Dachau – The First Nazi Concentration Camp

U.S. soldiers breaking open the gates at the Dachau Concentration Camp in April, 1945 to liberate it from Nazi control and free the prisoners, saw nightmarish scenes that they never could have imagined. They were struck with physical and emotional reactions that they never anticipated. Battle–hardened after many months of combat, they then stood face to face with more horror they had ever experienced. The saving grace for them would be the opportunity to rescue and help the victims they met within the confines of this hell hole.

How could this level of cruelty have ever grown to these proportions? This is an important question and the history of how it occurred presents a lesson for mankind that must be heeded. Adolph Hitler, the Nazis, the frailties of human beings, the scars of a previous war, unfavorable economic conditions, and the dark, unchecked evil of racism lead to massive death and destruction. These results occurred a step at a time, often at intervals where it could have been stopped but it never was until it was too late for many and at a great cost for everyone else.

Dachau is a book that presents the history and the legacy left behind by the events it describes. There is wide-spread interest around the world about the camp at Dachau and the need to understand what happened there. It is both a historical and a spiritual symbol of great importance to the world today.

James Wickham lives in Manchester, NH with his wife, Valerie. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. Anselm College and Dachau is his first published book. James has been inspired his entire life by his father’s service in World War II, asking questions while growing up and into adulthood. He is the custodian of his father’s war time photo album containing pictures of the places where his father served and a collection of his letters home. These gifts have led James to study this history in greater detail and to share it with readers who may also wish to know more about the Dachau Concentration Camp.