The Konzentrationslager (KZ) Ebensee Concentration Camp was established to house prisoners tasked to further the research and production of the V-2 missile program run by Nazi SS Officer Wernher von Braun - an American Hero. This camp was liberated on May 6, 1945 freeing almost 17,000 prisoners. The Third Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron of the Third Cavalry Group came up the road to the camp at around 10AM on that fateful Sunday; at 2:45PM, the Third Platoon of F Company opened the gates. Unfortunately for the men of these military units, together with the U.S. Army 139th Evacuation Hospital, became phantom units in historical archives. Inside the Gates details the 139th Evacuation (MASH) Hospital’s involvement in freeing the thousands of inmates in the said Austrian Concentration Camp.
Book Events:
June 29, 2010 TV interview, lecture and book signing with Bob Persinger, the tank commander, who opened the gate at KZ Ebensee in Rockford IL.
Early September 2010 - fund raiser by volunteer military support group for Youngstown OH Air Force Base in Youngstown OH. Will have book signing with a survivor of KZ Ebensee, Fred Kubli, Jr. the 139th Evac Hospital ́s personnel clerk and myself at fund raiser.
Oct 6th taped 1/2 hour TV show in Chicago which will be broadcast on November 13, 2010. On that day can see whole program on web page: www.weekendwithwhitney.com.
Invited by Ebensee Zeitgeschichte Museum as speaker on May 7, 2011 in Austria at ceremony to celebrate the May 6, 1945 liberation of the Ebensee Concentration Camp. Was only American speaker
Inside the Gates video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ybaEUE3sM
August 24, 2011 at Wesley Willows at 4142 Rockton Ave in Rockford IL a panel discussion with 3 US Army medical personnel liberators & a survivor from Ebensee concentration camp staring at 6:30PM in Wesley Meeting Hall. TV coverage: http://mystateline.com/fulltext-ews?nxd_id=273987&shr=addthis
November 1, 2011 presentation at Camp Shelby, MS @ 10:00AM YouTube links to Chicago interview on November 13, 2010 part 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT2N2hEAoGQ Part 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vm-qu2E8h0
