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Mady Gerrard – Survivor
On 15th April 1945, British Soldiers entered the gates of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp for the first time. They found more than 50,000 prisoners, suffering from disease, starvation, neglect and torture – as well as the bodies of thousands who had already died.Immediately, a major relief effort began, with British troops trying to save as many lives as possible, but even after liberation, 14,000 more people would die. Today, 75 years on, SSAFA remembers the actions of the British soldiers, who did what they could to rescue and revive the thousands of people on the verge of death, from the worst terror imaginable. The first men to enter the camp were…
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British Royal Engineer (59 Plant Troop)
Picture of Royal Engineers Dozer team (59 M.E) that arrived from Maxhafen on or around 25th/26th April 1945. 29,234 total views
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Mervyn Gonin – 11th Light Field Ambulance
This month marks the 70th anniversary of Belsen’s liberation and reporter James Marston went to find out more about a Suffolk man who was on the scene. 31,410 total views
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63rd Anti Tank Regt, Move In
A photo discussing the terms of the truce. 28,805 total views
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Ted Smith – Canadian Pilot
Ted Smith, 92, was a Canadian pilot during the Second World War who saw frequent combat. But it is a spring day in April 1945 that’s seared into his memory. He arrived at Bergen-Belsen, the Nazi concentration camp, two days after it was liberated. Here is his description of the horrific scene he encountered. 27,987 total views
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Bill Millin
Branko Lustig. As a 12/13 year old, the future producer of Steven Spielberg’s movie ‘Schindler’s List’, was in Bergen-Belsen and on the brink of dying when he all of a sudden heard a sound he thought might have been produced by angels. It was in fact British Army pipers playing as the camp was liberated. 31,956 total views
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Hugh Ewart – 41 Commando
Former Royal Marine Commando Hugh Ewart, 92, passed away last Saturday and his family are hoping standard bearers and buglers will give him a fitting send-off tomorrow. 27,242 total views
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Hugh O Hara – 11th Armoured Brigade
This is the horrifying image of young soldier Hugh O’Hara helping to bury thousands of death camp victims after liberating notorious Bergen-Belsen. Hugh, who served with the 11th Armoured Brigade, sits at the wheel of a bulldozer, a white hanky at his face, looking out over dozens of dead bodies. 29,694 total views
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Sir James Gowans (1924-2020)
St Catherine’s College is saddened to share the news that Sir James Gowans, Honorary and Founding Fellow, passed away on 1st April, 2020 aged 95. 30,668 total views
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Leopold John “Leo” Genn (War Crimes Unit)
WCIT. War Crimes Unit. Arrived 20th May. Produced initial report 22nd June. 14 page document summarised investigators key findings and made recommendations for the cases against key concentration camp personnel. 29,353 total views
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