Warning: This historical documentary contains some explicit scenes that are of a violent and disturbing nature. Only 18 minutes of this footage has ever been shown before in the west. This was released by the Russians as prosecution evidence at the Nuremberg War Crime trials. Captain Alexander Vrotsos is the only surviving cameraman from the Soviet film crew attached to the 1st Ukrainian Front, who in Jan/Feb 1945 filmed the liberation of the infamous death camp, Auschwitz. He describes the feelings that he and his comrades felt at the horrific scenes that confronted the brave liberators. A majority of the prisoners had been forced by the Germans to leave the camp as the Red Army approached Auschwitz, and many had perished on their 'death marches'. Vorontsov was able to record the plight of the remaining 6000 prisoners, the pitiful remains of the dead, the results of the Soviet investigations and the closing of Auschwitz, February 28th 1945
Up until it's release on video, this Russian footage had never been shown in the West. Majdanek was unique as it was the only concentration camp operational at the time of it's liberation.The concentration and extermination camp Majdanek, near Lublin, was erected in 1941, and liberated on July 23rd 1944.The speed of the Soviet advance gave the Germans no time to destroy or conceal evidence of the atrocities they had committed.This rare and stark do*****entary graphically portrays the terrible tragedy of the 'Two Million' innocent victims exterminated and the frightful efficiency of the NAZI DEATH FACTORY.Captured on films are SS Officers and Kapo's appearing before a Russian Tribunal at Lublin. They are confronted by surviving inmates who are giving evidence against the accused for their hideous war crimes. It culminated in their deserved conviction and execution by hanging.
Warning: This historical documentary contains some explicit scenes that are of a violent and disturbing nature. Between 1941 and 1945, the little fortress town of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia was the transit camp to the death camps in the East for thousands of Czech, German, Austrian and Dutch Jews. The Jews deported there from 1941 onwards were led to believe it was an 'end camp' from where they would not be deported further; the thousands of old and prominent Jews from Germany. Austria and Holland deported there from 1942 onwards were promised a comfortable and peaceful life in the 'Reich home for the aged' and hoodwinked into signing over to the S.S. their properties and assets. In reality, they also would be sent off to the death camps in the east. From 1943, the Nazis developed Theresienstadt into a 'show camp' with which they could deceive the outside world as to what was really happening to the Jews of Europe. A large scale 'beautification' programme gave the camp a nice looking outer facade. In June 1944, a Danish and International Red Cross delegation allowed itself to be completely deceived when they inspected this fraudulent 'Jewish Settlement'.
Hour long program features interviews as well as archival footage showing the Dachau and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.
Hour long program features interviews as well as archival footage showing the Ravensbrück and Buchenwald concentration camps.