Eugene H. Blanche, circa 1935-2012 1 boxes
- Abstract Or Scope
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The collection contains two manuscripts. The first is a report of Dachau, the oldest of the Nazi concentration camps. The second is a lengthy, detailed record of the accounts of the 495th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. The collection includes a manuscript entitled "Dachau" by a man who served in the Army in the European Theater (ETO). This manuscript is divided into four sections. Section One contains an overview and analysis of the inner workings (administration) of the concentration camp, an analysis of the types of prisoners, and lastly, the results of an effort to determine if there were any organized prisoner groups, especially underground groups. Section Two contains a recap of the activities of the Seventh Army with regard to their liberation of Dachau, which was begun on 30 April 1945. They conducted interviews with survivors and also interviewed townspeople to try to determine how much they knew about the camp, which was located on the outskirts of their town. Section Three contains a diary written by a survivor. After the diary, this survivor gives a recap of his experiences as a prisoner in Dachau. Section Four contains miscellaneous material. First, there are special case reports on Nazi officials, who were headquartered at Dachau. Next, there is an organizational chart of the personnel of the camp, a statistical survey of the nationalities held at Dachau, statistical tables regarding the number of internees over the period of the existence of the camp (1933-1945), and a count of those who died a natural death, as well as a count of those who were executed. Lastly, there is a list of names of those serving on the International Prisoner Committee. The collection also includes a manuscript entitled "495th Armored Field Artillery Battalion" about a man in the Army in the European Theater. This manuscript is an account of the battles fought by the 495th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, which was a part of the 12th Armored Division. They were nicknamed the "Hellcats." Upon landing at Le Havre in France, they pushed eastward, and eventually ended up at Kufstein in southern Bavaria, near the Danube River. Bettviller; Sarriensberg; Farbersville; Aachen; Bischwiller; Weyersheim; La Wantzenau; Herrlisheim; Oberdergheim; Ritzingen; Forbach; Birkenfeld; Baumholder; Immsweller; Grundstadt; Frankenthal; Bohl; Weingarten; Worms; Mudua: Sachensflur: Konigshofen: Enheim: Lehrberg; Feuchtwangen; Elchingen; Lauingen; Thannhausen; Landsberg; Lamerdingen; Weilheim; Starnberg; Holzkirchen; Degernsdorf; Kufstein