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GIs Remember - Robert Weil - Woebbelin

Robert Weil is both a concentration camp survivor and a camp liberator, On the evening of November 10, 1938 he was at home with his family in Karlsruhe, Germany when he heard the sounds of breaking glass and saw Jews attacked by mobs and his synagogue set on fire. This was what came to be known as Kristallnacht.

"That night I was thrown into jail by the Gestapo and the next morning sent to Dachau in a cattle car. Luckily for me, I was there only three months. I already had papers to go to the United States and was released for that reason.

In December 194 1, 1 entered the U.S. Army and served with the 8th Infantry Division in frontline combat, My division liberated the Woebbelin Concentration Camp in northeastern Germany where I found 1500 walking skeletons and thousands of emaciated bodies.

Having survived both the Holocaust and combat I pledged to serve God because I am so thankful for being alive."

For his service in the army Mr. Weil was decorated with the Bronze Star and Oakleaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the European Campaign Ribbon with four battle stars, and the French Croix de Guerre.

Mr. Weil leads services in his synagogue, volunteers at old age homes and has lectured over the years about the Holocaust to 30,000 youngsters.

GIs RememberNational Museum of American Jewish Military History