Donald L. Hildenbrand papers

Document | Not Digitized | Accession Number: 2018.608.1

Overview

Description: Collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp. The collection includes his Selective Service classification card, clippings, booklet, documents, photographs, and correspondence and telegrams sent to his mother in Baltimore.
Date: inclusive: circa 1942-1970
Credit Line: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Bruce, Janice and Philip Hildenbrand
Collection Creator: Donald L. Hildenbrand
Biography: Donald L. Hildenbrand (1924-2017) was born in Baltimore, MD to Jack Hildenbrand (d. 1928) and Lillian Hildenbrand Herder (d. 1980). He was drafted into the army in 1942 and first served as an MP in Africa. He was reassigned to the 7th Army, 100th Infantry Division and sent to France. In early January 1945, his platoon was separated from their company. Hildenbrand volunteered to seek out company headquarters for orders. He was captured by Germans and transferred to Stalag IX-B (Bad Orb). In February he was one of 350 American POWs transferred to the Berga concentration camp, a subcamp of Buchenwald, in contravention of international law. He was evacuated from Berga in April and was liberated by the 11th Armored Division in Cham, Germany on April 23. Hildenbrand returned to the United States in June. He was awarded a Silver Star for bravery.

Physical Details

Language: English
Genre/Form: Telegrams. Letters. Photographs.
Extent: 6 folders
System of Arrangement: The Donald L. Hildenbrand papers are arranged in two series:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1943-1951
Series 2: Photographs and printed materials, circa 1942-1970

Rights & Restrictions

Conditions on Access: There are no known restrictions on access to this material.
Conditions on Use: The donor, source institution, or a third party has asserted copyright over some or all of the material(s) in this collection. You do not require further permission from the Museum to use this material. The user is solely responsible for making a determination as to if and how the material may be used.
Copyright Holder: Mr. Bruce Hildenbrand

Keywords & Subjects

Topical Term: Prisoners of war--Germany--Bad Orb. Prisoners of war--Germany--Berga (Thuringia)
Corporate Name: Berga (Concentration camp) United States. Army

Administrative Notes

Holder of Originals: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: Donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Bruce, Janice and Philip Hildenbrand, the children of Donald Hildenbrand.

Record last modified:: 2024-08-29 15:35:54
This page:: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn639632

Additional Resources

Finding Aid (English)

Download & Licensing

In Copyright - Use Permitted
Terms of Use
This record is not digitized and cannot be downloaded online.

In-Person Research

Not Available for Research: Out for Digitization
Plan a Research Visit
Request in Shapell Center Reading Room
Bowie, MD

Contact Us

Give Feedback

Also in Donald L. Hildenbrand collection

Collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp. Includes: German patch and knife inscribed April 23, 1945 both given to him by one of his liberators, relics from the tunnels where he performed slave labor, US Army issued medals, pins, and ribbons (some boxed), patches, his German issued POW dog tag #27013 received upon arrival at Stalag IXB, Donald’s Silver Star Medal in box with ribbon and pin, 100th Division challenge coin, POW medallion on ribbon, oral history interview with Donald Hildenbrand, his Selective Service classification card, clippings, booklet, documents, photographs, and correspondence and telegrams sent to his mother in Baltimore

Knife

Object

Knife, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp. The knife, given to him by one of his liberators, is inscribed on its wood handle with "Don Hildenbrand" and the date of April 23, 1945.

Patch with swastika

Object

Patch with swastika, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp. The patch was given to him by one of his liberators.

German issued POW dog tag

Object

German issued POW dog tag #27013 received by Donald Hildenbrand upon his arrival at Stalag IXB. The dog tag is part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Nail from tunnels at Berga camp

Object

Nail from the tunnelsl at Berga camp where Donald Hildenbrand performed slave labor, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Nail from tunnels at Berga camp

Object

Nail from the tunnels at Berga camp, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Metal hardware from tunnels at Berga camp

Object

Piece of metal hardware from the tunnels at Berga camp, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Badge

Object

Badge with the number 11, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Badge

Object

Badge with the number 100, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

100th Division commemorative coin

Object

100th Division commemorative coin, presented for excellence by the Command Team. The coin forms part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Prisoner of War commemorative medal with ribbon

Object

Prisoner of War commemorative medal with ribbon, presented for service by the State of California. The medal forms part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Ribbon bar pin

Object

Ribbon bar pin, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Ribbon bar pin

Object

Ribbon bar pin

Object

Ribbon bar pin

Object

Ribbon bar pin

Object

Medal awarded for good conduct

Object

Medal with ribbon, awarded for good conduct. Part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

Combat Infantryman Badge

Object

Combat Infantryman Badge, a United States Army military award, with laurel wreath and rifle. Part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

United States Army Infantry crossed rifles pin

Object

United States Army Infantry crossed rifles pin, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

United States Army 100th Infantry Division pin

Object

United States Army 100th Infantry Division pin, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

United States Army pin

Object

United States Army pin, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

United States Army crossed rifles pin

Object

United States Army crossed rifles pin, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.

United States Army Maltese Cross Rifle pin awarded for marksmanship

Object

United States Army Maltese Cross Rifle pin awarded for marksmanship, part of a collection of materials that document Donald Hildenbrand’s experiences as one of the 350 American POWs selected from Stalag IXB and sent as a slave laborer at the Berga concentration camp.