Invitation Program for Survivors and Liberators

The 80th anniversary of liberation offered a unique opportunity to celebrate this special occasion in a larger setting together with survivors and liberators and arrange personal meetings. The diverse encounters with these contemporary witnesses were therefore at the heart of the project on this milestone anniversary.

Eight survivors and one liberator were able to accept the invitation and take part in the ceremonies and events around the 80th anniversary of liberation. The guests from Europe were the survivors Mario Candotto (Italy), Erich Finsches (Austria), Jean Lafaurie (France), and Franz von Bayern (Germany). The Lithuanian survivor Abba Naor came from Israel, while Lynne Farbman, born in the Mühldorf subcamp, travelled from the USA. Also journeying from overseas were George Legmann (Brazil) and Leslie Rosenthal (Canada), both of whom were born in the Kaufering subcamp. Last but not least, Bud Gahs, a veteran of the 42nd Division, was able to accept the invitation to represent the liberators.

During the various events, encounters – in part planned, in part spontaneous and mainly rather informal – took place between the contemporary witnesses and the different youth and adult groups: encounters between the survivors and liberators, descendants and family members of other survivors and former prisoners, volunteer helpers, Memorial Site staff, the wider public, representatives from the consular corps, politics, churches and associations as well as the media.

The varied opportunities for encounters and exchanges arose when caring for and accompanying the guests of honor: at the welcome dinner on May 1, in and around the “Forum of Descendants” on May 2, in the “Tent of Encounter” on May 3, the central commemoration ceremony and a following lunch on May 4, as well as commemorative ceremonies organized by our cooperation partners at the sites of former subcamps of the Dachau concentration camp, the place of remembrance at the former SS shooting range Hebertshausen, and the Dachau death march monument.

Everyone from the aforementioned youth and adult groups as well as the numerous service providers working on site, who came into contact with the survivors and liberators, experienced the contemporary witnesses as very approachable. In particular the youths actively involved in a voluntary capacity in the events around the 80th anniversary, but indeed everyone else were deeply impressed and affected. Everyone was grateful to have personally met the survivors and liberators.

All photos: © KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau