History of the Liberation of Dachau -- a personal view
On April 29, 1945... 60 years ago, the Allies captured and liberated Dachau. My father, Staff Sergeant John Petro was one of the liberators. It was one of the few stories from World War II that my father told me in full.
Dachau was the first "concentration camp," originally established in March 1933 near Munich, Germany. At first Dachau held only political opponents, but over time, more and more groups were imprisoned there.Unlike Auschwitz, it was not a "death camp" but instead was a prison camp for slave labor. Nevertheless, tens of thousands died at Dachau from starvation, maltreatment, and disease. After the liberation, General Eisenhower reported, "Our forces liberated and mopped up the infamous concentration camp at Dachau. Approximately 32,000 prisoners were liberated; 300 SS camp guards were quickly neutralized."
Dachau was the prototype, the first of its kind, and the SS had a training camp next door. They first trained at Dachau and then went to work at one of the 3,000 Nazi camps across Europe.
My father's story was featured on HBO's website when they originally promoted their miniseries "Band of Brothers" for the episode on the liberation of the concentration camp.
You can read the full story at http://www.billpetro.com/johnpetro
When I visited Dachau two years ago I told those who work at the museum that my father had been among the liberators. Everyone of them asked me the same question: "Do you have pictures?"
I pointed them to the website above and the pictures my father brought back. There have been over 22,000 visitors to the website. I still get phone calls from old soldiers who served with him. But not for much longer. WWII veterans are dying at a rate of over 1,500 a day.
Bill Petro, son of John
http://www.billpetro.com/johnpetro
Dachau was the first "concentration camp," originally established in March 1933 near Munich, Germany. At first Dachau held only political opponents, but over time, more and more groups were imprisoned there.Unlike Auschwitz, it was not a "death camp" but instead was a prison camp for slave labor. Nevertheless, tens of thousands died at Dachau from starvation, maltreatment, and disease. After the liberation, General Eisenhower reported, "Our forces liberated and mopped up the infamous concentration camp at Dachau. Approximately 32,000 prisoners were liberated; 300 SS camp guards were quickly neutralized."
Dachau was the prototype, the first of its kind, and the SS had a training camp next door. They first trained at Dachau and then went to work at one of the 3,000 Nazi camps across Europe.
My father's story was featured on HBO's website when they originally promoted their miniseries "Band of Brothers" for the episode on the liberation of the concentration camp.
You can read the full story at http://www.billpetro.com/johnpetro
When I visited Dachau two years ago I told those who work at the museum that my father had been among the liberators. Everyone of them asked me the same question: "Do you have pictures?"
I pointed them to the website above and the pictures my father brought back. There have been over 22,000 visitors to the website. I still get phone calls from old soldiers who served with him. But not for much longer. WWII veterans are dying at a rate of over 1,500 a day.
May we never forget.
Bill Petro, son of John
http://www.billpetro.com/johnpetro
