By Staff
Title: Michael Resin Papers, 1944-1945
Predominant Dates:1945 -- 1956
ID: RG-97/RG-97
Creator: Michael Resin, Canadian Military photographer (1944 -- 1984)
Extent: 3.0 Boxes
Arrangement: This is a personal collection compiled and preserved by the Creator, Michael M. Resin, Canadian military photographer during World War II.
Languages: English [eng]
This is Michael M. Resin's personal collection of documents that are divided into three sub-collections.
The three sub-collections are divided as such:
RG-97.01 -- Photographs taken by Michael M. Resin during the British liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. Besides taking photographs, Resin is seen in some of the photographs speaking with female Polish Jews. Resin collected the addresses of these women's family members, to notify the family that they have been liberated from Bergen-Belsen. (April 1945)
RG-97.02 -- Written correspondence to and from Michael M. Resin from aforementioned family members of liberated prisoners from Bergen-Belsen camp. At the conclusion of World War II, Resin received letters from family members of liberated prisoners, as well as letters from liberated prisoners themselves, thanking Mr. Resin for his effort in contacting family members of liberated prisoners. Additional letters of gratitude come from Holocaust memorial centers, thanking Mr. Resin for loaning his collection. (September 1945 -- May 1984)
RG-97.03 -- This sub-collection includes a selection of aerial military photographs taken during the British Royal Air Force strategic bombing of Nazi German military strongholds established throughout France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. British RAF photographs of strategic bombings of railyards, communication hubs, and military bunkers occupied by the Nazis throughout Nazi-occupied Europe. Pre- and post-Allied invasion of France, (March 1944 -- July 1944)
This photograph is from Michael Resin's personal film collection. This image shows Michael Resin (second soldier from left) giving chocolate and cigarettes to liberated female prisoners of Bergen-Belsen camp.
The back side of the photograph has the following inscription: "Distributing some chocolates, candies, cigarettes, etc. Forbidden to give them substantial foods."
This photograph is from the personal film collection of Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer that documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This photograph includes female Polish-Jewish liberated prisoners from Lodz.
The inscription on the back of the photograph reads as follows:
"Some of the girls we spoke to. All Jewish from Lodz. Ages 15-35. Note clothes. They wear anything available: Some are still wearing striped clothes of concentration camps, others wear green blouses and skirts of SS guards."
April 1945
This document is a photograph taken by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer that was present during the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen camp.
April 1945
This photograph was taken by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer, present during the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Photographed is three female Polish Jews posing for the camera during liberation of Bergen-Belsen.
April 1945
This photograph was taken by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer, present during the liberation of Bergen-Belsen camp in April 1945.
This particular photograph shows female prisoners smiling, asking for food, and communicating with the Allied soldiers during liberation.
April 1945
This photograph is from Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin's, personal collection of photographs. He is pictured speaking with liberated female prisoners from Bergen-Belsen camp during the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen.
Resin is seen gathering information about prisoners relatives. He would write to these prisoners' relatives confirming their status as alive and liberated. Resin received many written replies asking for follow-up requests at his home residence in Canada following the European theater of WWII.
April 1945
This photograph is from Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin's, personal collection of photographs. He is pictured speaking with liberated female prisoners from Bergen-Belsen camp during the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen.
Resin is seen gathering information about prisoners relatives. He would write to these prisoners' relatives confirming their status as alive and liberated. Resin received many written replies asking for follow-up requests at his home residence in Canada following the European theater of WWII.
April 1945
This photograph comes from Michael Resin's personal collection during his service in Europe during World War II. Resin, a Canadian military photographer, was a part of the Allied liberation forces that liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This particular photograph shows a military vehicle leaving the entrance of Belsen camp.
April 1945.
This photograph is taken from Michael Resin's personal photograph collection during his tour in the European theater of World War II.
Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer, was part of the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This particular photograph shows one of the many unfinished mass graves inhabiting hundreds of deceased Bergen-Belsen prisoners.
April 1945
This photograph is taken from Michael Resin's personal photograph collection during his tour in the European theater of World War II.
Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer, was part of the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This particular photograph shows one of the many unfinished mass graves inhabiting hundreds of deceased Bergen-Belsen prisoners.
Written commentary from Resin: "Looking into the pit at Belsen...It all seemed like a horrible nightmare."
April 1945
This graphic photograph is from Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin's personal photograph collection during his tour in the European theater of World War II.
The photograph depicts an Allied soldier unloading a deceased Bergen-Belsen camp prisoner from a military truck, presumably to be moved into one of the many mass graves constructed forcibly by captured S.S. men.
The inscription written on the back of the photograph is as follows:
"One would wonder how a body could [illegible] so far and still [illegible] life. In this part [illegible] spine was [illegible] of the spinal column."
April 1945
This photograph is one of many from the collection of photographs taken by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp with photography.
This specific photograph is a close-up view of a mass grave inhabited by deceased Bergen-Belsen camp prisoners.
April 1945
This photograph was captured by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer, during the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
The photograph shows a deceased Bergen-Belsen camp prisoner being carried to a mass grave by three Allied soldiers.
April 1945
This photograph is from the collection of photographs taken by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer. Resin was part of the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This photograph shows recently completed mass graves, filled with deceased Bergen-Belsen camp prisoners, from a camp guard tower.
April 1945
This photograph is from the collection of photographs taken by Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer. Resin was part of the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This photograph shows recently completed mass graves, filled with deceased Bergen-Belsen camp prisoners, from a camp guard tower.
Inscription on back of photo reads:
"Photo of mass graves taken from guard tower."
April 1945
From photograph collection of Michael Resin, Canadian military photographer that documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945.
This photograph shows St. Bartholomew's Church, a Roman Catholic church nestled inbetween Konigssee river and the Bavarian Alps.
Inscription on back of photograph: "from negatives taken in Germany"
Prewar, c. 1935
This is a photograph from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945.
This specific photograph shows a street view scene in Germany.
prewar, c. 1935
This photograph is from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin was involved in documenting the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This specific photograph shows a large vessel docked in a port, prewar Germany.
Prewar, ca 1935
This photograph is from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945.
This photograph shows a tugboat moving along a river in prewar Germany.
Prewar, ca 1935
This photograph is from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen in April-May 1945.
This photograph shows a home nestled in the Bavarian Alps.
Prewar Germany, ca 1935
This photograph is from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945.
This specific photograph shows a group of men seemingly giving the Nazi salute aboard a large vessel in prewar Germany.
ca 1935
This photograph is from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945.
This photograph shows a street scene in Bleckede, prewar Germany, where women have gathered.
ca 1935
This photograph is from the collection of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
This specific photograph shows a far view of a partially-dug mass grave (nearly 1,000 deceased) at Bergen-Belsen camp.
April 1945
This sub-collection includes written correspondence to Michael Resin, from family members of prisoners inquiring about the well-being of their imprisoned/liberated family members detained in Bergen-Belsen.
Also included are letters of thanks from various Holocaust remembrance institutions for the temporary loan of Michael Resin's personal collection.
This letter is from the collection of postwar letters received and collected by Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and made a concentrated effort to contact the family members of liberated prisoners.
This letter, written by Major Hurst to Michael Resin, is an inquiry regarding the well-being of a Mrs. Obodowska. Presumably, Mrs. Obodowska was one of the prisoners whose family was contacted by Resin during Bergen-Belsen liberation in April-May 1945.
According to the letter, Mrs. Obodowska was in Malmo (Sweden) at the time in a displaced persons camp. "She was very ill with typhus and pneumonia, but is now recovered."
Major Hurst discusses his wanting to be demobilized after six years in the Army (four in the Middle East).
Dated: 24 September, 1945
This letter is from the collection of postwar letters received and collected by Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and made a concentrated effort to contact the family members of liberated prisoners.
This letter originates from Mr. Isaac Jacobwitz in Recife (Brazil) to Michael Resin at his home residence in Montreal (Canada). In this letter, Mr. Jacobwitz is inquiring about his missing brother-in-law, David Moszberg.
Dated: 12 October, 1945
This letter is from the collection of postwar letters received and collected by Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and made a concentrated effort to contact the family members of liberated prisoners.
This specific letter was sent by Mr. Simon Arenstein from Tel-Aviv (Palestine) to Michael Resin at his home residence in Montreal (Canada). The letter is Arenstein's inquiry regarding the status of his missing niece, Fisher Arenstein.
Mr. Arenstein discusses his frustration in that letters from Germany are not being received in Palestine.
Dated: 14 June, 1945
This letter is from the collection of postwar letters received and collected by Canadian military photographer, Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and made a concentrated effort to contact the family members of liberated prisoners.
This letter is from Ally Hirth in Tel-Aviv (Palestine) to Michael Resin at his home residence in Montreal (Canada). Ally Hirth writes to Mr. Resin inquiring about a missing family member.
Dated: 18 June, 1945
This letter is from a Dr. Reichert in Rehovot (Palestine) inquiring about his missing sister in Poland, received by Canadian military photographer Michael Resin at his residence in Montreal (Canada). Dr. Reichert reveals that he believes his sister may be the only survivor in his family of 50 members, and has tried to contact Red Cross and Jewish Agency for information regarding her exact address.
1 July, 1945
This letter is from Mr. S. Flakowicz in Tel-Aviv (Palestine) to Michael Resin at his home address in Montreal (Canada). Mr. Flakowicz sends this letter of gratitude for Resin's contacting Mr. Flakowicz regarding the status of good health of Lola, a liberated Bergen-Belsen prisoner.
11 June, 1945
This letter is from Dora Lawadzka in Tel-Aviv, sent and delivered to the Montreal residence of Canadian military photographer Michael Resin. Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and made a personal effort to contact the families of liberated prisoners.
Dora Lawadzka was one of the prisoners liberated from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and her letter to Resin gives thanks for contacting her uncle during liberation.
Lawadzka discusses the path she took following liberation: After a year in Cyprus (DP/internment camp), she made it to Tel-Aviv, Palestine.
22 March, 1948
This is a letter of thanks from Krisha Starker, Director of Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre, to Michael Resin, for the loan of photo-documents from Michael Resin's personal collection during military service in the European war theater (WWII).
Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945.
Dated: 5 March, 1984
This letter is a word of thanks from Stuart S. Elenko, Director of Holocaust Studies Center in Bronx, New York, sent and delivered to Michael Resin's home address in Montreal (Canada). Elenko thanks Resin for a loan of Resin's personal photograph collection from his service in the European war theater of WWII.
Resin documented the Allied liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Dated: 16 May, 1984
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-July 1944, during or directly following the Allied invasion of northern France and German retreat.
The photographs were gathered and collected by Canadian military photographer Michael Resin.
This particular aerial photograph shows the Allied (RAF) bombing of a French commune labeled "L'Hey", which there was found to be a German weapons bunker. Presumably, the commune is correctly labeled L'Haye-du-Puits, as the Allied liberation of L'Haye-du-Puits and nearby Montgardon were liberated a few days before the bombing in the photograph occurred.
Dated: 20 July, 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, during or directly following the Allied invasion of northern France and German retreat.
This specific photograph shows the Aerial bombing (RAF) of Soesterberg air base in the Netherlands. During Germany's blitzkrieg in 1940, the Netherlands was overrun in five days, and Soesterberg air base occupied by the German Luftwaffe in May 1940.
As the air base was most successful and strategic for the German war effort, Soesterberg became a target of Allied bombings throughout the war. By September 1940 (a month following the bombing seen in this photograph), the Germans deemed the airfield useless.
Dated: 15 August, 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during, or after the Allied invasion of France and eventual German retreat.
This specific photograph shows the strategic RAF bombing of German-controlled railway yards, to slow the German military response following the impending Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
Dated: 13-14 March 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph shows the Allied (RAF) bombing of German-occupied railway yards in Ghent (Belgium).
The strategy behind bombing railway yards and communication lines throughout German-occupied Europe was to cripple German reinforcement during the upcoming Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
Dated: 10-11 May 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph shows the Allied (RAF) bombing of Falaise, a commune in northwestern France. Following the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, the Allies strategically bombed German strongholds (such as the one in Falaise) to cut off the German retreat from France. The Allies were successful in cutting off the German retreat in Falaise.
Dated: 14 August, 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph shows the Allied (RAF) bombing of Falaise, a commune in northwestern France. Following the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, the Allies strategically bombed German strongholds (such as the one in Falaise) to cut off the German retreat from France. The Allies were successful in cutting off the German retreat in Falaise.
Dated: 14 August 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph shows the strategic bombing of a German-occupied railway in Courtrai, or Kortrijk (Belgium) near the French-Belgian border.
Dated 26-27 March 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph shows the strategic bombing of the Allies (RAF) on the commune of Coutances (France), where German communication lines were fortified.
This raid was held on the day of D-day, as well as the following day.
Dated: 6-7 June 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph is from the Allied strategic bombing of a German munitions bunker (V1 flying bomb site) in Bamieres (France).
Dated: 24-25 June 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific aerial photograph was taken during the strategic Allied bombing of German-occupied railway yards in Lens (France). The strategy behind bombing the German-occupied supply lines was to cripple the German supply chain for the impending D-Day Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
Dated: 20-21 April 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific aerial photograph depicts the strategic Allied bombing of the German-occupied city of Caen (France). The city of Caen being the closest city to the epicenter of the Allied invasion of France on the beaches of Normandy, a battle ensued from June 6-August 6, 1944.
Dated: 18 July 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph depicts the strategic Allied bombing of Siracourt (France), the location of a German V1 flying bomb bunker. This strategy to the bombing of Siracourt V1 bunker was to cripple the German aerial defense following the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
Dated: 6 July 1944
This is from a collection of RAF aerial photographs of strategic bombings and raids through German-occupied Europe from March-August 1944, before, during or after the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
This specific photograph captures the strategic Allied bombing of a German-occupied rail yard in Laon (France). The strategy of the Allied bombing was to cut the German supply line to northern France for the impending Allied invasion of France in June 1944.
Dated: 24 March 1944