camp for burial of German atrocity
vicitims left in the camp. This camp was supervised by 800 German
S.S. troops and was opened in 1939. According to records found in
the camp, 54,590 men and over 10,000 women were held prisoner here.
In the 14 months preceding 20 April, 1945, 14,000 inmates died of
exhaustion, undernourishment, mistreatment, and various diseases.
The prisoners worked in quarries and a nearby Messerchmidt Airplane
Factory. On 20 April, 1945 15,000 inmates were marched away. Those
that were unable to keep up the march were killed. About 2,000 were
left in the camp when U.S. troops arrived. Among those reported to
have been in the camp are Kurt Von Schuschnig, former Chancellor of
Austria, Leopold, King of Belgium, Prince Albrecht of Austria, and
Hjalmar Schact, Reich Minister of Finances.
