How was the liberation of majdanek important in World War 2?

Answer 1

Majdanek was the first extermination camp and major concentration camp to be liberated (22 July 1944). Although the SS blew up some of the installations, there was enough left to provide evidence of mass gassings and to enable the Soviet forces that had liberated the camp to work out - together with accounts from survivors - how the camp had operated. Journalists and photographers from other Allied countries were invited to visit the liberated camp. Previously, many in Britain and the U.S. had been somewhat skeptical about accounts of Nazi genocide. This went some way towards dispelling such doubts.

Answer 2

From a military point of view, the liberation of Majdanek was of no signficance.

However, it was of some signifcance for other reasons. It was the first major concentration camp liberated by any Allied army (23 July 1944) and thanks to a sudden advance by the the Soviet Army it was liberated largely intact.

Previously, the Western governments had known about concentration camps and extermination camps, but had treated most of the information they received with great skepticism. The liberation of Majdanek provided firm evidence of what went on in Nazi camps.