Arthur L. Zegart (1917-1989) was born in Chicago and attended the University of Chicago. During World War II, he was part of a U.S. Army Air Force combat photography unit. He covered postwar relief and refugee efforts by UNRRA and the JDC in Czechoslovakia and Austria. He became chief of the United Nations film division in the late 1940s. Later, Zegart was involved in the production of 125 documentaries, many of which he wrote and directed for network television. These 16mm films were stored in his basement for years.
Original order listed as"Ebensee Belsen R3 (Zegart" but USHMM received a VHS with R1 and R2 as well, which are both part of the Zegart Collection at NCJF. The footage is in both color and black and white and matches RG-60.0797, RG-60.0798, and RG-60.0799. These 16mm films were stored in Zegart's basement for years.
11:00:12 Refugees getting on board buses and trains, UNRRA officials help. Refugees waiting at the border at Nachod, a village on the Czech/Polish border. Reception center at Bratislava. 11:07:25 Jewish refugees leaving Europe for Palestine. Groups of DPs (Bricha Underground) crossing the Alps from Gnadenwald, Austria to Italy in February 1948. Many shots of walking up paths, climbing slopes, jumping over streams, sheltering under a bridge. Arriving at foot of mountain, getting instructions. 11:18:27 (color) Traun Lake and castle in the town of Ebensee. Local Austrians. Roadside statue of Jesus. Town street scene, men walking, guest-house. CU, baby in carriage. Mountains. 11:19:59 Good views of liberated Ebensee concentration camp, electrified barbed wire fence, barracks. Men carry large pots of soup. Survivors walk past camera in striped uniforms, one is quite young. CUs, survivors, some with red triangles, eating. Pan, emaciated inmates, some lying on stretchers. American soldiers with the US Air Force and USAF ambulances in the BG. Soldiers (some African-Americans) help the sick on stretchers into ambulances. HAS single chimney smokestack from crematorium building. Group of soldiers converse near military vehicles. Rows of graves, many with Star of David. Young men smoke cigarettes and speak with soldiers, CUs as they demonstrate. Repeat shots of camp environs with men carrying food pails, survivors eating, and the sick on stretchers. Removing folded stretchers from ambulance with Red Cross. Overloaded wagon with furniture. Jesus statue. Man in a barracks window. Boys eat from bowls. Men pick up stones from the ground."Greek Commissio" painted on military car. Mountains. Entrance to camp. Men converse by military vehicles. Scorched camp building. Rows of graves. Caring for the sick. Camp nestled in pine tree groves. Quick shot of words painted on exterior of barracks. Group of survivors pose for a photograph (notice camera and metal flash). More repeat/similar shots. HAS of Ebensee camp behind barbed wire fencing. Man in guard house with a"" armband. 11:32:00 (black and white) Inspection of crematorium. US soldiers show bones and ashes. Empty Zyklon B canisters. 11:34:08 Belsen DP camp R3: Truckloads of people, parade, flag. Sign on door reads:"ADJD INFORMATION" People processing application. Jewish memorial. People gathered around memorial, honor guard. Memorial"6,000,00" illuminated by candles. People listening to speech, faces around the table, looking at documents, letters, files. Memorial, speech, children singing. Sign (partial) reads:"First Anniversary of Liberation, 15th April 1946, 14th Nissan 5706, Central Jewish Committee, British Zone" Survivors with tattoos on their arms. Printing press. Typist, layout, printing of newspapers. Young people exercising, playing soccer. Newspaper. Classroom, cover of book by Simon Dubnow:"Welt Geschichte des Judischen Volke". Man reading. Young man sanding. Clothing display (as result of ORT training). Infant sleeping in crib, being changed, diapered. Visit to the dentist. Men looking over a map, layout for newspaper, young boy playing table tennis. Banquet/Conference. Partial sign reads:"Second Congress of Liberated Jews in.." People listening to speeches. Dressing babies (woman in uniform helping). Dressmaking/sewing classes.
Bricha: Jewish refugees leave Europe for Palestine; Ebensee camp at liberation; Belsen DP camp