Black canvas shoes given to a US soldier by a recently liberated inmate

Harvey John Frederick Poppe was born on January 30, 1924, in Chickasaw County, Iowa, to Hugo Henry Poppe and Minnie T. Lutzke. He attended high school and worked as a sales clerk. Harvey enlisted in the United States Army on May 11, 1943. He served with the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Company B. His unit arrived at the Dachau concentration camp in Dachau, Germany, on April 28, 1945. The camp was liberated on April 29, 1945. The unit helped distribute food and issued clean clothes. On May 1, 1945, prisoners able to work were given slipper shoes from a large warehouse stockpile which also stored a large pile of tin cups. One of the inmates gave Harvey a pair of the shoes. Harvey spent most of his time guarding street intersections and the camp gate. His unit left in mid to late May 1945. Harvey died on March 22, 2008, at age 84. Pair of black canvas slip-on shoes given to Harvey J. Poppe, a US Army soldier, by an inmate at the recently liberated Dachau concentration camp. On May 1, 1945, former prisoners able to work were given slipper shoes from a large warehouse stockpile. One of the inmates gave a pair to Harvey. Harvey arrived in Dachau on April 28, 1945, with his unit, the 79th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Company B. The camp was liberated the next day. The unit distributed food, clothes, and shoes. Harvey wore the pair given to him around his apartment in the former SS [Schutzstaffel] living quarters. The unit left at the end of May. No restrictions on access