As they encountered and liberated concentration camps, American troops became more and more shocked by the scenes in front of them. By far, Dachau was the worst of the camps that US soldiers were exposed to. How were the conditions at Dachau related to the liquidation of some of the other camps? Dachau had somehow been forgotten when the liquidation of camps was happening.

Thousands of prisoners had been sent to Dachau as other camps liquidated, creating overcrowding.

The commandant of Dachau refused to leave his post as other commandants did, keeping Dachau intact for liberators.

The other camps had been just as bad as Dachau, but since they were liquidated, the soldiers did not see conditions there.