In this last post we are going to talk about how the prisioners were rescue, who helped them and what kind of things did they have to do to get through the trauma in a better way. Because being a prisioner in a concentration camp could have the same trauma that soldiers had when they return from war.
There was many troops from differents countries who libereted the prisioners from the camps of cocentration, but in the case of Dachau who did it was the American troop. Although the Germans had tried to clear the camps of the surviving prisoners and hide all evidence of their crimes, Allied soldiers found thousands of bodies "piled up like bundles of firewood" according to one American soldier. So the Germans can avoid the atrocities they did.The prisoners that were still alive were living skeletons and needed a lot of care to get better.
There was a US Army journalist, that described what he saw at Dachau: "There were something like a dozen bodies in the dirty freight car, both men and women. They had gone so long without food that their dead dolls were broomsticks ending in claws. They were the victims of a deliberate starvation diet..."
Allied troops, medics, and relief workers attempted to feed the surviving prisoners, but many were too weak to digest food and could not be saved. Despite the efforts of the liberators, many survivors of the camps died in the first days.
There are news that said survivors react in different ways to their regained freedom. While some looked forward to being reunited with other family members, others felt guilty for surviving when so many of their family and friends had died. There was a psychiatrist who indicated that some feel overwhelmed by the situation.
In this picture we can see how the American Army entered to the dachau camp to rescue the prisioners
During the rescue
operations, American troops worked tirelessly to provide medical assistance to
the prisoners. Many of them were suffering from malnutrition and diseases due
to inhumane conditions they had endured. The soldiers distributed supplies to prisoners
to regain strength.
Among the courageous who
aided in the rescue efforts were military doctors and nurses. They provided physical
ailments and tend to the psychological well-being. They encountered challenges
confronting the harrowing stories of the victims.
In addition to the personnel,
there were also chaplains and relief workers who offered emotional support and
spiritual guidance to the liberated ones. Also they provided solace listening
experiences and encouraging comfort during their transition.
Recovering from the
trauma was a long process for survivors. The psychological scars ran deep. Psychiatrists
employed different techniques with their overwhelming emotions (group
therapies, individual counseling, and art therapy).
Besides, efforts were
to reunite the survivors with their families. Organizations dedicated to locate
the separate relatives, offering hope amidst the tragedy.
Despite the
challenges faced , the determination to rebuild their lives prevailed. Many
survivors kept sharing their stories, ensuring that the atrocities committed in
concentration camps will never be forgotten. Their testimonies served as
reminder of the importance of the
preservation of human dignity
In this picture we can see how survivors of Dachau celebrate their freedom thanks to the american soldiers
References:
- United States Holocaust memorial museum (2021) Liberación
No comments:
Post a Comment