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Last update - 18:02 21/08/2007 Nazi archive records arrive at Yad Vashem, U.S. Holocaust Museum By The Associated Press Tags: Holocaust, Nazi  The keepers of a Nazi archive have delivered copies of Gestapo papers and concentration camp records to museums in Washington and Jerusalem, providing Holocaust survivors a paper trail of their own persecution. Six computer hard drives bearing electronic images of 20 million pages arrived late Monday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and to the Yad Vashem Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem. Last week, the director of the International Tracing Service, custodian of the unique collection that has been locked away for a half century in Germany released the files for transfer to the two museums. Advertisement But it will be months before the archive can be used by survivors or victims' relatives to search family histories. Even after it opens to the public, navigating the vast files for specific names will be nearly impossible without a trained guide. The hard drives contain the first tranche of digital copies from one of the world's largest Nazi archives, with the final documents scheduled to be copied and delivered by early 2009. This first transfer is the beginning of a major undertaking, said the Washington museum's director, Sara J. Bloomfield in a statement Tuesday. Our goal is to help survivors. Though the museums' researchers can begin working with the material immediately, the public must wait for legal formalities to conclude - which could take several more months. Unlocking the archive required all 11 countries to amend their international treaty. France, Italy and Greece have yet to complete the process. The others on the commission are the United States, Israel, Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg and Germany. Bloomfield called on three countries which have not ratified to do so urgently. Historians believe the files will add texture to the narrative of misery in the camps, where millions of people were worked to death or were simply exterminated with industrial efficiency. Six million Jews died in the Holocaust, one of every three Jews on earth. The Associated Press has been given repeated access to the archive in Bad Arolsen in recent months. Random searches through its 16 linear miles (kilometers) of files revealed a wealth of mundane yet telling detail on life and death in the camps. For instance, a researcher can learn that already in 1936, well before Hitler's Final Solution was launched, food rations at the Lichtenberg concentration camp were so meager that an officer complained to his commander that the inmates' health was in jeopardy. The file contains no indication rations improved. The Tracing Service was created from the papers gathered by the Allies after the war and stored in a disused SS barracks in Bad Arolsen. The Red Cross took over responsibility in 1955. Its task was to find missing people, reunite families or discover how victims died. Later it was used to support restitution claims. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Love story Israel grants permission for gay Palestinian to join lover in Tel Aviv. Interfaith get-together Saudi King plans first interfaith conference to include Jews.   1.   Search for relatives 22:19  |  Sam Kloda 03/09/07   2.   Finding might be delayed on purpose 23:25  |  Vilgot T 25/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Ten ways Israel keeps Hamas afloat Responses: 96 Saudi King planning first interfaith conference to include Jews Responses: 110 Yoel Marcus: Golan worth giving away for peace with Syria Responses: 135 Avirama Golan: Bibi's wife versus Spitzer's call girl Responses: 51 Israeli defense sources: Hamas wants to maintain Gaza quiet Responses: 72 Haaretz.com TV: Violence between messianic Jews, Haredim on the rise Responses: 68 Rosner's Domain Obama advisor blasts 'NY, Miami' for failed peace process Slight preference for Clinton among Jewish Democrats Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace Is bar mitzvah more important than Christmas tree? Govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial More Headlines 21:22 Blair: Middle East peace is a race against time 21:14 Saudi King plans first interfaith conference to include Jews 23:01 IDF arrests top PFLP operative involved in death of soldier 20:47 New law removes statute of limitations from murder of PM 18:40 Israel grants permission for gay Palestinian to join lover in Tel Aviv 17:01 Court extends remand for mother suspected of abusing her 12 children 18:33 Brooklyn rabbi says beaten by men who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' 23:08 Lebanon minister confirms gov't will boycott Arab summit 17:16 Finance Minister: We must prepare for possible economic slowdown 21:38 Knesset: Criminal records will be expunged after 7 years 18:48 IDF soldier critically hurt in gun cleaning accident at army base 19:52 Nazi archive gives digital records to U.S., Israel, Poland museums Previous Editions Select Day 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar

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