Beyond Liberation - U.S. Army

The 7^th Army Training Command (7ATC) and the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp Memorial designed an educational seminar for U.S. Soldiers and civilians to facilitate positive community outreach between the Bavarian and U.S. military communities. Educational seminars and historical site visits such as these are called staff rides within the U.S. military community.

The staff at Flossenbürg Memorial developed an educational and historical tour of the memorial from the perspective of the American liberators of the camp. The goal of the seminar is to educate the 7ATC on the fate of the roughly 100,000 individuals imprisoned by the National Socialists in Flossenbürg and its subcamps between 1938 and 1945. The 90th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army liberated Flossenbürg concentration camp on April 23, 1945.

The seminar begins with an introduction and an outdoor tour of memorial site, followed by a tour and discussion in the indoor permanent exhibition. After a lunch break, the participants work in small groups to examine primary source material including interviews, letters, documents, and photographs of U.S. Soldiers, prisoners, and local civilians. Through the material, the participants investigate how the perception of “liberation” varies within and between the three groups. The seminar culminates with presentation and discussion by the participants.

This seminar provides a unique educational opportunity for U.S. Soldiers and civilians to understand war crimes and inhumane treatment during World War II. It was developed specifically for the U.S. military audience and will be conducted in English. Starting in spring 2022, 12 groups with a total of 240 people will participate in the seminars annually.