Thread by @ReassessHistory

So what were conditions like in Hamburg in 1945?

A thread for #HolocaustMemorialDay

53rd Welsh Division arrived in the city to find it in complete ashen ruins from the firebombing, only one building - the Atlantic Hotel - still stood. /1

#WW2 #SWW

There were over 400 camps around the city, containing around 100,000 malnourished, half-starved and desperately ill slave workers drawn from across Europe.

With obliterated infrastructure & filthy conditions, the scale of humanitarian crisis was overwhelming. /2

Maj-Gen Robert 'Bobby' Ross and his divisional staff were dedicated to improving the fetid situation.

However initial attempts to feed inmates with British rations proved deeply distressing as a number died.

With debate & struggle to care for inmates continued... /3

the challenge of basic hygiene had to be addressed.

Major H.J. Gilliam requisitioned tons of disinfectant powder and converted 300 vacuum cleaners to sprayers.

Initially, hundreds of non-German language newspapers were sourced and brought in, distributed en mass. /4

It was a temporary measure and some inmates soon began translating and producing their own internal newspapers, thanks to commandeered printing presses.

This was just the tip of the iceberg of measures.

An edict was passed for the population of Hamburg to supply... /5

100,000 sets of clothing
10,000 books in all European languages
2,000 packs of playing cards
2,000 indoor games
1,000 toys and dolls
1,000 footballs
100 wireless sets
100 pianos /6

Camps were initially found to be almost silent, and pianos were left in prominent locations for inmates to play. Initially they were abandoned, but after a few week pressings of keys... as days and weeks progressed, the sound of music began to emerge from the camps. /7

Hamburg's finest string orchestra was ordered to tour all the camps, as did the Division's regimental bands, as medical staff remained overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis.

Later, on one remarkable day, Major George Gooch found himself astounded when a deputation... /8

of former inmates presented him with 10,000 marks (around £250 in 1945) a gigantic sum raised by those once treated as disposable slaves. The money was eventually given to the British Red Cross with thanks saying, "You have uplifted us and improved our conditions of life... /9

so much, we want to do something to show our appreciation."

It is remarkable that those who had lost so, so much still saw the need to give in gratitude. /thread