Holocaust records open to the public

After more than 60 years, Nazi documents stored in six warehouses in Bad Arolsen, Germany, were opened to the public, providing a rich resource for Holocaust historians and survivors.

The files entrusted to the International Tracing Service, an arm of the International Committee of the Red Cross, have been used to document atrocities and determine the fate of missing persons. The U.S. government also has referred to the service for background checks on immigrants.

Few outsiders had been allowed to see the actual documents, which number more than 50 million pages and cover 16 linear miles of gray metal filing cabinets and cardboard binders. Erich Oetiker, the site’s deputy director, asked that any visitors make an appointment in advance.