The Liberation Of Kz Dachau

"The scene there robbed the human mind of reason," says retired General Felix Sparks on what he saw upon entering Dachau on April 29, 1945. Sparks had received a call that morning ordering him and his men to take and secure the prison camp of Dachau. They were given no idea of what to expect. James Kent Strong's maiden effort The Liberation of KZ Dachau is a powerful testament from the men who entered the Nazi death camp, and saw firsthand what had only been rumors previously. William Walsh, John Lee, Howard Buechner, Ralph Fink, Hank Mills, Edwin Gorak, these interviewees and others describe the hell that they found at Dachau, where their first sight was a train loaded with 2,300 dead bodies. Although battle veterans, these men wept in rage and disbelief, and the word passed through the troops: "take no prisoners." Both the inmates and the American soldiers shed blood that day, taking their vengeance on the German officers and enlisted men. Today, these men have mixed opinions about the additional violence they witnessed, some believing it was justified under the circumstances, others feeling it was wrong regardless. The Liberation of KZ Dachau is not a pleasant film to watch; intercut with the often painful recollections of the former soldiers are horrifying scenes shot at Dachau shortly after the liberation. Still, the film raises challenging ethical questions, and reminds us that in order to learn from history, it is sometimes necessary to look at the horror. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from: Strong Communications, 1124 Ivy Lane, Cary, NC 27511.)