Skip to main content

Clarence Williams

Staff Sergeant Clarence Williams was a combat medic assigned to the US 122nd Medical Battalion, 42nd Division (the Rainbow Division) during World War II. Williams deployed to France in January 1945 and was present at the liberation of Dachau concentration camp in April of that year. Williams photographed both the liberation of Dachau and other experiences he had during the war in Europe. Growing up in Crescent and Council Bluffs, Iowa, he eventually settled in Lincoln, Nebraska after the war. Clarence’s collection of photographs and letters between he and his wife, Gretchen, detailing his World War II experiences were made available to the Institute for Holocaust by Clarences son, Dr. Tom Williams. There are instances where Clarence does not use proper English conventions in his descriptions. We have transcribed his writing as it appears in the original text. Hear Clarence's stories directly from his family members.


604 items

1st Sgt Jack Bell

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our "Sinze" Sign

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Cooper, Miller and Insull

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Lonnie Bothe and Tom Stuart

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Bruce Beaulieu

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Chow Line at Oberhoff

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Rainbow Division Map

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: object
  • Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum collection, gift of the Gregg and Michelle Philipson Collection and Archive; Accession Number: 2017.611.2

London Streetscene

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

London Zoo

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Glasgow, Scotland

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Loch Lomond

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Loch Lomond in Scotland

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Scene from Top of Island

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Lock Lomond Summer Home

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Heather

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Hitler's Hideout

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Remnant of the French 1st Army

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

View Across the Valley

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Bridge Across River

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Hitler's Home

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Damaged Buildings

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

The Munich Airdrome

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Namur, Belgium

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Old Monastery

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Funeral Coach

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

View Across the River

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Astor Theatre

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Tents

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Couple Walking a Dog

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Woman Walking

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Chiemsee steamer Fessler

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Fortress and Kufstein

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Kufstein

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Kufstein

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Bayrischzell

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Hotel Alpenrose

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Bayrischzell with Valley

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Bayrischzell

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Clarence Williams with Sign

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: photograph

Clarence Williams with Sign

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: photograph

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 31, 1944

  • Date: December 31, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

For the New Rainbow Solider 42nd Inf. Div.

  • Date: 1944
  • Format: book

Postcard from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 31, 1944

  • Date: December 31, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: postcard

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 29, 1944

  • Date: December 29, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Postcard from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 29, 1944

  • Date: December 29, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: postcard

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 27, 1944

  • Date: December 27, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 26, 1944

  • Date: December 26, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 24, 1944

  • Date: December 24, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 23, 1944

  • Date: December 23, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 22, 1944

  • Date: December 22, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
⟰