Summary
The concentration camp scene in Band of Brothers is based on a real event, although the show takes some fictional liberties in depicting it.
Easy Company and the 12th Armored Division uncovered the camp, a section of the Kaufering complex in Landsberg.
Approximately 500 deceased prisoners were discovered by the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army, who then mandated the local German inhabitants to inter the bodies, exemplifying the grim truth of concentration camp liberation.
Did Easy Company discover a concentration camp in real life? In the critically acclaimed series Band of Brothers, based on true events during World War II, Easy Company encounters an abandoned concentration camp and liberates the suffering prisoners. While the show fictionalizes some aspects for storytelling purposes, the liberation of a concentration camp did occur. In episode 9, "Why We Fight," Easy Company is sent to oversee the surrender of German soldiers in Landsberg, Germany. During their patrol, they stumble upon a nearby concentration camp and witness the appalling conditions endured by the prisoners, who identify themselves as Jewish and deemed "undesirable" by the German army.
The Concentration Camp Scene In Band Of Brothers
The prisoners in the Band of Brothers concentration camp are severely malnourished and dehydrated. The battalion physician advises the company to closely monitor their recovery and limit their food and water intake. Consequently, the survivors are instructed to remain within the camp to ensure proper medical care. The area is grim, with numerous corpses scattered around, prompting the decision to have local Germans handle the exhumation and disposal of the bodies. It is also mentioned that a larger camp, possibly Auschwitz, was liberated by the Russian army a few weeks ago.
Members of Easy Company are astonished by the existence of such a concentration camp. However, the Band of Brothers concentration camp is based on real events, as information was often scarce and confusion was common. For instance, in episode 6, "Bastogne," a plane mistakenly attacks its own men. There were no specific missions to liberate camps, apart from the Swedish Red Cross White Bus Rescue Action in April 1945. Therefore, any liberation of camps was unplanned and those involved may not have even been aware of their existence.
How Much Of The Band Of Brothers Concentration Camp Scene Was Real
The 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army indeed uncovered an actual concentration camp, where approximately 500 deceased inmates were discovered. Furthermore, the local German populace was indeed instructed by the U.S. Army to inter the deceased in the subsequent days. Hence, it can be affirmed that the Band of Brothers concentration camp is profoundly rooted in reality.
Contrary to the depiction in Band of Brothers, the "Screaming Eagle" unit and the 12th Armored Division were actually the first to discover the camp. This is just one of the overlooked aspects of the story. On April 27 and 28, 1945, these units arrived at Kaufering IV, one of the 11 camps in the Kaufering complex located in Landsberg. This camp had previously housed over 3,600 prisoners in deplorable conditions. Upon learning of the advancing U.S. Army, the SS decided to conduct a death march towards Dachau with the majority of their prisoners. Furthermore, they deliberately set fire to the barracks, attempting to prevent liberation.
The show highlights Easy Company's discovery of the camp, as they are the main focus, underscoring its significance. Despite the show's departures from historical accuracy, the inclusion of the Band of Brothers concentration camp liberation effectively portrays the horrifying reality of such atrocities. The Holocaust must never be forgotten to prevent its recurrence. While the show intentionally fictionalizes certain aspects and commits errors, like inaccurately depicting the death of Band of Brothers' Blithe in 1948, it remains faithful to the harrowing wartime experience.
