The Gates Of Auschwitz

The last seconds of life of the six crewmen of the USAAF’s Glenn Martin B-26C Marauder Serial Number 42-107566 of 320th Bombardment Group’s 441st Bomb Squadron hit by Flak over Marzabotto, Emilia’s Apennines, Northern Italy, July 10, 1944. The 320th, took off from Decimomannu, Sardinia, in afternoon of that day, for a raid over railroad bridges in Marzabotto’s area during the Operation Mallory, an operation to knock out all the bridges across the Po River. The target was bombed at 17,20 local time by nine planes with a total of seventy-two 500 lbs bombs. According the mission report the aircraft S/N 42-107566 was hit on the bomb run over target by AA fire and the right wing being shot off just outboard of engine nacelle. The aircraft spun to the ground, crashed and exploded at 44° 19’ N/10° 02’E. No chutes were seen. All the Marauder’s six crewmember died on the crash.
After some weeks, between 29 September and 5 October 1944, Marzabotto was theater of terrible massacre of near civilian perpetrated by 16 Panzeraufklärungsabteilung leaded by Major Walter Reder of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS. Victor Sierra


No survivors

A rare color shot (original) of the infamous Dachau death train. I firmly believe that sights like this one were a big part of what lead the liberating GI's to execute the SS guards out of hand. Also, the fact that the SS opened fire on them after surrendering under a white flag probably didn't improve the GI's mood any either.