Wöbbelin Camp Liberation Film
Historical footage documenting the liberation of Wöbbelin concentration camp near Ludwigslust, Germany, May 1945. The videos include graphic images of human suffering and death. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. These materials are presented for educational and historical purposes. Videos taken by the U.S. Army Signal Corps obtained from the National Archives (NARA).
Film 4377: Colonel Father Crain of the 4th US Armored Division exits from building and speaks to German chaplain captured with two German Colonels.
German civilians bury dead of Wöbbelin concentration camp. German civilians and officers viewing bodies before burial. At the back of each grave is a large wooden cross. Group of US and German officers stand at attention during burial ceremonies. Some women place flowers on grave.
US and German officers stand at attention during burial ceremonies. Horse drawn wagons carry bodies from mass grave in wooded area.
Film 4397: Survivor lying in filthy bunk. Staring eyes in face of dead victim.
Two survivors, one unbuttoning his blouse, show their wasted bodies. Barbed wire bed bunks are constructed of barbed wire strung across poles.
US soldiers exit as German civilians enter barracks to view the bodies.
Film 4411: Townspeople walk past pit containing bodies of former slave laborers who died from malnutrition and torture. German civilians digging graves and reburying concentration camp victims.
Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish chaplains speaking at burial ceremony. Major General James M. Gavin, CG, 82nd ABN Corps and other US officers attending ceremonies. Group of German officers viewing bodies in cemetery, body lying in grave as earth is shoveled over it.
Grave markers, many of which are the Star of David. Faces of the dead reflecting the violent deaths suffered. Freed prisoners watching German civilians remove bodies from mass grave. Some released prisoners crying. The camp housed political prisoners of all nations.
Film 4422: Emaciated prisoners are helped by other inmates into trucks. In many cases the victims cannot stand on their feet. Weak, sick prisoners lying on ground near barracks pleading for help.
Banquet given by Polish and Russian officers to liaison pilots of the 102nd Division, Russian and US soldiers speaking on the banks of the Elbe River.
George S. Patton, Jr; Major General James A. Van Fleet and Major General Cooper-Smith, inspect bridge over the Isar River. Generals looking at bridge as traffic moves over the steel treadways. Large group of German prisoners concentrated in open field. Two German soldiers talking to a US MP.
Film 1281: German civilians coming out of concentration camp building after viewing bodies of victims. American soldiers entering and leaving same building. German civilians digging graves for the concentration camp victims. German civilians walking past graves, viewing the bodies.
Major General Leland S. Hobbs with unidentified Russian general in front of XIX Corps Hq. Convoy with generals arriving at Hq. Russian general making speech. Generals and party inspecting Color Guard of 30th Division soldiers.
Dead victims of concentration camp lying on ground, soldiers taking pictures of bodies, German civilians driving wagons with bodies from women's section (Reiherhorst) of the camp. Women prisoners standing in doorways and windows of camp buildings. Guard watch tower in corner of camp.