The Allied Race to Victory: The Air, Land, and Sea Campaigns that Ended WWII

Learn more about the End of WWII exhibit "The Allied Race to Victory" at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. 

Overview map of the end of the war appears in the World War II exhibit The Allied Race to Victory at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.

Overview of the Marianas Campaign during the end of WWII appears in the World War II exhibit The Allied Race to Victory at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.

Map of the Mariana Islands and the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944 - August 10, 1944.

Marines landing on Saipan under enemy fire from Japanese forces.

Marines throwing grenades on Saipan under enemy fire from Japanese forces.

Photo of Marines walking on beach in Guam.

Photo of Marines using flamethrowers on pillboxes and other defensive positions on Saipan.

Photo of U.S. troops on Tinia seizing its airfields.

Squadron of Grumman F6F Helldiver pilots setting out to intercept the Japanese attackers. 

Graphic of the Battle of the Philippine Sea Campaign.

Japanese ships maneuvering under fire from U.S. Navy pilots during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Japanese plane being shot down while attempting to attack USS Kitkun Bay during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. 

Photograph of PFC Samuel Gervirtz.

USS Bunker Hill during the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19, 1944.

Diary of PFC Gevitz, detailing the events of the June 19th battle. 

This description of Allied forces landing on Peleliu.

Marines taking shelter while an amphibious tractor burns in the distance on the island of Peleliu.

Marines resting following the capture of Peleliu.

Corsairs taking off from Peleliu.

Marine Indian using a walky-talky during the Battle of Peleliu.

USMC hospital corpsman knife. 

1st Marine Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

The invasion of Leyte by American forces to free the Philippines from the Japanese.

 American landing crafts coming ashore to Leyte in the Philippines.

The 21st Infantry Reigment preparing to assault the island of Letye.

Map of Allied Forces during the Philippine campaign.

First wave of American troops on the island of Leyte.

The 12th Infantry Regiment moving up from the beaches of Leyte Island, meeting minimal hostility.

The  Iron Cavalry driving forward on Leyte during the Philippine Campaign.

American forces firing artillery at Japanese defenses during the Philippine Campaign. 

General McArthur in a line of jeeps with soldiers in the Pacific.

Description of the Battle of Leyte Gulf where the Imperial Japanese Navy used bait to lure the U.S. 3rd fleet away from Leyte Gulf.

American battleships in the Pacific.

The USS Suwannee after being hit by a kamikaze attack.

 Planes preparing to launch from the USS Kitkun Bay while the USS White Plains is taking Japanese fire in the background.

The USS St. Lo being hit by a kamikaze attack.

This USS Princeton after it was hit by Japanese bombs.

The Japanese battleship Nagato firing while being fired.

Description of souvenirs Allied victors seized at the surrender of Japanese forces. 

The Philippines Expeditionary Force was produced to commemorate the victory over American forces in the Phillipines.  It features numerous photographs documenting the Japanese Army's triump, may images highlighting American military commanders. 

Type 95 Shin Gunto sword was an issued saber for NCOs and officers of the Japanese Army.

The Order of the Rising Sun was the first of Japan's official orders, established in 1875.  It has nine classes, the highest being the 1st Class Rising Sun Order of the Paulownia Flowers. 

The Order of the Rising Sun was the first of Japan's official orders, established in 1875.  It has nine classes, the highest being the 1st Class Rising Sun Order of the Paulownia Flowers.

The Order of the Rising Sun was the first of Japan's official orders, established in 1875.  It has nine classes, the highest being the 1st Class Rising Sun Order of the Paulownia Flowers.

Showa Enthronement Medal was issued to participants to the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Hirohito in 1928.

The Navy Correspondence Proficiency Badge, 2nd Class was awarded to Imperial Japanese sailors that passed tests in communications. 

The Battle of Luzon was the second phase of MacArthur's campaign to retake the Philippines took place on January 9, 1945, as the 6th Army landed at Lingayen Gulf on the northern island of Luzon. 

 US troops successfully landing on an island in the Philippines

American troops moving inland on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

American tank moving through destroyed Manila, which was all but destroyed by the fighting to liberate it. 

Destroyed post office building in Manila during the battle for liberating the city from Japanese occupation. 

American troops walking through destroyed Manilla in the Philippines.

Japanese Trophy flag that is given to friends or family members who were deploying to war. 

Map of the roads, sites and bridges created by engineers for US military. Engineers were fundamental to U.S. progress on the island; creating roads, removing mine fields, and transporting supplies to troops as they moved through the country.

American soldiers resting after making their way inland during the Battle of Luzon.

U.S. soldiers making their way through a village on Luzon.

Portrait of 1st Lieutenant Robert H. Eddy.

Newspaper clipping about 1st Lieutenant Robert Eddy being wounded in action

1st Lieutenant Robert Eddy's Purple Heart medal.

Newspaper article about 1st Lieutenant Robert Eddy receiving the Bronze Star.

 1st Lieutenant Robert Eddy's Bronze Star Medal.

Robert Eddy's Bronze Star Medal citation.

The island of Iwo Jima was essential to the American strategy of taking Japan as it was located almost equidistant from American forces in Guam and the Japanese mainland with airfields from which to stage attacks on the Japanese mainland. 

Aerial image of Iwo Jima under fire. 

The Marines were met with little resistance upon the initial assault of Iwo Jima. Unaware that the full force of the Japanese army was waiting inland, U.S. forces were fatally exposed as they began their push to take the island’s airfields.

US troops using a fox hole.

Wounded Marines being attended to at an Aid Station on Iwo Jima. 

Photo of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima. 

Enlist Now : US Marines poster features Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima. 

The last major land battle of World War II began as U.S. forces came ashore at Okinawa on April 1, 1945. Under the command of Admiral Nimitz, Operation Iceberg commenced as a combined force of Army, Navy, and Marine Corps units began their assault on the shores of Okinawa.

US troops aboard amphibious crafts approaching the beaches of Okinawa. 

Drawing of the treacherous landscape of Okinawa.

U.S. Marines scaling the rough terrain of Okinawa.

U.S. Marines fighting the Japanese on Okinawa.

The Manila Free Philippines, the English-language newspaper of the American occupied Philippines. 

The US Marines of the 1st Division beginning an offensive to overtake Shuri Castle.

Drawing of a shrine near Shuri Castle on Okinawa.

Exhausted from the rigos of close-combat on Okinawa, Marines and soldiers rest.

The American decision to begin strategic bombings against the Japanese mainland began in mid-1944, as the Marianas campaign was underway to gain access to the island’s strategic airfields.

Flight map from Guam to mainland Japan. 

The crew of the Madolyn II, a long-range B-29 airplane.  

B-29 bombers fill the sky over the Pacific.

Sky full of B-29 bombers releasing bombs over Japan.

A bombardier's flimsy is the orders of a bomber crew.

Admiral Nimitz pointing to the Japanese capital of Tokyo as the target of American military forces. 

Free Philippines newspaper front page, an English newspaper.

B-29 bombers in flight formation over Japan.

A B-29 bomber releasing bombs over Japan.

Map of the aircraft-part-producing Nakajima Musashino Plant near Tokyo.

Carrying a single 2,000 pound general purpose bomb, the raid came just two days after the first atomic bomb had been dropped.

Bombers' flimsy of the target Musashino plant on the outskirts of Toyko.

The aerial bombardment of Japan was devastating to the Japanese mainland. By burning homes, businesses, and hospitals it impacted every facet of everyday life for the Japanese; where they slept, ate, worked, and acquired clothing and medicine. As the second largest city in Japan, Osaka was an important industrial center, producing large quantities of steel and other heavy metal enterprises for the war effort. It was bombed more than a dozen times over the course of 1945.

With the Japanese surrender official, B-29 bombers shifted their focus to providing aid for the thousands of Allied POWs held in Japan. Often identified only by the “PW” written in the camps themselves, once located, the bombers completed numerous missions to bring much needed food and clothing to the prisoners.

PIcture of 1st Lieutenant Charles W Vyhnanek.

Bombardier Wings pin from 1st Lieutenant Charles W Vyhnanek.

The Distinguished Flying Cross medal belonging to Charles Vann.

1st Lieutenant Charles W Vyhnanek receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross medal. 

The Air Medal was awards to Lt. Vyhnanek for his achievement as a bombardier over the course of his 26 combat missions.

This angled calculator was a piece of standard issue equipment and was included in the "Bombardiers Kit".

This illustration depicts the view looking out of the nose of a B-29th, highlighting a low altitude night raids. 

This record of combat duty lists each flight Lt. Vyhnanek's made while a bombardier with the 43rd Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group. 

An important aspect of the Allied bombing campaign of Japan was the dropping of millions of propaganda leaflets. Depicting airplanes, bombs, and the cities to be bombed, the leaflets encouraged Japanese civilians to flee while indicating that the bombing was not aimed at them but at war industries, and that their militaristic government was to blame for their suffering. Additional leaflets encouraged Japanese soldiers and sailors to throw down their weapons and surrender to American forces.

A clock themed leaflet, with an implicit message that time is running out. 

Leaflet illustrating the destructive nature of American bombers.

Propaganda leaflet that depicts five B-29s dropping their bombs over Japan, also featuring the names of twelve cities, many of which would be bombed in the coming days. 

Intended for Japanese soldiers fighting across the Pacific, these leaflets featured messages that encouraged forces in particular locations to surrender in the face of overwhelming odds. This leaflet was intended for Japanese soldiers fighting on Luzon, in the Philippines, and would guarantee soldiers safe passage if they dropped their weapons and surrendered to American forces.

Following the months long bombing campaign against the mainland, and with a Japanese rejection of unconditional surrender, on August 6, 1945 Colonel Paul Tibbets flew the Enola Gay over the city of Hiroshima, dropping the first atomic bomb at 8:15am.

Pictogram showing the power of the atomic bomb in comparison to bombs on B-29s and TNT.

Hiroshima area map.

Enola Gay returning after strike at Hiroshima. Enola Gay was the first aircraft to drop the atomic bomb.

Photo of smoke column over Hiroshima, Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped.

Burned out fire truck in Hiroshima, Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped.

Smoke column over Nagasaki, Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped.

Nagasaki landscape after the atomic bomb was dropped on it.

Japanese woman survivor from the atomic bomb is injured.

The United States began the occupation of Japan at the end of August, with the Japanese formally surrendering aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor on September 2, 1945.

Japanese delegates arriving to the USS Missouri to sign surrender.

Japanese delegates sign surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri.

Photo of Admiral Nimitz signing the surrender of Japan aboard the USS Missouri.

The USS Missouri in the Tokyo harbor. 

American forces captured the Marshall Islands in April 1944, taking the Japanese garrison as POWs. With the official surrender in September 1945, U.S. forces conducted a formal ceremony of surrender on Majuro before repatriating Japanese forces to the mainland.

Japanese naval forces awaiting surrender on Majuro, Marshall Islands.

American sailors marching to surrender ceremony on Marshall Islands.

Japanese naval officers salute during surrender ceremony on Marshall Islands.

Japanese sailors watch as the American flag is raised during the surrender ceremony at Marshall Islands.

With the formal announcement of surrender by Emperor Hirohito, American forces attempted to notify Japanese forces throughout the Pacific that the war was over. On Luzon, General Yamashita still commanded nearly 40,000 battle-weary Japanese soldiers and civilians. After numerous efforts to contact the General, U.S. commanders were able to arrange a meeting with Yamashita in Baguio, where, on September 3, 1945, he surrendered the remaining Japanese forces of the Philippines. Following his surrender, subordinate commanders began turning themselves in to U.S. forces across the Philippines. Lt. Eddy and Company C of the 19th Infantry Regiment were present in Aparri when Japanese forces surrendered themselves.

American soldiers leading Japanese soldiers to surrender. 

Japanese soldiers carrying the white flag of surrender to American forces.

Japanese soldiers wait to surrender to American forces.

Japanese forces surrendering to the 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division.

Japanese soldiers lay down their weapons to American forces.

Overview of the occupation of Japan at the end of World War II. 

Lt. Bernard “Bud” Stapleton raising an American flag over the Nippon News building in downtown Tokyo. 

English to Japanese and Japanese to English phrase cards.

Jack V. Sewell served as a Photo Intelligence and Military Intelligence Technician in World War II. He deployed to the Pacific as a Technical Sergeant with the 6th Army from July 1944 to January 1946. 

Jack V. Sewell and “Dimples,” a nickname given to Toshiko by Sewell and his friends, was the daughter of a prominent Japanese family. 

Jack V. Sewell with the young daughter of a prominent Japanese family. 

This page from Jack V. Sewell's scrapbook that documents the distruction that Osaka faced.

Introduction to the European Theater during World War II.

Following the successful Normandy campaign in the summer of 1944, the Allies moved rapidly through France, liberating Paris on August 25. This advance would grind to a halt in the fall as supply lines were stretched thin and Allied forces approached the heavily defended Siegfried Line at the German border. In late September, General Courtney Hodges’ First Army engaged in fighting around the city of Aachen, Germany as part of the Allied plan to occupy the industrialized Ruhr Basin in northwest Germany.

As U.S. forces surrounded the city of Aachen, the 26th Infantry Regiment began the offensive to take the city. Operating with only two battalions and a few tanks, the 26th attacked the city and its 10,000  defenders on October 13, 1944. They fought house to house until  the city was finally taken on October 21; the first German city to fall to American forces.

As U.S. forces surrounded the city of Aachen, the 26th Infantry Regiment began the offensive to take the city. Operating with only two battalions and a few tanks, the 26th attacked the city and its 10,000  defenders on October 13, 1944. They fought house to house until  the city was finally taken on October 21; the first German city to fall to American forces.

The 22nd Infantry Regiment entered the Hürtgen Forest on November 16, 1944 as one of two infantry regiments representing the 4th Infantry Division. They fought for 18 days gaining 6000 yards of territory before being relieved on Dec 3. In total, the men of the 22nd Infantry Division suffered 2,773 casualties, losing nearly 60 percent of their officers and 54 percent of their men.

An 81mm mortar crew from the 22nd Infantry Regiment fires from the rubble of a village in support of rifle companies holding off a German counterattack at Grosshau, December 1, 1944.

The 28th Infantry Division relieved the 9th Infantry Division in the Hürtgen Forest in mid-October. They attacked the town of Schmidt in early November, with the 110th Regiment ordered to clear the woods near the Kall River. The 28th Division sustained heavy casualties in the Hürtgen and would later play a significant role in delaying the German advance in the Ardennes.

The Battle of the Bulge was one of the greatest American battles of World War II. Though supported by the British and Canadians, American soldiers bore the brunt of Hitler’s desperate winter offensive, suffering over 80,000 casualties. The Germans suffered between 80,000-100,000 casualties and had two fewer panzer armies on the Eastern Front to defend against the Soviet offensive. The Allied victory in the Ardennes set the stage for the invasion of Germany, a campaign that ended with Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945.

These maps show the front line just prior to the German offensive, and the point at which the German army surrounds the city of Bastogne. The northernmost section of the map shows the buildup of forces in an area where the Allies had breached the West Wall. To the south, Allied forces are spread incredibly thin with an 80 mile section occupied by just three Infantry divisions. The German offensive against this vulnerable area would ultimately form the namesake bulge in the line, as seen in the second image.

SSgt. John F. O'Brien in a foxhole in the Monschau in Germany.

On December 17, shortly after the German offensive began, a group from the 6th Panzer Army captured and killed 68 American soldiers near the village of Honsfield. Later that afternoon, they captured another 100 soldiers from the 285th Field Artillery near Malmedy and shot them in a nearby field. News of the massacre spread quickly through the ranks and in retaliation many American units adopted a policy of not taking German prisoners.

The 7th Armored Division played an important role in holding the advance of the 5th Panzer Army at St. Vith. Together with the 106th and 28th Infantry divisions, and the 9th Armored Division, they formed a horseshoe-shaped defensive perimeter around the town, aimed at stopping the German advance.

After suffering heavily casualties in the Hürtgen Forest, the 28th Infantry Division was moved to the relatively quiet sector near Bastogne to recuperate.

After suffering heavily casualties in the Hürtgen Forest, the 28th Infantry Division was moved to the relatively quiet sector near Bastogne to recuperate.

On the night of December 18, elements of 101st Airborne moved into the town of Bastogne to hold off the German advance and protect the vital road junction there. They were encircled by the enemy on December 21 and for several days resupplying the beleaguered defenders was impossible due to poor weather. The skies cleared on December 23, allowing C-47 planes to air drop desperately needed supplies to the besieged troops.

For civilians, it was much safer to be in an American-held town than those held by the Germans. German-held towns in the Bulge were subject to intense aerial bombardment from the Allies in advance of a ground attack. Though shelled relentlessly by the Germans during the siege, Bastogne was spared the total devastation of nearby towns like St. Vith and Sainlez which were reduced to rubble by the time Allied forces could liberate them from the Germans.

Despite being greatly outnumbered and facing heavily armed German forces, the poorly equipped and lightly armed 101st Airborne Division held the city of Bastogne.

With German momentum in Belgium stalling in the last days of December, the Allies began a slow, cautious push to drive the Germans back across the Siegfried line, recapturing what was left of towns like St. Vith, Wiltz, and Houffalize.

With German momentum in Belgium stalling in the last days of December, the Allies began a slow, cautious push to drive the Germans back across the Siegfried line, recapturing what was left of towns like St. Vith, Wiltz, and Houffalize.

The Allied victory in the Battle of the Bulge set the stage for a large-scale breach of the Siegfried Line and the invasion of Germany.

A Cavalry Squadron reconnaissance is attacked by German snipers on the outskirts of the newly captured town of Beffe, Belgium.

After defeating the German army at the Battle of the Bulge, American forces continued their push east into Germany, crossing the Rhine River in mid-March. Within days, seven American divisions were in Germany making the final push to end the war. As they fought the retreating German army into the crumbling Reich, American forces also began to encounter the remnants and survivors of the Nazi’s brutal concentration camp system.

The American’s first encounter with Nazi Germany’s concentration camps occurred at Ohrdruf, a forced labor camp that served as a subcamp of the larger camp at Buchenwald. When Americans entered the camp, the few survivors they encountered were of nearly every European nationality, torn from their homes to serve as laborers for Nazi military projects.

The American’s first encounter with Nazi Germany’s concentration camps occurred at Ohrdruf, a forced labor camp that served as a subcamp of the larger camp at Buchenwald. When Americans entered the camp, the few survivors they encountered were of nearly every European nationality, torn from their homes to serve as laborers for Nazi military projects.

The American’s first encounter with Nazi Germany’s concentration camps occurred at Ohrdruf, a forced labor camp that served as a subcamp of the larger camp at Buchenwald. When Americans entered the camp, the few survivors they encountered were of nearly every European nationality, torn from their homes to serve as laborers for Nazi military projects.

The American’s first encounter with Nazi Germany’s concentration camps occurred at Ohrdruf, a forced labor camp that served as a subcamp of the larger camp at Buchenwald. When Americans entered the camp, the few survivors they encountered were of nearly every European nationality, torn from their homes to serve as laborers for Nazi military projects.

The American’s first encounter with Nazi Germany’s concentration camps occurred at Ohrdruf, a forced labor camp that served as a subcamp of the larger camp at Buchenwald. When Americans entered the camp, the few survivors they encountered were of nearly every European nationality, torn from their homes to serve as laborers for Nazi military projects.

Generals Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley visited the camp a week after its discovery, noting that previous reports about the atrocities committed by the Nazis were an understatement, clearly evidenced by the scene they witnessed at Ohrdruf.

American soldiers numbering grave markers for dead prisoners. 

The 3rd Armored Division discovered the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp on April 11, 1945. The camp, located near the town of Nordhausen, was – like Ohrdruf – originally created as a subcamp of Buchenwald in order to produce the V-1 and V-2 rockets.

In early April 1945, with U.S. forces closing on the area, the SS began to evacuate the prisoners from Dora-Mittelbau, with most sent to Bergen-Belsen in northern Germany. When U.S. forces entered the camp in early April, only a few sick and dying prisoners were still alive.

In early April 1945, with U.S. forces closing on the area, the SS began to evacuate the prisoners from Dora-Mittelbau, with most sent to Bergen-Belsen in northern Germany. When U.S. forces entered the camp in early April, only a few sick and dying prisoners were still alive.

Polish survivor shows US soldier John L Lyndon the crematorium ovens which was used to burn corpses at Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp.

The 3rd Armored Division discovered the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp on April 11, 1945. The camp, located near the town of Nordhausen, was – like Ohrdruf – originally created as a subcamp of Buchenwald in order to produce the V-1 and V-2 rockets.

The 3rd Armored Division discovered the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp on April 11, 1945. The camp, located near the town of Nordhausen, was – like Ohrdruf – originally created as a subcamp of Buchenwald in order to produce the V-1 and V-2 rockets.

A soldier of the 1st Army watches as local German civilians are forced to dig graves for the nearly 2,500 victims discovered at the Dora-Mittelbau camp. As local Germans were assumed to have known that atrocities were taking place, U.S. servicemembers also made them walk through the camp in order to view the horrors. 

In August 1947, an American military tribunal brought to trial nineteen of the former camp personnel to face charges for acts committed against prisoners.

As the 3rd Armored Division entered Dora-Mittelbau, American forces to the south were simultaneously entering Buchenwald. One of the largest concentration camps in Germany, Buchenwald was established to incarcerate political prisoners, and following Kristallnacht when Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes were attacked, Jews came to represent a large portion of the population as well.

As the 3rd Armored Division entered Dora-Mittelbau, American forces to the south were simultaneously entering Buchenwald. One of the largest concentration camps in Germany, Buchenwald was established to incarcerate political prisoners, and following Kristallnacht when Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes were attacked, Jews came to represent a large portion of the population as well.

When the 6th Armored Division entered the camp, they encountering nearly 21,000 prisoners left behind by the Nazis.

A Chicago native, Jack Levine served in the U.S. Army during World War II. As a member of the 6th  Armored Division, he was one of the first soldiers to enter the camp and is seen here, along with two other U.S. soldiers and a former prisoner at Buchenwald. The sign, painted by prisoners on a barracks building, welcomed the American liberators.

Military pass issued to Jules Barrash allowing him to enter Buchenwald concentration camp; dated April 16, 1945. Dr. Jules Barrash was a Jewish native of Chicago drafted into the U.S. military. While in service, he became a medic and arrived at Buchenwald two days after its liberation.

Lothar Kahn was a German-Jew born in Gemünden am Main, Germany in 1924. Lothar’s brother Arthur was shot by the Gestapo in 1933, and his father was arrested on Kristallnacht and taken to Buchenwald. Following his father’s release, Lothar and his parents were able to follow another brother on a Kindertransport to London in mid-1939, subsequently immigrating to the U.S. on the eve of Passover in 1940. Lothar was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in Germany and France. At the end of the war he was appointed as an interpreter and assisted survivors coming through Bamberg, Germany.

American soldier next to train cars loaded with Buchenwald survivors heading to displaced persons camp.

The concentration camp at Flossenbürg was comprised primarily of political prisoners, German criminals convicted of repeated crimes, and following the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, Soviet POWs. With a few thousand prisoners at any given time, the camp’s prisoners were forced to quarry granite and produce aircraft materials for the Messerschmidt company.

On April 16 a transport carrying 1,700 Jewish prisoners left Flossenbürg as Allied forces made their way deeper into Germany. The transport was attacked by Allied airplanes and in the ensuing chaos many Jewish prisoners attempted to escape and take food and supplies. Following the attack, SS guards rounded up the prisoners and executed those too weak to continue and those suspected of taking food and supplies.

One of the largest camps liberated by American forces was Dachau, the first concentration camp established by the Nazi government in 1933. Located a few miles from Munich, the camp was initially founded to imprison political opponents, though like other camps it eventually imprisoned thousands of Jewish prisoners as well.

For the 35,000 remaining at Dachau, liberation came on April 29 as the 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions entered the camp. In addition to the thousands of survivors, American troops also discovered nearly 2,000 victims of the Nazis on transport trains, sent to Dachau from various other camps around Germany. 

For the 35,000 remaining at Dachau, liberation came on April 29 as the 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions entered the camp. In addition to the thousands of survivors, American troops also discovered nearly 2,000 victims of the Nazis on transport trains, sent to Dachau from various other camps around Germany. 

For the 35,000 remaining at Dachau, liberation came on April 29 as the 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions entered the camp. In addition to the thousands of survivors, American troops also discovered nearly 2,000 victims of the Nazis on transport trains, sent to Dachau from various other camps around Germany. 

For the 35,000 remaining at Dachau, liberation came on April 29 as the 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions entered the camp. In addition to the thousands of survivors, American troops also discovered nearly 2,000 victims of the Nazis on transport trains, sent to Dachau from various other camps around Germany. 

The Mauthausen concentration camp was comprised of several camps in Austria, utilizing forced labor to mine granite for Hitler’s grand architectural designs. Built in 1938, approximately 200,000 prisoners would pass through Mauthausen and its sub-camps by the end of the war, nearly half of whom would be killed by the SS or die working in the quarries.

Mauthausen concentration camp held prisoners from nearly every European nation, including tens of thousands of Soviet POWs and Yugoslavian resistance fighters. At the time of liberation there were tens of thousands of survivors in the camp. 

Until late 1943, Mauthausen housed very few female prisoners. A designation as a women’s concentration camp in 1944 paved the way for several hundred female political prisoners to be sent to Mauthausen, as well as an increasing number of Jewish prisoners. By March of 1945, there were nearly 2,500 women prisoners at the camp, the vast majority of whom were political prisoners of the Nazi regime. 

Most of the camps liberated by Allied forces in the last days of the war housed political prisoners and Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. However, among the millions of survivors of the Nazi regime were millions of Allied POWs. The vast majority of the POWs were Soviet soldiers captured during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, however approximately 94,000 American service members were held prisoner by Germany during the course of the war, as well as hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers who had been taken prisoner during the course of the war.

Medics treat American POW Alvin Abrams, of the 28th Infantry Division, who survived a death march before being liberated by soldiers of the 90th Infantry Division. Private Abrams and other members of his division were taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge and subjected to a death march by the Nazis, before being freed by their fellow soldiers.

These POWs, liberated by U.S. First Army Forces from a German prison camp near Limburg, were captured during the Battle of the Bulge.