Lockered Gahs, a 100-year-old veteran, recalled his experiences as part of the 42nd Infantry Division that liberated Dachau concentration camp in 1945. Upon entering, soldiers encountered the grim realities of starvation and abuse as they witnessed the malnourished state of survivors and discovered piles of dead bodies. The horrific scenes stood in stark contrast to their previous combat experiences in France, solidifying the truth of their fight against tyranny. During a memorial ceremony, another survivor, Jean Lafaurie, also shared his ordeal of mistreatment while imprisoned, emphasizing the enduring impact of the Holocaust on survivors and liberators alike.
"When we opened the gates to Dachau, it was only then have we truly understood what we had been fighting for," Mr. Gahs stated during the memorial.
Mr. Gahs encountered prisoners so malnourished, sick and maltreated that they seemed scarcely alive, a heartbreaking reality for soldiers who liberated the camp.
Jean Lafaurie, a 101-year-old survivor, shared harrowing stories of the sadistic treatment endured by the prisoners of Dachau.
The liberation of Dachau by the 42nd Infantry Division stands as a stark reminder of the atrocities of war and human resilience.
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