S2E4 From Dachau to Salvation A Story of Unexpected Heroes
05/08/25 • 20 min
In this poignant episode of the Japanese American Podcast, we explore the incredible journey of Holocaust survivor Solly Ganor and his unexpected salvation by Japanese American soldiers during World War II. Through Solly's harrowing experiences on a death march from the Dachau death camp, listeners are introduced to the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion—soldiers who defied prejudice and became beacons of hope for many. Joined by guest Naoyuki Ikeda, the episode delves into the inner conflicts faced by these Japanese American soldiers, who were fighting abroad while their families faced internment back home. Featuring real stories of courage and kindness, including the actions of Sergeant Imamura and Chiune Sugihara, this episode highlights the complexities of wartime morality and the profound impact of individual acts of bravery.
For more information about the Japanese American National Museum, please visit our website at www.janm.org.
This episode the wonderful voice work of actor and friend of the podcast Naoyuki Ikeda.
Here are some of the links we used to help us write this episode:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/sugihara/readings/ganor.html
https://www.instagram.com/holocaustmuseum/p/C7pm-LxsAKy/?img_index=1
https://442sd.org/history/eric-saul-on-solly-ganor-and-the-holocaust/
https://blogs.chapman.edu/holocaust-education/2015/09/28/witness-heart-mountain/
https://www.sollyganor.com/unlikely-liberators-virtual-exhibit
CREDITS
The music was created by Jalen Blank
Written by Koji Steven Sakai
Hosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven Sakai
Additional Voice by Naoyuki Ikeda
Edited and produced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum
In this poignant episode of the Japanese American Podcast, we explore the incredible journey of Holocaust survivor Solly Ganor and his unexpected salvation by Japanese American soldiers during World War II. Through Solly's harrowing experiences on a death march from the Dachau death camp, listeners are introduced to the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion—soldiers who defied prejudice and became beacons of hope for many. Joined by guest Naoyuki Ikeda, the episode delves into the inner conflicts faced by these Japanese American soldiers, who were fighting abroad while their families faced internment back home. Featuring real stories of courage and kindness, including the actions of Sergeant Imamura and Chiune Sugihara, this episode highlights the complexities of wartime morality and the profound impact of individual acts of bravery.
For more information about the Japanese American National Museum, please visit our website at www.janm.org.
This episode the wonderful voice work of actor and friend of the podcast Naoyuki Ikeda.
Here are some of the links we used to help us write this episode:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/sugihara/readings/ganor.html
https://www.instagram.com/holocaustmuseum/p/C7pm-LxsAKy/?img_index=1
https://442sd.org/history/eric-saul-on-solly-ganor-and-the-holocaust/
https://blogs.chapman.edu/holocaust-education/2015/09/28/witness-heart-mountain/
https://www.sollyganor.com/unlikely-liberators-virtual-exhibit
CREDITS
The music was created by Jalen Blank
Written by Koji Steven Sakai
Hosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven Sakai
Additional Voice by Naoyuki Ikeda
Edited and produced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum
Previous Episode
S2E3 Bridging Generations: The Cultural Impact of Baseball in Japanese American Life
In this captivating episode of "Bridging Generations: The Cultural Impact of Baseball in Japanese American Life," hosts Koji and Michelle explore the profound connections between baseball and cultural identity within the Japanese American community. They delve into personal stories, from Koji's admiration for Hideo Nomo to Michelle's son's early baseball antics, highlighting how the sport serves as a bridge between generations. Special guest Jason Murai, president of the Japanese American Baseball Organization, shares insights into the Sansei Baseball League's vital role in fostering cultural identity and community spirit. Through engaging anecdotes and reflections, the episode underscores baseball's enduring impact on Japanese American heritage, resilience, and representation in sports, celebrating figures like Shohei Ohtani who inspire future generations.
For more about the Sansei baseball league go to: https://www.sanseibaseball.com/
To see some of JANM's baseball related programs click on this YouTube playlist https://www.youtube.com/@janmdotorg/search?query=baseball :
For more information about the Japanese American National Museum, please visit our website at www.janm.org.
CREDITS
The music was created by Jalen Blank
Written by Koji Steven Sakai
Hosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven Sakai
Edited and produced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum
Japanese America - S2E4 From Dachau to Salvation A Story of Unexpected Heroes
Transcript
I stared at them, unable to grasp the situation. Japanese. One of the men came up and knelt in front of me. He gently touched me on the shoulder and said, you are free, boy. You are free now. He said and then smiled. The smile has been with me ever since. That is a quote by Holocaust survivor Solly Ganor when he was liberated while on a march from the Dachau death camp by a member of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion.
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