Opening The Gates of Hell by Mark Hodkinson

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The untold story of Herbert Kenny, the man who discovered Bergen-Belsen

Herbert Kenny, an army dispatch rider, was the first Allied solider to push open the gates at Belsen Concentration Camp, in April 1945.

He kept his story from the world until an encounter with a trainee journalist brought it to light. Now, forty years on, that reporter is ready to share Herbert’s incredible tale with the world.

With unprecedented access to Herbert’s diaries, letters and interviews, Mark Hodkinson brings to life the harrowing conditions of Belsen and its eventual liberation. From the events leading up to its gruesome discovery, to the trauma Herbert faced and his abandonment in the aftermath, this is a testament to the power of one person in the face of unimaginable darkness.

Year first published: 2024