Buchenwald Concentration Camp Survivors Being Taken for Medical Treatment, 19 April 1945 – Associated Press Anniversary Photograph

Description

An original Associated Press press photograph showing a column of recently liberated prisoners leaving Buchenwald concentration camp to receive medical treatment at an American military hospital on 19 April 1945.

The photograph depicts a large group of survivors, including visibly young prisoners, walking in orderly lines through the camp compound under American supervision. Many wear the striped uniforms associated with the Nazi concentration-camp system, while others are dressed in assorted civilian or camp clothing. Their expressions and physical condition convey the exhaustion and uncertainty of the days immediately following liberation.

Buchenwald, situated near Weimar in central Germany, was liberated on 11 April 1945 as units of the United States Third Army reached the camp. More than 21,000 prisoners were found there, including approximately 900 children and young people. American forces and surviving members of the camp resistance then faced the urgent task of providing food, sanitation and medical care to thousands of severely weakened prisoners.

The original Associated Press caption records that this image was taken on 19 April 1945, eight days after liberation, and shows Buchenwald prisoners being marched away from the camp for treatment at an American hospital. The scene therefore documents not the moment of liberation itself, but the immediate humanitarian response and the difficult transition from imprisonment to survival.

The print was issued by Associated Press in April 1985 as part of its “40 Years On” coverage marking the fortieth anniversary of VE Day. It is therefore an official twentieth-century press photograph made from a wartime Associated Press image, rather than a first-generation print produced in April 1945. This distinction is important bibliographically and photographically, but the surviving agency caption gives the image firm identification, date and historical context.

Buchenwald was one of the largest concentration camps established within Germany. Between 1937 and 1945, approximately 250,000 people from across Europe were imprisoned there. The liberation photographs and films produced in April 1945 became vital visual evidence of Nazi persecution and of the physical condition in which surviving prisoners were found.

An affecting and historically significant Associated Press image documenting Holocaust survival, the liberation of Buchenwald and the medical relief effort undertaken by American forces during the closing weeks of the Second World War.

From the photographic archive of the Shields Gazette, with the newspaper’s archive stamp to the reverse.

Associated Press Caption

The caption identifies the photograph as an image taken on 19 April 1945 showing internees liberated from Buchenwald by the United States Third Army being taken from the camp to receive treatment at an American hospital. It was distributed from London on 30 April 1985 for the fortieth anniversary of VE Day.

Condition

Very good condition. Minor edge wear and creasing. Original Associated Press caption sheet affixed to the reverse, with manuscript editorial notation and Shields Gazette archive stamp.

Agency: Associated Press
Photographer: Not identified
Image date: 19 April 1945
Print issue date: 30 April 1985
Location: Buchenwald concentration camp, near Weimar, Germany
Size: 15.2 × 20 cm
Provenance: Photographic archive of the Shields Gazette

Why Buy From Us?

At Hornseys, we only offer items that meet the highest standards of quality and authenticity. Our collection of prints and photographs is carefully curated to ensure each piece is authentic.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Authenticity and Provenance: Every photograph is researched, collated, and verified for authenticity.
• Expert Curation: Each photograph is selected with a keen eye for historical significance, condition, and rarity, ensuring a collection that is both diverse and distinguished.
• Customer Satisfaction: We strive to provide an exceptional customer experience, from detailed descriptions and provenance to secure and prompt delivery of your purchase.
• Returns Policy: We offer an unconditional guarantee on every item. If you wish to make a return, items may be sent back to us within fourteen days of receipt for any reason. We request advance notification of returns, and items must be returned in the same condition as sent for a full refund.

Explore Our Collection:
Visit Hornseys to explore our fine collection of rare and antique prints and photographs. Whether you are an avid collector or looking for a unique historical piece, our selection offers something truly exceptional. Located in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, our Ripon gallery has been a haven for art enthusiasts, historians, and collectors since 1976.

Thank you for looking.