Memory of the Camps

Memory of the Camps

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Ratings: 6.35/10 from 89 users.

Memory of the CampsSixty years ago, in the spring of 1945, Allied forces liberating Europe found evidence of atrocities which have tortured the world's conscience ever since. As the troops entered the German concentration camps, they made a systematic film record of what they saw. Work began in the summer of 1945 on the documentary, but the film was left unfinished.

FRONTLINE found it stored in a vault of London's Imperial War Museum and, in 1985, broadcast it for the first time using the title the Imperial War Museum gave it, 'Memory of the Camps.

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John Caldwell
John Caldwell
4 years ago

We've got thousands of Trump supporters marching in the street with tiki torches screaming "jews will not replace us!" No automation will replace you idiots. Apparently this country hasn't learned a thing a the holocaust!

Linda
Linda
5 years ago

I weep. To see human beings, who should have died in their beds at a ripe old age, dragged carelessly to a pit and tossed in like so much garbage, is heart rending. Each deserved to be taken care of by loving family, and laid tenderly in their final resting place. I can see how having those responsible for their deaths being forced to do this ghastly work may have been to teach a lesson, however there is no evidence that anything was learned. It turned out to be solely the last possible indignity against those poor broken bodies.

It is now 2018 and mass murder, terrorism, and rampant crimes against humanity persist throughout the world. We all need to do our part.

corynski
corynski
8 years ago

Magda said...."I dont understand all your comments against God. Is He forcing you to do anything?"

It's not about 'God', Magda, it's about you trying to force your concept of God upon others, as if it were reality. Well, it's not, it's a guess, and you simply believe in one of thousands of gods and goddesses that humans have themselves created.

Please read some anthropology and mythology and learn of the thousands and thousands of years of pain and suffering humans endured as we evolved from primates, before your latest version of 'god' showed up. You believe in your god because you grew up in one community and not another. You could have grown up with Ganeesh and Shiva if you just happened to live in that country.

Believe whatever myths you wish but be kind enough to leave them at home.

And don't forget Mathew 10:34, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father....... a man's enemies will be the members of his own household."

Right...... good advice, keep stirring the pot.

S de Vere
S de Vere
9 years ago

Lots of comments to the effect that this must never happen again, yet it is happening all over the world. Talk is cheap. 60-80 million Chinese were murdered and starved to death by the Communist dictatorship (Communist Party of China) AFTER WW2….and still today that same regime is in power, executing anyone who it deems a danger to its hold on power AND the West only wants closer relations with them. Pol Pot killed a third of Cambodia's people in the 1980s and the North Koreans run concentration camps that kill thousands every year, and hundreds of thousands die every few years due to the same kind of communist economic policies that killed millions in China. The world does nothing…except say "never again".

sam
sam
9 years ago

just got to say, didnt anyone feel upset how the SS were just dragging these people. around like they were nothing at all. and throwing them around. made me feel very sick and upset at how people can treat others this way

coryn
coryn
10 years ago

Awesome, how thin the veneer of civilization...... The foremost German killers were the Einsatzgruppen, who in fact were the butcher and the baker and the grocer man from the small home towns all over Germany. The average man....... trained not to think, but to follow.

Excellent documentary...... We were coming out of our U.S. economic depression of the 30's as Hitler was steadily gaining power. When the U.S. went into the wars, both Europe and the Far East had erected tremendous power structures. We in turn did so, and turned to rationing..... a most gruesome Potlach, where the wealth of the world went up in flames and smoke, the destruction of cities and of the production equipment of the countries. Save the United States, we trumped them all..... now we were on top!

But where are we now, in 2014, 65 years later? World inflation is forcing us to the edge.... when the paper money is destroyed we'll be back to despair. We've spent today's wealth, and tomorrow's........

How bizarre.......

David Shine
David Shine
10 years ago

This is not propaganda. This is real these are real people who were murdered.How can anyone still say this never happened ? No one deserved to be murdered. Those who defend such atrocities are no different than the Nazi or any one else who causes so much pain and death.

MillermanHH
MillermanHH
10 years ago

People are dying TODAY and for the past 80-or-so years In Russian Gulags and Chinese 'Political re-education' camps.Far more have been tortured,worked and starved to death In these places than In so-called Nazi 'death camps',even If you believe all the Zionist Bulls**t!

Rose
Rose
10 years ago

My father lived through this hell and is 90 now. HE will never forget.

Magda
Magda
11 years ago

I dont understand all your comments against God. Is He forcing you to do anything? Has He got any influence on your deciosions? The concept of Christian God is the God who gave you the free will. He doesnt need an army of human forced to execute His orders (if you choose to love Him do your best and live the best if not then you still have to make your choice how you want to live, what you do etc.)... and so if God cant change your hostile attitude, vicious comments- while I belive that in most of us here, despite all the negative feelings there is the good inside whatever we belive in or not to and I am sure we want to consider ourselves as not able to commit such atrocities... So in what way? How could God made them to stop? if He doesnt overpower you?? If one considers themselves as a free person how could their blame me, you, God for their choices? Put blame on others instead of taking responsibility. Is it better nowadays? what with the "labour" camp in China? others? what now? which army is going to stand up for them? Who? You?

Teresa
Teresa
11 years ago

Why are people fighting on here like Assholes?.The movie is about the Jews .Its not about YOU.

James Robert Edwards
James Robert Edwards
11 years ago

I could not finish watching; too shocking

Nigel Burman
Nigel Burman
11 years ago

why didnt the allies bomb the camps when they knew about them why ?

Paula Godet
Paula Godet
11 years ago

Man is actually born "desperately wicked". That includes every one of us. Without Christ our minds are depraved.

dani s
dani s
11 years ago

these atrocities were and are still an abasement for humanity as a whole and continue to dictate our actions as such. We say we won't let it happen again, that we have learnt our lesson, but darkness has truly fallen. We currently live among monsters that are not visible to us as the nazi's were.

the555hit
the555hit
12 years ago

ps. just had a read of some comments here. where do you religios get off? don't you get it one time.. it was a screaming zealot and his hysterical followers not quite unlike you filled those concentration camps with corpses.

the555hit
the555hit
12 years ago

thanks webmaster for making this available. enough said.

kaffy4x4
kaffy4x4
12 years ago

I've watched a lot of documentaries on the concentration camps of Germany but this is the first one that mentions all the other nationalities and countries of the people who were imprisoned and killed. The majority were Jews but certainly not by a huge majority.

CherryBombpop
CherryBombpop
12 years ago

Some here are saying that "only the devil" could devise such an evil enterprise. Unfortunately, it was without a doubt HUMAN BEINGS that devised it, which in my opinion is far worse. How frightening...it is almost unbearable to think about what people are capable of, and how cold they can become - to stand by and let so many suffer, starve, and die. Or to kill people outright, by the most agonizing means imaginable. Somehow it's unthinkable that there were so many women working at these camps. One likes to think their nurturing spirit would not let them partake, but apparently that is a naive thought. How can it be possible that such evil was lurking in so many, that they would willingly help to destroy 11 MILLION innocent people?

Be ever vigilant. Remember the phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei" - Work Makes you Free. Think about how our own governments subtly infuse us with this message. Be aware. Never forget. This stuff didn't happen all that long ago, it happened in my parent's lifetime. It's not remote.

I watched this in 1985 when it was originally aired, tears streaming down my face the whole time. I was only 22, and of course I knew all about the Holocaust, or so I thought. This documentary gives you an altogether new perspective though, and in my case, a life changing one.

eatumuptigers
eatumuptigers
12 years ago

If you knew anything about the Bible and had any heart for the Lord you would know that he wept over Jerusalem, as Matthew 3:37 states he longed for them seeing the suffering they would endure because so many evil men want to snuff out the Jewish people, then and now, But they would not the verse says, indicating their refusal to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah they were looking for cuz they wanted a warrior Messiah who would deliver them instantly from their oppressing rulers and did not recognize the humble Messiah, gentle and meek, beckoning mens hearts to turn to him, and who first needed to deliver all men FROM THEIR SINS... Once again they will be persecuted by their enemies in the Middle East only this time the Bible declares that the Messiah will step in to spare them and redeem them as their mighty warrior... I challenge you to investigate the Bible and its inerrent truths and you will be fascinated!! Hope to see you redeemed and standing with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings as He will reveal He indeed rules over His creation!

Lary9
Lary9
13 years ago

@Mark~
"And as for the Jews. ... Jewish controlled banking and money system exploited the country mercilessly."

"So while Germany starved during a depression ... Jewish community, at that time were very much seen as 'exploiters of their hosts'."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you really suggesting that the Holocaust was just an understandable punitive reaction to a German subculture of meddlesome Jews that exploited the national banking system? If that is your brief, let us all pause now and reconsider our historical judgment. Perhaps we have been too rough on the Nazis...is that it? I suppose then, that it would be alright to round up all the offending Wall Street investment firms that introduced derivatives and then execute them in "reeducation camps"?
Surely you must be joking! The Ultra-Zionists of the West Bank are morally wrong but are they really related in some mitigating fashion to the death camps and how?

Lary9
Lary9
13 years ago

@Mark~
This is quite factually accurate re the the Bush family and Germany's National Socialism (which wasn't true socialism by the way). Prescott Bush "worked for and profited from companies closely involved with the very German businesses that financed Hitler's rise to power. It has also been suggested that the money he made from these dealings helped to establish the Bush family fortune and set up its political dynasty."

Rooshteen
Rooshteen
13 years ago

Far too many comments here mentioning god. 'god'?! What an archaic concept. C'mon people. Cop on and wake up! If mankind keeps believing in god and the devil we are all in big trouble.

Catherine
Catherine
13 years ago

I thought this documentary was something I found incomprehensable. The point of this piece of history should be a reminder of "Lest We Forget" te innocent lives taken whether young old or in the prime of their lives.The brutality that one man can afflict on another is completely sickening. Why? Because of their belif system. It doesn't matter. The people in this war should've never been put through this. God Bless them all.

haley
haley
13 years ago

I hope one day to film documentaries. Even when I was younger and still a teenager, I have always been a history buff. Of course I was learning about more innocent subjects. At a young age my mom was waching something on the Holocaust, she had me watch it as well and explained what had happened. I was so sad but watching some of the things inspired me to continue to show our past(good and bad) and learn from our mistakes.

Andrew
Andrew
13 years ago

For those evoking God into the discussion here, you have to ask yourself what was he doing while all this was going on? As soon as the American/English soldiers liberated the camp they set to work in helping these poor people; providing water, food, clothing, medical attention and care. They, like any caring human being in their situation, were in a position to help and did so.

If he exists, God on the other hand, not only knew that the atrocities were going to take place long before they did,(and went ahead and created a World which he knew would result in it,) he also stood by and did nothing whilst millions of men, women and children were systematically slaughtered in accordance to Hitler's "Final Solution."

Let's look at this for what it really represents, a disgusting chapter in human history, something that we must never let happen again, something we must learn from. Let's not start quoting chapter and verse from scripture, or trying to explain away or provide comfort by allowing answers or justice through God, it's an insult to the millions who died terrified in the camps, many of whom were no doubt pleading for some divine intervention that never came, right up until they drew their last breath.

Our soldiers did a much better job at bringing the holocaust to an end and providing care and atention to the needy than God, who, in his infinite power, would have found the task of intervention a trivial baring on his resources, would he not?

To quote McKown: The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.

Mark
Mark
13 years ago

@ Abraham

Thanks Abraham, I also thought that your piece was well constructed and informative, and I fully agree with all you say.

And, er, I am a published author, so it is great to hear your praise. Thankyou :)

Abraham
Abraham
13 years ago

@ Mark

Props to you for that wonderfully written piece! After reading a handful of the responses, i was in a rush to weigh in myself. It was not till after, that i read yours. Again, well written.

Abraham
Abraham
13 years ago

Truly tragic, almost beyond comprehension.

What makes this event even more tragic, is when people fail to learn from this. Namely,the Israeli state. Having endured possibly the worst persecution of all times, they are currently in the process of carrying out their own version of it on the Palestinians. Everyone is completely repulsed when they hear of an arab blowing himself up to murder israelis, proclaiming "was the will of Allah" However, when the israeli army completely destroys entire towns (Jenin), killing mostly civilians in their own homes, claiming "God promised this land to us" it is entirely acceptable and somehow just?

Unfortunately, i feel people will now think me to be anti-semetic. Entirely untrue, im just trying to show the atrocities go both ways. If you were shaken/appalled by this film, if you genuinly care for humanity regardless of race/creed/religion...you owe it to yourself to watch other films on this (excellent) site. "Deir Yassin", "Peace, Propaganda, The Holy Land" are a few, also Noam Chomsky writes some excellent/informitive esssays on the topic.

Let us never feel an injustice like this (Holocaust), should in any way be condoned. Nor, any suicide bombings.Never again, as i read on a monument at Dachau. But let us also be honest with ourselves, and awaken! These types of atrocities have happened since, and are still happening (East Timor, Palestine, Rwanada, former Yugoslavia). One of the great evils learnt from ww2 seems to be the use of propaganda, which too many countries employ now, to keep pushing their agendas, and keep people ignorant as to what is happening. Keep people cowering in fear, with the proposal that there is "an evil race/nation" out there that hates you for your freedom. Then it becomes heroic, and pure, for your nation to squash out that "terrorism". When, in reality, it is the pursuit of material riches, resources, that has so many innoceants dying worldwide.

As far as religion, i grew up with a very religious family, but later became dissillutioned with most of them. I dont begrudge anyone their faith. But when one religion uses their scriptures to trump another, citing some divine right (kinda like the "my dad is better than yours" playground banter), they do themselves/ everyone a diservice. Sorry about the religious rant, but seems many others are weighing in, so why not.

@ Jonathan - well said about the socialism!

Jonathan
Jonathan
13 years ago

@ basically all of the posts here...

The sick thing is that people, despite the brutal images just witnessed, can somehow pipe on about God. As much as I would like to believe in God, it's hard to find anything holy and "God-like" about the extermination of people.

Everyone should have faith and hope, no matter what it is for... a God, themselves, freedom, etc. However, religion has been the root of all evil throughout history. Whether it be the corruption of the Catholic church or the neverending war in Israel/Palestine... all of the horrid acts and conflicts centre around religion and race.

As far as I know, no religions, that have any decent following, base on the idea of cruelty. The fact that people would take religion as a base or excuse for such extreme measures of human atrocity is scary... That countless viewers would then respond with statements about God, is equally as scary.

@ those misinformed about the US's "social reformation"

Why are Americans so afraid of socialism? It's like if you mention social anything and people automatically think you're Lenin's right hand man.

As an American living in Europe, I can assure you, the US is far from modern in its acceptance of change... social welfare, above all, would be an enormous step in the right direction. How it is still overwhelmingly rejected is beyond me.

Sandra Phillips
Sandra Phillips
13 years ago

Thank you Mark, you made my day! I think I could teach this subject in College (LOL) I have delved into it every way possible. I actually bought "The last Ten days" yesterday.
Got to go, have a good day! ( I enjoyed hearing you expound upon this tragedy as well)

Justice
Justice
13 years ago

@ Mark

That piece you just wrote there should be in Time Magazine, it was absolutely brilliant! The average individual might not realize how much courage it takes to write what you just wrote. I have many times tried to explain to people, that the Jews were viewed by many as "exploiters of their hosts" and as a result, have been labeled everything under the sun from racist to anti-semitic.

As a member of the human race, I surely do not condone the extermination of 6 million people. However, this issue isn't as cut and dry as people may think. As stated by Mark above, the proof is out there. The Jews did control much of the european banking and monetary system, and did exploit the people and their nations mercilessly. The people got fed up of this system of oppression and decided to fight back by persecuting Jews. Albeit, to an atrociously, disgusting brutal extreme, but the Jewish absolutely played an active role in creating and escalating these circumstances.

And people..... Christianity, along with all other religions and theistic belief systems are frauds! They serve to detach the human race from the natural world, and likewise, each other. It supports blind submission to authority, it reduces human responsibility to the effect that "God" controls everything, and in turn horrible acts can be justified in the name of the "Lord" and the "Divine Pursuit". And most importantly, it empowers those who know the truth but use the myth to manipulate and control societies. The religious myth is the most powerful device ever created and serves as the psychological soil upon which other myths can flourish.

Think about it religion has actually managed to convince people that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do every minute of every day! Wake up people, there is no Santa Claus!

Sandra Phillips
Sandra Phillips
13 years ago

What a treat to once again hear the voice of one of my childhood favorite t.v. shows, Alfred Hitchcock presents!
To see how clearly he acesses the situation, with his dry, satirical wit, is captiviating to say the least!There is unseen Holocaust footage in here as well.Truly a work of art! You will dig this one!

Randy
Randy
13 years ago

Listen, here is the thing about Jews:

They are delicious!

Listen! I love all peoples and genders equally...

Humans are simply delicious!

Listen! I am going scrounging in a graveyard for christian meat...

SO, you can write what you want...

Bianca
Bianca
13 years ago

Elbelle: Right on. Let's not forget that PEOPLE did this.

Religions only serve to set people up against each other. It's time people started thinking for themselves instead of trusting in age old books to do the thinking for them.

Mark
Mark
13 years ago

This is the true face of man. You may find that concept uncomfortable or even insulting, but it is the truth! Don't hide behind your religions propaganda, or political persuasion, because that doesn't fit.

This film shows scenes that are horrific beyond description. But it's not unique or new! Let us not forget the 20 million Russian souls who died in the Gulags. Or the thousands illegally imprisoned and tortured at Guantanamo Bay.

Remember the millions of Africans enslaved by America and Europe, and worked to death.
Or the systematic genocide of native American Indians. The difference here is that the horror is there for us all to see, and comprehend, and mourn. But all the events mentioned above were not. But were hidden to save us from disgrace.

What struck me, watching this movie, was the utter sadness of most of the poor souls who died there. No-one cried when they died. No-one noticed that they were gone. They will not be remembered, or even missed. They were just nothing. Like animals in our present-day factory farms. At least the people we saw were documented on film. For every one of those, countless thousands of victims lives weren't even that.

I have studied the Nazi concentration camp system for many years, and visited many of the sites across Europe. Even after all these years I cannot understand what drove men and women to act in such a heinous way. These camps were basically death factories.

It is a misconception that these camps were gas chamber production lines (although that was certainly true in the last few months of the war). People were worked to death mostly. Hard labour and insufficient food inevitably had the same result, and there was a constant feed of 'fresh people' to replace them.

This film depicts vividly a warning from history. For the scenes you have viewed are continuing in this world as you read this:

Remember the ten million souls from Polpots' Cambodia. (1960's - 1970's)
Don't forget the fifteen million victims of China's Peoples Revolution. (1950's)
Or the half million genocide victims from the former Yugoslavia. (1990's)
Nor the estimated one and a half million victims of massacres in Zimbabwe (today)

And as for the Jews. I think it is time for reaction to Shoah to step back and ask 'why?' There was a reason for the German people despising Jews so much, this wasn't spawned from nowhere my mere propaganda. In Germany - pre National Socialism, the Jewish controlled banking and money system exploited the country mercilessly.

So while Germany starved during a depression that saw a loaf of bread, or a potato, cost a wheel-barrow full of money, the Jewish community flourished. So while it may seem very controversial, and even semi-illegal to say such things today. The Jewish community, at that time were very much seen as 'exploiters of their hosts'.

This was not confined to Germany. In Poland, and Russia, when the Germans invaded both countries, the native inhabitants there, were more than happy to collaborate with the Nazis to rid themselves of the Jews. This is very well documented. And also. There is no other religion in the world that has a 'special' word set aside for hatred of that religion !

And as for you Americans posting here, spouting about the evils of socialism. I very much suggest you research what part the Bush family (yes - your two recent presidents) had in funding the Nazi regime ... and correct me if I'm wrong, but they are ... Republican, and devout Christians !

SOBEIT
SOBEIT
13 years ago

Didn't kill thme all thats why we have problems today.

Will
Will
13 years ago

ummmm, no, I'm pretty sure I'm MUCH better than those filthy nazis.

Lion
Lion
13 years ago

Will, what you're saying makes you no better than those Nazis.

Will
Will
13 years ago

Everyone of those filthy germans should have been shot once in the stomach, thrown into the mass graves and buried alive with those whom they murdered.

marie c
marie c
13 years ago

What a shock for all those soldiers who discovered those camps, Unprepared (as if someone could be "prepared" to see hell), they filmed so everybody could see what did happened. Some countries already knew about those massacre and, unfortunately did nothing to stop it.

Many prisoners managed to keep their faith in G_d. How did they managed to do so? To me, when all of this happened, G-D was most probably looking somewhere else.

Marie C

normal
normal
13 years ago

It is a real shame that the only time religion and race does not matter is when we are dead.

Peter
Peter
13 years ago

I worked for the UK subsidiary of a German Company for 19 years until they stabbed me in the back in 2003. 3 years later I had a total nervous breakdown, but am better now. I work for 2 animal charities. Believe me I know how this evil was possible, even for the average German. My dad won the MC killing the vermin, which is how I view them. They know nothing of honour or integrity. "The entire German race should be in its knees for eternity begging the rest of the world for forgiveness". A German on its knees begging for forgiveness is one thing, an arrogant ignorant and aggressive and one is something else. I only ever met the latter. They were numbered in their hundreds

Elbelle
Elbelle
13 years ago

I am astonished that people can leave comments regarding this documentary and then go on to talk about "gods mercy" in those comments after watching the same film.... Where was "god" in those camps???? What merciful, loving God could allow this to happen??????? I cannot see nor comprehend any God in this film.....

Epicurean_Logic
Epicurean_Logic
13 years ago

thanks for your comments Juanita you really brought a few ideas to the forefront of my mind, you said
'are you kidding me? The Nazis (let’s not label all Germans the same) killed the Jews while most of the world looked the other way.'
World gov'ts still have not learned from past attrocities like the holocaust because state sponsored genocide/war/mass murder still goes on to this day (Rwanda et all) and as much as they build temples to their fake compassion for humanity the opposite is almost inevitably true the only 'compassion' exibited is of the monetary flavour. in retrospect we all oppose human suffering but in the moment financial and political gain ONLY motivates action.

you also said
'The world conscience was seared then and still is today when we see atrocities against defenseless humans. Shame on us for our silence.'
it's safe to say that your average person loudly opposes wars, genocides- injustice, but our leaders are 'silent' in their response, or loud in condemnation and vacant in action.

Thanks for that insight

Paul
Paul
13 years ago

I agree with Lousie,Religion as been the cause of more wars than anything else in the world,all the religious people in the world fight for thier "God" and commit acts of extreme violence. At the moment we have tension rising in the UK because of some islamic fanatics. Yet again the peaceful and all loving gods could yet bring about more violence.
Dont deny that Christians didnt know about the holocaust,this will forever be a stain on the human race,a time in history of immense shame to all people of the world.
More atheists equals more peace!!

Louise
Louise
13 years ago

Hitler was a Christian
Most of the people who knew about it (not just in Germany) were Christians
Stop hiding behind your god and just admit that this could so easily happen again and most of you people would be joining right in there, in in one way or another.
Only then can we face up to what we're capable of and deal with it.
If only there were more atheists in the world this stuff would not keep recurring in one form or another. I so wish for that day. Sadly though, there are so many gullible people, so easily persuaded to hatred of somebody - anybody, I fear it will never be ....

Paul
Paul
13 years ago

My heart is numb and as no feeling.

I have seen much film footage from the death camps and although i am only 52 i feel guilty about what happened,NEVER AGAIN!!
Oh and for the record i am English.

Darren
Darren
13 years ago

This is beyond words how could other human beings do this to one another , and do it so systematically. People who deny this have blood on there hands as far as i am concerned

Fukc party political broadcasts they should show this video before anyone even considers voting for the BNP

Terry
Terry
13 years ago

Thank you Juanita. Nicely said..