Buchenwald Memorial in Weimar, Thuringia, Germany
SS Guard Detachment Barracks
Kaserne der SS-Wachmannschaften
The barracks of the SS guard detachment, built in 1937/38
Temporary infirmary, April/May 1945
On April 15, 1945, the 120th Evacuation Hospital of the 3rd United States Army arrived in Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Their mission was to give medical assistance to the approximately 20,000 prisoners left here after the liberation of the camp.
The presence of piles of dead bodies and the lack of sanitation were just a few of the problems to be addressed as they began to treat the starving, half-dead individuals among the prison population who needed immediate medical care (estimated to be 8 to 10 thousand). The combination of medical treatment and compassionate care gave hope to these tortured souls and resulted in a dramatic drop in the death rate in a matter of just a few days.
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Kaserne der SS-Wachmannschaften
Behelfslazarett, April/Mai 1945
Am 15.April 1945 traf das 120. Evacuation Hospital der 3. US-Armee im Konzentrationslager Buchenwald ein. Seine Aufgabe war es, den etwa 20.000 Häftlingen, die nach der Befreiung des
Lagers hier verblieben waren, medizinischen Beistand zu leisten.
Massen von Toten und der Mangel an Hygiene waren nur einige der Probleme, mit denen die Angehörigen dieser Einheit konfrontiert wurden, als sie begannen, die etwa acht- bis zehntausend verhungernden, halbtoten Überlebenden zu behandeln, die dringend medizinische Fürsorge brauchten. Medizinische Behandlung und aufopfernde Fürsorge gaben diesen Menschen Hoffnung und führten zu einem radipen Rückgang der Sterblichkeit innerhalb weniger Tage. ————————
[French and Russian text not transcribed]
Erected by Buchenwald Memorial Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 15, 1945.
Location. 51° 1.173′ N, 11° 14.893′ E. Marker is in Buchenwald Memorial, Thüringen (Thuringia), in Weimar. Follow the signs. Site is approximately 10 km NW of Weimar, off Blutstraße, west of Ettersburger Straße (L1054). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Buchenwald Memorial TH 99427, Germany. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dog Compound / Hundezwinger (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Camp Headquarters / Lagerkommandantur (about 150 meters away); Barrack / Baracke (about 180 meters away); Gate building / Torgebäude (about 180 meters away); Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail (about 180 meters away); Camp Fence and the Watchtowers 3, 4 and 5, April 1945 (about 210 meters away); SS Guard Detail Splinter Protection Trench (about 210 meters away); Inmates’ living quarters / Häftlingsunterkünfte (approx. 0.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buchenwald Memorial.
Also see . . .
1. Buchenwald Memorial Official Site. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Buchenwald in USHMM Holocaust Encyclopedia. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Buchenwald: History & Overview. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Buchenwald Concentration Camp. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.