May 6: Liberation of Mauthausen Concentration/Death Camp (Austria).
US Third Army rolls into Mauthausen.
Mauthausen, Austrian Alps. Sgt. “Dick” Pomante of Detroit, Michigan and Sgt. Bob Persinger of Rockford, Illinois, respectively captaining the two lead tanks of U.S. THIRD Army, 3rd Cavalry Group, XX Corps roll through the main gates of Ebensee sub–camp, Mauthausen Death Camp, Austrian Alps… and declare “We are Americans!”… half–dead inmates fling themselves onto the tanks, trying to stay “glued” to them… Sgt. Pomante (according to two totally independent accounts to me directly) is packing two long pistols and giving out small chocolate bars and encouragement to the shriveled and near–death teenage (male) inmates.
As the US tanks enter the main entrance, prisoners, several of whom have been collecting guns, and who have been awaiting the “cover of liberation,” execute the “rear guard” of their previous tormentors throughout the outreaches of the camp… until the Americans have a chance, over the next four hour duration, to secure the vast Death Camp.
…The next morning at 9:00 A.M., US light tanks and military vehicles – with mounted machine guns at–ready – take up protective positions (guns facing outwards) around the main “formation grounds,” as the 400 assembled Jewish survivors are then given the all–clear sign by the Jewish U.S. officer placed in–charge of the particular unique outdoor assembly, to sing ensemble… “Hatikvah”… “Our hope has not faltered….” the Jewish (and embryonic State of Israel) anthem.
After the Jews, the same morning in December 1945, the French inmates are assembled in the same square, the La Marseillaise is sung…
The American and British divisions had trumped the Third Reich’s Atlantic front…